Tag Archives: economy

Most politicians will only present information to the public in a form that is perceived to be politically advantageous. When confronted with the reality of adverse events, denials or attempts, the first reaction is to trivialise reality—and sometimes in an obnoxious manner. We have the added disadvantage of the poisonous …

“[…] This decision [to reduce salaries by 33.3%], while contentious, directly protects the welfare of workers as that is the Company’s main priority at this time. This measure will ensure that there is no job loss at CEPEP…” The following press statement on CEPEP’s decision to reduce the salary of …

I’m old enough to remember the global economic recession of the 1980s and Lord Relator’s hit calypso ‘Food Prices’—which highlighted the ridiculous prices. Trinbagonians, have you noticed that food and consumer prices have risen astronomically? The cost of living has spiralled dramatically since the onset of Covid-19 due mainly to the …

So the dream of Splice Studios is no more. If Abigail Hadeed—with her brand recognition, contacts, creativity, and privilege, could not navigate to save her business during this pandemic—then tell me who can. Just reading her post was painful: ‘Thank you all who have shared, supported or created at Splice …

Here we go again!  In the Business Guardian of Thursday 8 April 2021, Joel Julien reports on the virtual Demas/Rampersad Seminar Series under the aegis of The UWI St Augustine Department of Economics. ‘Foreign Exchange Challenges in Trinidad and Tobago: What are the real implications?’ the title asks. Let us …

The recent utterances of a UWI economist about our economy (‘dire straits’) had me scampering for a Lloyd Best quote: ‘Palpably, we lack the pegs on which to hang ongoing events, and which would allow us to convert arbitrary detail into a systematic pattern, arithmetic into algebra, the specific into …

‘[…] [The scrap iron] sector has been disregarded by officialdom, perhaps because it is not a fancy or glamorous business, operated in the main by small business people who are socially unrelated to the traditional elites… ‘[…] Dr Rowley’s leadership will be judged [on] whether or not his government has …

“[…] The Easter message says ‘Yes we Can!’ There can be redemption and renewal! We can find our way out of the pandemic, though it will take time and patience.  “The more troubling problem is not the medical challenge of keeping people safe and alive; it is how do we …

The opportunity provided by Covid-19 is transformational, but only if we remove the blinders of racial politics and the winner-take-all approach to developing our country, then engage a collaborative approach. Before March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the pause button on much of our activity, our systems were broken, …

Last Sunday’s column touched on multiple subjects about which there are a lack of straight answers.  The range of coverage seemed well received, but there was a common observation: ‘you left out Wasa’! First, however, to return to the growing uncertainty about when will we receive a supply of Covid-19 …

“[…] Business is slow [as] not much people want to come here to buy alcohol or beer to go. They would prefer to go to the grocery and the groceries are now open on a 24 hours basis. “[…] One thing that could have probably been given a try is …

It’s January 2021, and I can only reminisce and fill the silence of pan-less evenings with musings about what can be done to make magic in 2022 or possibly 2023. January is usually my month for late evenings filled with the repetition of steelpan notes and chords, deciphering the phrases …