I don’t actually mean that we should have a ministry of festivals, in the sense of a state-controlled body—that kind of lumbering oversight has done little to develop anything meaningfully. Not for an entity that has to be agile and innovative and intimate with our history and traditions. Last year, …
Read More »Vaneisa: The republic of subterfuge—TSTT sacking, Tobago taxi no-shows par for the course
From the time I heard the news reports about the 300 cruise-ship passengers being stranded without tour transport in Tobago because the maxi-taxi operators failed to show up, something seemed fishy. The explanation given by president of the Tobago Maxi Taxi Association Cloyd Williams was that it was a combination …
Read More »Dear Editor: Without deferred 2022 Carnival, T&T risks losing thousands of regular tourist visitors
“[…] The truth is that culture and, moreso, the business of Carnival has lost, both in terms of revenue generation and reputation, over the course of these two missed years. “Our refusal to even so much as consider hosting a festival this year will only be seen as an opportunity …
Read More »Fair ticket and souvenir prices and thoughtful scheduling; how to maximise Cricket W/Cups
“[…] It would verge on the immoral for the ICC and/or CWI to repeat the unfortunate 2007 World Cup experience of setting ticket prices that the local fans simply cannot afford. “Speaking of affordability, CWI also now needs to seriously reconsider the current online pricing of its West Indies team …
Read More »Tourism Trinidad announces Kurtis Rudd as new CEO, as body seeks to ‘re-energise tourism economy’
Tourism Trinidad formally announced today the appointment of Kurtis Rudd as its new chief executive officer. Rudd, a former Prestige Holdings marketing vice-president, officially started work on Monday 20 September. He replaced acting CEO Heidi Alert, who reverted to her substantive post as manager of destination development. Rudd, a senior lecturer …
Read More »Demming: Thank you, Nicki Minaj, for this big break; the ball’s now in our court
Where is Trinidad? Thanks to rapper Nicki Minaj, that question topped the Twittersphere recently. This came about after Minaj tweeted that her cousin’s friend had taken the Covid vaccine and ended up with ‘Swollen Testicles’. Her tweet led our hard-working, super-busy minister of health to admit that he and his …
Read More »Trinidad gets ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from WTTC, while 13 tourism businesses get CARPHA nod
Destination Trinidad has received the green light to receive tourists, as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) granted the island its ‘Safe Travels’ stamp—which is meant to indicate that the island is adhering to ‘the highest standards of health and safety’ and ‘global health protocols’. Trinidad joins its sister …
Read More »Dear Editor: Hospitality students left in the lurch by TTHTI closure
“[…] school authorities have not been processing refunds for lab and other fees duly paid by students this year. They also failed to deal with the urgent and legitimate questions about obtaining accurate transcripts, timely refunds or assisting students to graduate…” The following letter to the editor about the close …
Read More »Carpha to certify tourism sector businesses fighting Covid-19 spread
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha) will begin issuing a travellers health assurance stamp to businesses in the region’s hospitality sector to certify they are following proper Covid-19 protocols. Dr Lisa Indar, assistant director of Carpha, introduced the initiative during the 10 October Ministry of Health media briefing on Covid-19. …
Read More »Post-Covid-19: Why our next Carnival is likely to be in 2022, and how to plan for it
As the global community grapples with an insidious pandemic, creative and tourism sectors worldwide have already incurred substantial losses due to significant economic contraction, triggered by the suspension of events and the closure of borders. Undoubtedly, stakeholders within the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival industry have already begun to wrestle with …
Read More »Daly: Don’t cry for us, Mayaro; a very different Easter
This is a very different Easter Sunday. There are no gatherings to celebrate the resurrection and no congregation to hear sermons of hope. Pope Francis in Rome will be a solitary figure silhouetted against a vast, empty St Peter’s square. We may be unfamiliar with the Jewish Passover, a celebration …
Read More »Dr Farrell: Gov’t must reform labour market NOW, as rising unemployment meets global pandemic
“So we can assume that the restrictions now in place worldwide will only be lifted gradually over the next 12 months. Some semblance of normalcy will not return until the middle of 2021. “There is no way that the private sector and the government can carry the labour force for …
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