Uber T&T: “We believe that there is a lack of a proper environment for innovation and technology to thrive in Trinidad and Tobago…” T&T Government: “[…] The protection of our locals and of our economy should never be subjected to arbitrariness and lack of transparency.” The following are releases from …
Read More »Why Imbert must stand firm for the sake of our future economic development
“Thanks to State intervention in almost every sector of the economy over the years, we have developed and enjoyed a comfortable standard of living subsidised by the State… That has provided real opportunities for many as well as lifted large segments of the population out of poverty. “However, it has …
Read More »Hasely Crawford lights back for Commonwealth Games trials but concerns about Govt priorities
The lighting issues at the Hasely Crawford Stadium (HCS) country’s major stadium are expected to be resolved in time for the Carifta Games trials, scheduled to commence on 3 March. In fact, the country’s major stadium should be back to full functionality by the end of February. This is the …
Read More »Not condemning: Can our country contrive to convert cannabis cultivation into hard cash?
“Police burned millions of dollars worth of marijuana plants,” announced a newspaper headline last week, not for the first time. Not for the first time, we dismissed the story simply as the drug rings at it again and went on with our business and our lives. But what if we …
Read More »Dr Farrell: Why I quit EDAB; Gov’t was too slow and not using enough of our ideas
“There remains a large volume of work which is incomplete for lack of resources and I am acutely aware that several persons remain disappointed with the lack of progress on their ideas and proposals. “[…] My own expectations of high-level engagement followed by swift implementation on these and other policy …
Read More »SPORTT employees told to look for jobs; State board in financial dire straits
Just three weeks before Christmas, employees at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) have been advised by acting CEO Jason Williams to “actively explore alternative employment.” The advice, sent to staff via email, follows weeks of speculation about the financial health of the State body. Williams confirmed that …
Read More »TTMCA claims PNM bias; says gaming industry not to blame for tax shortfall
“Why does Minister Imbert not address the foreign exchange leakage by the NLCB? According to the terms of their contract, IGT are supposed to transfer technology to locals. Yet, after a 30-year contract, no such transfer has occurred and Trinidad and Tobago continues to lose over US$350m annually.” The following …
Read More »STREET VIBES: Empty treasuries make the most noise, empty ministers too
Repeat after me: “The Treasury is empty.” “The Treasury is empty.” “Again!” In psychology, there is something called the “illusory truth effect.” Essentially, it says that a lie repeated often enough becomes believable, not only by persons hearing it but also by the people repeating it. The term only gained …
Read More »What gets measured gets done: Our problem with analysing Budgets and Gov’t data
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” This is one of the first quotes you learn when trying to understand Monitoring and Evaluation. Given current realities in Trinidad and Tobago, it seems applicable. I recently finished reviewing the National Budgets presented during the period …
Read More »Dear editor: Our budgets lack originality and our Finance Ministers don’t understand ‘diversification’
I stopped watching many TV shows and movies a long time ago because they have apparently run out of ideas and are in the habit of using old shows and scripts—that worked sometime in the past—to see if they would work now. I am now convinced that I should also …
Read More »Forex 101: Dr Farrell explains foreign exchange market and Central Bank’s role
“No minister or prime minister can cause the DPP to prosecute or discontinue a prosecution… No minister or prime minister can instruct the Commissioner of Police to arrest anyone. These offices, which are part of the Executive arm, have their independence explicitly protected in the Constitution as is the Judiciary …
Read More »Without real leadership, T&T will not navigate rough xenophobia seas
For many people, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement that this country will welcome Dominicans to these shores after Hurricane Maria pummelled that island meant adding salt to an open wound. The reaction on social media was swift and merciless, with many Trinidad and Tobago nationals decrying the proposal and …
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