New world trade supremo

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Brazil’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, is to be approved by acclamation, as the Geneva-based organisation’s new director-general, at next Tuesday’s meeting of its general council. Dr Azevêdo is only the WTO’s second leader from the developing...
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The competitive imperative

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - There is an obvious irony in the hemispheric choice of Trinidad and Tobago as the venue for the eighth Americas Competitiveness Forum in October 2014. The most recent World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report moved T&T from 86 out of 133 countries in 2010, to 81 ...
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State visits amplify Obama focus on Latin America, Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Keeping a keen eye south of the border, the Obama administration is intensifying its engagement with Latin America, hosting leaders from a pair of presidents at the White House and sending Vice President Joe Biden to visit two others. Peru's President Ollanta Humala and Chile's ...
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Incoming WTO director to restore credibility

GENEVA (Trinidad Guardian) —The incoming head of the World Trade Organisation says his first priority will be to try to rescue its credibility as a forum for trade negotiations. Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Azevedo told a packed room of reporters at Brazils WTO mission Wednesday that “the negotiatin...
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Be nice!

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS - Tourism authorities are concerned about complaints about rude and arrogant personnel at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). Commenting on a story appearing on the Back Page of yesterday’s MIDWEEK NATION about ratings Barbados was receiving from some of the visitor...
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UNC will expel Jack

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Former Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Jack Warner would face expulsion from the United Na­tional Congress (UNC) if he contests the by-election as an independent candidate. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday said the party’s constitution does have cert...
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Destruction of T&T’s banana market

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Gone are the days when every fruit vendor in T&T had a variety of bananas. Over the last few years, “sikyè”, “silk”, “gros michel”, and “lacatan” bananas are seldom seen in our market and local grocery. Why does T&T import thousands of tonnes of bananas annually when such a...
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Is Governor Rambarran being too optimistic?

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Once again Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran is predicting a level of growth in the economy which seems unrealistic. On the release of the April 2013 monetary report on Tuesday, the Governor projected a 2.5 per cent growth in gross domestic product for 2013. This come...
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Haiti travel getting competition

JetBlue Airways, the low-cost carrier that has become a major player in the South Florida and Caribbean market, said Thursday it plans to begin offering daily nonstop service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from New York and Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood. The announcement of JetBlue’s continued expansio...
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