Black Immigrant Daily News

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David Lee File photo/Sureash Cholai

OPPOSITION MP David Lee compared the energy sector to a man who built his house on sand, placing its fate on high energy prices without any sustainable work, policy or vision.

Lee warned that the minute the high oil and gas prices linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine decreases, the entire economy and TT’s revenue stream will crumble as there are no incentives to sustain competitive production.

Addressing the United National Congress (UNC) Monday night virtual report meeting, Lee said not a single dollar in increased energy revenue was due to any policy or plan by this government, but as a result of the European war.

Government’s strategies to boost production has failed he said, pointing to the failure of to attract international players to the deep and shallow water bids or the promised Dragon Gas.

In the last seven years, he said, TT’s energy sector has plunged into chaos and crisis, registering its lowest oil and gas production in 18 years, witnessing the closure of many plants at Point Lisas, including Proman, which officials the Prime Minister has jetted off to Switzerland to meet.

Lee questioned if the PM’s trip was really about selling Clico’s Methanol Holdings share to Proman.

He accused both Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Energy Minister Stuart Young of not being honest on the true state of the energy sector. He said they had been boasting about the millions being earned by the energy sector when government crippled the down-stream sector and the budget was facing a $2 billion deficit.

He said TT would have been in a better position to earn billions more in revenue at this time of high oil and gas prices like other refineries around the world, had Government not shut down the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery.

Lee said, as refineries around the world cash in on profits from the European war, by as much as 600 per cent, the Prime Minister must be regretting his decision to shut down the Petrotrin refinery which is earning zero per cent and has transformed into a scrap iron heap.

Lee claimed that the refinery could have been treated as a going concern if Government wanted so badly to get it off its books as he claimed it was returning a profit up until its last year in operation.

On the other hand, he noted, that the company’s replacement, Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd, which recorded a $2.3 billion loss for 2019, is yet to produce financials to date.

He called on Government to state the true state of affairs at that company.

Turning to last Friday’s spotlight on the economy, Lee took Imbert to task for his optimism about taking this country on the path to recovery.

If the economy was this good, he said, government would not have put the country on alert for an increase in fuel prices, there would not have been headlines about the cost-of-living crisis, that the economy was on the decline, that teachers would not have had to rest and reflect on Monday and the protective services would have received an adequate pay package.

“This is the same man who promises you growth for seven years and he has not delivered a single year of growth.”

Touching on the upcoming budget, he accused business chambers of favouring Government’s fiscal packages, but appealed to them to open their eyes, use their intelligence and properly analyse the September 26 budget.

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After a two-year hiatus, the Caribbean’s biggest fundraising walk – CIBC First Caribbean Walk for the Cure – returns with promises to be bigger and better.

Annually held on the first Sunday in October, the streets of Barbados are flooded pink as thousands ready to show their support for breast cancer awareness.

Speaking recently, at the launch held at Sugar Bay Hotel, Dr Stephanie Date, committee member of the Breast Screening Programme, announced a new route for the walk which will be held on Sunday, October 3.

The walk will kick off from FirstCaribbean and Massy Car Park, along the ABC Highway of the Everton Weekes Roundabout to Clyde Walcott Roundabout and along Waterford Road and conclude at the National Botanical Gardens.

Dr Date indicated that the new route was introduced out of an abundance of caution, to ensure that participants have “more space and a safer atmosphere”.

The BSP committee member revealed that this year’s donations will go toward purchasing a stereotactic biopsy machine which will work along with the 3D mammogram machine to “very accurately pin-point small microcalcifications and abnormalities in the breast” and “take biopsies of these abnormal tissue areas”.

“This walk has helped us purchase a state-of-the-art 3D mammogram machine that is functioning in our clinic and is already aiding in more accurate, reliable and early detection of breast cancer in Barbados. Every day, we are able to screen both men and women for this disease, which unfortunately continues to be the most common cancer in the world, with more aggressive subtypes being found in people of African Descent.

This year, when you come out to Walk for the Cure, we will be raising funds to maintain our clinic and our equipment but also to research this disease in our population and we are shifting our sights onto raising money to purchase a special add-on piece of equipment that will further enhance this already incredible 3D tomosynthesis machine,” said Dr Date.

