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Performers re-enact an old-time Tobago wedding at the Caribbean Investment Forum reception, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Tuesday. – ANGELO MARCELLE

Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon says the Caribbean is eager to attract investment from global companies while strengthening trade relations among regional partners.

This is the second investment forum for the year, with the first being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A virtual investment forum was held in Trinidad last year.

Speaking during the welcome reception of the Caribbean Investment Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, on Tuesday night, Gopee-Scoon thanked the participants for their interest in the event and emphasised the value of such activities in promoting growth in different sectors.

Commenting on the theme of this year’s forum, Building a Smarter, Greener Caribbean, Gopee-Scoon said now more than ever innovation was needed to drive development, and was optimistic the events would contribute to forging new, productive partnerships.

She also encouraged international participants to make full use of the forum’s networking activities and touted the Caribbean as a good place to nurture new investments.

“Please take the time while you’re here to meet with the representatives of the governments and national investment-promotion agencies that will assist you in finding those opportunities that you seek.

“The Caribbean is already leaning to towards a more sustainable future, and we are increasingly optimistic about our prospects to earn a place on the global stage.

Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon at the opening of the Caribbean Investment Forum on Tuesday night at the Hyatt Regency,Port of Spain. – ANGELO MARCELLE

“Never before has the Caribbean been more committed to a common cause that will benefit the region and, more importantly, that will benefit our people. Natural resources, our culture and our desire to continuously strive to be part of and help set the global agenda will ensure that the Caribbean is seen as the place to be and the place to do business.”

Gopee-Scoon added that the forum would focus on areas of agricultural technologies, information and communications technology (ICT), renewable energy and transport logistics, but other fields would also be featured.

Speaking with Newsday after the event, director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency Deodath Maharaj said he was pleased with the overwhelming response of international companies.

He said the forum was not intended to simply promote more investments but specifically investments in areas which could drive regional growth and development.

“It’s going to be an exciting time, because what we recognised at the Caribbean Expo is that it’s not just about change, but driving change to have the maximum possible impact

“It’s about jobs and opportunities for our people.

“The work that we do – we want to get investment in the sectors that can drive transformation to create jobs and opportunities for our people. But governments across the region don’t have the money to do it on their own…what we need is to get investors and to build a partnership of business to advance this agenda.”

Business development director of the London Consulting Group Esteban Jauregui said he was confident the forum would foster more networking among regional and international companies, while allowing for interesting cultural exchanges.

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The entrance to a quarry off Arima. – File photo

Quarry operators owe the Government $193 million in royalty payments, according to the TT Extractive Industries Transparency Institute’s eighth annual report launched on Wednesday.

“(The arrears) is due to the under reporting of mineral production volumes and the challenges in collecting royalties owed,” the report said.

It said between 2004 and 2019, Government should have received $222 million from quarry operators. Payments actually amounted to $29 million.

The report also indicated a steady decline in royalties between 2017 and 2020 with sums amounting to $7.9 million in 2017. The report explained the decline in revenue was attributable to a decline in the production of minerals.

“Total production in 2019 was 2,046,100.96 cubic metres and fell to 1,619,550.35 metres in 2020,” the report said.

The report called for significant improvement in the Ministry of Energy’s monitoring of revenue payments, saying the ministry does not independently verify production volumes, but relies on reports from operators.

The report was compiled by PKF Ltd, in partnership with Engaged Consulting Ltd and Michael Barron Consulting. At the launch held virtually, TTEITI chairman Gregory McGuire called for mandatory reporting to be part of the reforms in extractive industries legislation.

“Under the current arrangements companies report their revenues and other key data on a voluntary basis. Moreover the Income Tax Act bars the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) from disclosing such tax information to third parties including the auditor general, so the information is now obtained through a time-consuming process requiring a legal covenant between the BIR and the companies,” McGuire said.

He said the institute has, since 2014, drafted policies to not only overcome the legal barriers but to make them mandatory.

“The legislation is now before the minister and we at the TTEITI advocate for its enactment,” McGuire said.

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Relatives and friends of Korey Clarke and Samantha Patrick dance and sing at their funeral at the Mt St Jude Spiritual Baptist Church, Aboud Circular, St James. – AYANNA KINSALE

MOURNING turned into celebration over the coffins of Korey Clarke and Samantha Patrick as news of three men being charged with their murders was made public during their funeral on Wednesday.

The funeral was held at the Mt St Jude Spiritual Baptist Church, Aboud Circular, St James.

Clarke and Patrick, both 30, were shot dead on October 27 when gunmen stormed their Aboud Circular home around midnight.

It is believed they used their bodies to shield their seven-month-old daughter from the attack.

Moments after the gunmen left, Anthony, Clarke’s father, who lives a stone’s throw away, discovered the child near the couple’s bodies.

They were declared dead at the scene and their bodies were taken to the Forensic Sciences Complex.

Anthony Clarke sings between the coffins of his son Korey Clarke and his wife Samantha Patrick at the Mt St Jude Spiritual Baptist Church, Aboud Circular, St James on Wednesday. – AYANNA KINSALE

Hours before the funeral, Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, advised police to charge three men with two counts of murder, unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The men were arrested during a joint exercise involving Homicide Bureau investigators and the Western Division Task Force on November 4.

Even as tears flowed, the mourners celebrated the couple’s lives with chants and shouts.

Anthony and his wife, Patrick’s mother Raquel, and other close relatives, danced around the white and gold coffins while holding the child.

Sending a message to those charged with the murders, Anthony said, “Jesus is the rock and you all chipped off a piece of the rock. And you see that two pieces of rock you chipped off there, God is in charge of these two people, and those that do the act remember it’s coming back.

“And to the elders who are encouraging and gathering them around them, stop it.”

Knocking on the edges of the coffins, Anthony said, “You see the shells of these here, no more sorrow, no more pain. But we who are left behind, we will be rejoicing one day, one day.

“Judgement belongs to God. When the incident happened, God say all can’t go – we leaving back one. That little one (baby) can’t go.

Clarke was remembered by his mother Cherry-ann Clarke as a light, a peacemaker who loved to sing and dance, and someone who loved to make others laugh. Patrick was remembered as a shy, caring and loving person who was family oriented.

Cherry-Ann Clarke and Anthony Clarke, parents of Korey Clarke, who was murdered together with his wife Samantha Patrick, cross the couple’s daughter, who survived the attack, over their coffins at the funeral in St James on Wednesday. – AYANNA KINSALE

Clarke’s father said his son was killed because of greed, envy and jealousy.

“I don’t care what the critics say, he was a peacemaker.”

He lamented the spike in murders in the area, and the influence of criminality on young people.

“I want to tell us today to be your brother’s keeper…I really should have told him (Clarke) to watch his friends.”

Speaking with Newsday after the funeral, Anthony said, “I was happy to hear they held people accountable for the murders. This is sweet justice from God. I feel good. I hope they were charged with triple murder because Samantha was pregnant when they killed her.”

Clarke and Patrick were buried at the Tunapuna Public Cemetery.

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