PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - A few weeks back the T&T Guardian carried a column by British High Commissioner Arthur Snell about Air Passenger Duty (APD). It defended the tariff and pointed out: 1) statistically there is no evidence to say APD stops tourism to the Caribbean; 2) the main problem with the Caribbean tourism product is it is too expensive; and 3) that APD “aims to offset the negative environmental effects of long-haul air travel.”
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last night announced she had “accepted the offer of resignation” of embattled Minister of National Security Jack Warner. Persad-Bissessar named Emmanuel George as the new National Security Minister. George’s Works and Infrastructure portfolio was assigned to Suruj Rambachan, in addition to his (Rambachan’s) duties as Minister of Local Government.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - That there was violence and protest in the four years between Mr Mandela’s release and the general elections in 1994 is a matter of record, but measured against the tensions between the polarised races, it’s clear that Mr Mandela’s calming influence was a significant factor in the successful transition from apartheid to true democracy. Yesterday, Nelson Mandela—Madiba to much of the world, Tata (“Father”) to the free South Africans who have come of age in the last 20 years—turned 95.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Government has asked former cabinet minister Jack Warner to return his diplomatic passport. The Express was told by a high-ranking Government official that the United States authorities have been pressuring the Government to withdraw Warner’s diplomatic passport which in effect would remove his diplomatic immunity. Warner has indicated that he will return his diplomatic passport and that of his wife Maureen by next Wednesday.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Integrity Commission chairman Ken Gordon took in front yesterday and removed himself from any e-mail probe. The Attorney General and the Prime Minister’s attorney, however, want him to resign. Period. Gordon had recused himself from the e-mail investigation at the very first meeting of the new Integrity Commission on July 4, according to a letter from the Integrity Commission released to the media yesterday.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Deputy Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Joan Honore-Paul, has described as “shockingly irresponsible and grossly reckless” statements made by Acting Police Commissioner that documents presented in the Parliament indicating that members of the Trinidad and Tobago government were engaged in efforts to undermine the judiciary, the DPP and the media, were false. In an interview with the Trinidad Express newspaper on July 5, Stephen Williams said that the emails presented by Opposition Leader Dr.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Four consecutive quarters—one year—of economic growth for Trinidad and Tobago. This was disclosed by Finance Minister Larry Howai at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news briefing at the Prime Minister’s St Clair office. He also said Trinidad and Tobago had received a triple A rating from CariCris, the Caribbean credit ratings agency.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - We couldn’t agree more with the Prime Minister’s call for an investigation into Jack Warner’s soliciting of funds from private businesses while in the Cabinet. Where we completely disagree with her, however, is in her attempt to present Mr Warner’s actions as a matter of personal wrongdoing that stops at his feet.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Cash-strapped Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has cut the number of flights of its Air Jamaica subsidiary by 50 per cent in a bid to stem multi-million-dollar losses at the national airline. CAL has reduced the flight frequencies of Air Jamaica’s core schedule services from Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, to North American destinations including Toronto, Canada and South Florida stops by as much as 50 per cent, but has not eliminated any flights altogether, airline sources confirmed yesterday. The changes went into effect on April 16.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) Monday said that members of the executive had resigned as the fallout continues over conflicting reports that the impasse involving management and journalists at the Trinidad Guardian newspapers had been resolved. In a brief statement, MATT said that the “remaining members of the interim executive “ had resigned “with immediate effect”. Earlier vice president Judy Raymond, who is also the editor in chief at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper and Trinidad Express columnist, Kevin Baldeosingh, resigned..