The Breast Screening Programme is hoping achieve a minimum of $170, 000 to purchase the machine. Also honouring the 20th anniversary of the programme, there will be a limited number of customised anniversary shirts available to patrons.

Dr Date expressed that they hoped to see up to 15, 000 persons in attendance.

Shakira Grant, walk manager of CIBC FirstCaribbean, shared that several activities are planned for September and October to commence the celebrations.

“We have planned a number of fundraisers during September and October including our popular Paint for the Cure, Denim Days, a raffle and the dollar drives at the bank halls,” Grant shared.

She stated that their bank with the Breast Screening Programme was a year-round endeavour. In June, the bank surpassed its target of $50, 000 at Golf for the Cure.

Grant commended Barbadians for their unwavering support over ten years, noting that Barbados’ national interest was unrivalled in the region.

“We still have a way to go sometimes to match the fundraising for my counterparts in the Cayman Islands, but they can’t match us in the numbers and the national attention for our combined walk here,” she said.

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PUBLIC STATEMENT 

Today marks five years since Hurricane Irma hit Barbuda and forced islanders to relocate. When they returned, they found their land being privatised through a development scheme that threatens both human rights and the environment. Developers are destroying important wetlands, clearing untouched forests and putting Barbudans at risk of more extreme climate disasters. All to build expensive resorts that will only be accessible to the ultra-wealthy and their private jets. A pattern that is being repeated across the Caribbean region. 

GLAN, on the instruction of the Barbuda Council, submitted extensive evidence to the Geneva-based Ramsar Secretariat, the body responsible for ensuring protection for listed wetlands including Barbuda’s Codrington Lagoon National Park. So far, our calls for action and an international inspection mission have gone unanswered. 

Earlier this year, a group of UN legal experts expressed deep concern about the human rights implications of developments on the island catering for ultra-wealthy tourists, but this appeal has been ignored by both the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the parties to the Ramsar Convention. 

Five years on, GLAN considers that the Government, developers and their enablers, investors, customers and contractors have failed to respect the human rights of Barbudans if not actively impacted them. We call on the international community, and in particular the Commonwealth and the United States as the country of origin of several investors and contractors, to ensure these actors’ respect for human rights and the environment. We urge multinational enterprises to take their obligations seriously and immediately halt their activities.  

GLAN is particularly concerned by the intimidation of environmental rights defenders on the island. More than 20 islanders who investigated the sites of construction in 2020, have been summoned to appear in court later this month on charges of trespassing. Such charges effectively silence dissent against the ongoing confiscation of land.  

In times of a heightened global climate crisis, luxury tourism projects on the ecosystems of a low-lying island are the exact opposite of what is needed. The situation in Barbuda is representative of a worldwide phenomenon of land grabbing in the name of economic growth and provision of service for the elite. 

Read GLAN’s full statement in attachment or here.  

You might find it helpful to note that there are several videos circulating to mark this day: 

GLAN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iuU9gGfRoY. 
SaveBarbuda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5D2NRFwjJA. 
Newsy + Bellingcat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bd8wM0ECwc&t=12s. 

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The Police Administration is so far pleased with the manner in which the celebrations for Police Week 2022 are progressing.

It started with several pre-events in mid-August; including a hiking competition to McNish Mountain, followed by a netball match at the YMCA, a fitness jam through the streets of St. Johns, and a road race from the All Saints Fire Station to the Police Recreation Grounds.

The week of activities officially starts on Sunday 4th of September with a divine church service at the Swetes Wesleyan Holiness Church. There, Rev. Dr. Olson Daniel and his congregation warmly welcome Commissioner Rodney and members of the police force, along with His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams and the Honorable Prime Minister, Gaston Browne to the newly renovated sanctuary. Other government officials, dignitaries, and specially invited guests were also present at the church service. Following the service, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams received an Eyes-Right Salute at the Irene B. Williams Secondary School during a march-past parade. The members were later treated to a brunch at the Police Headquarters.

The celebrations continued on Monday 5th September with an Open Day and Exhibition at the headquarters of the police. At this event, the general public got the opportunity to interact with police officers in their working environment; such as the traffic and narcotics department, fire department, and the Forensic Evidence Recovery Unit-FERU. Also partnering with the police in this event were the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, the Medical Benefits Scheme, the Emergency Medical Services-EMS, mobile network providers, the Police Cooperative Credit Union, and MASA (Medical Air Services Association) Assist.

The week of activities continues with an Inter-Force Shooting Competition on Tuesday 6th September at the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy, and the Police Queen’s Pageant that was postponed on Saturday due to inclement weather will now take place at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, starting at 8 pm.

On Wednesday 7th September will be visits to the sick and shut-in in various communities during the day, and also the Police Calypso Monarch Competition at the Antigua Recreation Grounds at 8 pm. Then, on Thursday 8th September, Veteran’s Cocktail at the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy at 5 pm. On Friday 9th September, House March-Past and Sports Day at Police Recreation Grounds at 10 am. On Saturday 10th September, starting at 10 am, there will be a shooting competition at Crabb’s Rifle Range.

Then, at 8 pm, the Police Drama Group will be performing before a general audience, a show written and directed by Mr. Owen Jackson entitled, “School Call Eeeen”. The celebration ends with a beach picnic and fun day at Ffryes Beach on Sunday 11th September at 10 am.

The Police Administration and the Police Week Organizing Committee express thanks to the general public for their continued support and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable police week. The theme for this year’s police week is “Overcoming The Challenges Together, Police Week, 2022.

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From left, executive director of the Caribbean Supermarket Association Curtis Mohammed, chairman Rajiv Diptee, co-founder Vernon Persad, and vice chairman Vasant Bharath pose for a photo during the formal inauguration of Caribbean Supermarket Association (CSA) at Krave Restaurant, Tarouba Link Road, Marabella. Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

The Caribbean Supermarket Association (CSA) has been formed to help Caricom governments understand the importance of food security.

President of the Supermarket Association of TT and now chairman of CSA Rajiv Diptee said, “This is a private sector-led initiative where we are seeking to find solutions within the value chain to ensure that food security remains a critical priority and create import substitutions strategies for how we see a reduction in the food import bill and make the prices of goods and services more accessible.”

Speaking at CSA’s launch on Tuesday at Krave Restaurant, Marabella, he said the groups formation came as the economy was in a situation where challenges with shipping costs and foreign exchange were still present and persistent.

Former trade minister Vasant Bharath, now vice chairman of CSA touched on TT’s $5 billion import bill.

“Unfortunately, what has happened in the last three years has prompted every government in the Caribbean region to look very seriously at this whole issue of food security and import substitution.

“You only have to take a cursory look at any supermarket in TT and their shelves are packed with probably 85 per cent of imported produce coming out of the Caricom region.”

He said there was too much of TT’s foreign exchange being used to develop other countries while there were many opportunities regionally.

“I think we have a golden opportunity because of the commitment expressed by the Caricom heads over the last three months that they want to make this happen. And this is a commitment that they made publicly and in Trinidad two weeks ago when they were all here.”

He said, though the commitment is present, there are some obstacles to overcome, such as cross-border issues which include finance issues, insurance for farmers, access to market and its facilities.

Bharath added that there was also the issue of goods coming from some islands not being allowed to enter or be cleared in other islands. He explained that if an island wants to grow more rice, not only are the necessary resources needed, but the yields to produce should be able to compete with the market that it was imported from.

“Otherwise, despite the duties that you would pay to bring those produce in, if your yields are not high as theirs then we are not competing equally.”

He said there were major issues surrounding the initiative and another prominent one was transportation.

He added that he was happy to be a part of the CSA because it was a private sector organisation that would continue to “light the fire” to ensure that the Caricom governments stick to the commitments made.

Outgoing president of the National Gas Company (NGC) compressed natural gas (CNG) Curtis Mohammed will serve as the executive director of the CSA. He is set to retire next month. Vernon Persad of Persad’s ‘D’ Food King is also a co-founder of the association.

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