作者： admin

The story of British West Indian Airways (BWIA) is a testament to the resilience and strategic foresight of the Caribbean aviation industry. Established in 1941 during the tumultuous years of World War II, BWIA emerged as a vital lifeline for the British colonies in the West Indies, which were isolated due to the suspension of air services by major international carriers like Pan American World Airways and Royal Dutch Airlines. The UK Air Ministry proposed the creation of a regional airline based in Trinidad and Tobago (TT), a vision that materialized with the involvement of Lowell Yerex, founder of Transportes Aeros Centro Americanoes (TACA).

Yerex, with the support of Lady Young, wife of Governor Sir Hubert Young, initiated BWIA as a public limited liability company in 1943. The airline began operations with two Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar aircraft, offering daily services from TT to Barbados. The initial share capital of $1 million was allocated with 60% to Yerex, 20% to TT, and 20% to the West Indian public. Over time, the shareholding structure evolved, with Yerex selling 40% of his stake to American interests in TACA, prompting a strategic decision to ensure British control over the airline.

BWIA rapidly expanded its route network, connecting islands across the Eastern Caribbean and extending services to Dominica, Jamaica, and Belize by 1944. The airline also secured contracts with the United States Army Engineer Department, operating flights between Miami and Trinidad. Airmail services were introduced, charging five cents per half-ounce letter, further solidifying BWIA’s role in regional connectivity.

In 1947, British South American Airways Corporation (BSAA) acquired BWIA, restructuring it as a private limited company in 1948. The new entity, British West Indian Airways Ltd, inherited exclusive rights to operate inter-island services and carry mail, supported by government subsidies and infrastructure provisions. The merger of BOAC and BSAA in 1949 further strengthened BWIA’s position, integrating operations with British Caribbean Airways Ltd and establishing navigation and engineering schools in Trinidad to enhance technical standards.

By the 1950s, BWIA had fully paid up its issued capital of $2.5 million and expanded its services to include routes between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, marking a significant milestone in its evolution as a regional aviation leader. The story of BWIA continues in Part II, highlighting its enduring legacy in Caribbean aviation.

In a landmark move toward sustainable energy innovation, the University of the West Indies (UWI) has entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s Niterra Co Ltd and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kenesjay Green Ltd (KGL). The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 15 at UWI’s St Augustine Campus, aims to revolutionize green hydrogen production through advanced Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell (SOEC) technology. This high-temperature electrolyser system, developed by Niterra, boasts a 30% higher efficiency compared to traditional methods, leveraging steam to generate hydrogen and oxygen. Trinidad and Tobago’s robust petrochemical infrastructure and access to process waste heat at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate make it an ideal location for Niterra’s pilot study. The initiative aligns with UWI’s Hydrogen Research Collaborative (H2RC), established in 2023 to foster academia-industry partnerships in building a viable hydrogen economy for the Caribbean. The partnership will establish a green hydrogen centre of excellence, conduct model-based studies, and develop a dedicated hydrogen laboratory at UWI. The project will also involve the installation and operation of production-scale SOEC electrolysers, with real-world performance data collected over two phases to scale up green hydrogen generation. The MoU was signed by Koichi Arimitsu of Niterra, Dr. Graham King of UWI, and Philip Julien of KGL, with key stakeholders from the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago in attendance. This collaboration marks a significant step in Trinidad and Tobago’s transition to sustainable energy, positioning the nation as a regional leader in green hydrogen research and low-carbon innovation.

ANSA McAL Ltd has unveiled significant changes to its leadership structure, appointing Dr. Marlene Attzs and Joel ‘Monty’ Pemberton to its board of directors, effective November 1. The announcement, filed with the TT Stock Exchange on October 22, highlights the company’s commitment to strengthening its governance framework. Dr. Attzs, a distinguished development economist and lecturer at the University of the West Indies, brings expertise in sustainable development, climate resilience, and disaster-risk management. Pemberton, a seasoned energy-sector executive, offers extensive regional and local experience. These appointments come as ANSA McAL navigates a transformative phase, marked by strategic acquisitions and financial recalibration. The company’s latest financial disclosure revealed a 14% decline in profit after tax for the first half of 2025, totaling $310 million compared to $362 million in the same period of 2024. However, second-quarter revenue surged by 12% year-on-year to $1.99 billion, with profit before tax climbing to $217 million from $189 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) also grew by 31% to $409 million. In March 2025, ANSA McAL announced a three-year suspension of dividend payments to channel capital toward expansion and debt reduction, following its $327 million acquisition of Bleachtech LLC, a U.S.-based chlor-alkali manufacturer. Despite initial share price fluctuations post-announcement, the company’s diversified business model and robust balance sheet have since stabilized investor confidence. ANSA McAL, a conglomerate with interests spanning automotive, beverages, construction, financial services, and utilities, remains focused on long-term regional growth and portfolio diversification. The roles of the new board members in specific committees or additional responsibilities have yet to be disclosed.

bpTT, a subsidiary of BP, has made significant strides in its gas development projects in Trinidad, marking a new chapter in the country’s energy sector. Recently, bpTT President David Campbell and Executive Vice President of Gas and Low Carbon Energy William Lin met with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to discuss the progress of two major initiatives: the Cypre gas field and the upcoming Ginger project. The Cypre field, operational since March 2025, is bpTT’s third subsea development, featuring seven wells connected to the Juniper platform via flexible flowlines. Located 78 kilometers off Trinidad’s southeast coast, the field has successfully completed its startup phase, with phase two’s subsea equipment now ready for deployment. The Seven Arctic subsea construction vessel, arriving from Norway, will commence offshore operations in late 2025, further advancing the project’s innovative and reliable framework. Meanwhile, the Ginger project, expected to produce first gas by 2027, will include four subsea wells linked to the Mahogany B platform. At peak production, the field is projected to yield 62,000 barrels of oil per day. Campbell and Lin also toured bpTT’s Galeota and Beachfield facilities, which process offshore gas and liquids for midstream and downstream supply. Campbell emphasized the importance of strong government partnerships, having met with key ministers to discuss unlocking value for Trinidad’s energy industry. ‘Building strong country relationships is foundational to delivering our strategy,’ Campbell stated, underscoring bpTT’s commitment to collaborative progress.

The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce (TT Chamber) recently hosted its annual post-budget meeting at the Le Rêve Conference Centre in San Fernando, marking a historic milestone in its mission to strengthen engagement with the nation’s business communities. Under the theme *Unlocking TT’s Next Generation Economy*, the event emphasized the Chamber’s commitment to fostering economic resilience and diversification in a volatile global landscape.

Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025/2026 budget has been hailed as one of the most progressive in recent years, addressing key areas such as the green economy, agriculture, marginalized groups, and young families. However, the creative industries have once again been sidelined, reflecting a longstanding pattern of political and institutional neglect. Despite the sector’s potential to generate significant foreign exchange through music, carnival, fashion, and film, it received minimal attention in the budget speech, with only two brief mentions and a few buried items in budget documents. This lack of focus fails to align with international standards or the local reality, where the creative economy could thrive with proper policy, legislative, and institutional support. In response, a coalition of artists has called for a closed-door summit with the government to address these gaps. The budget’s vague references to a ‘Creative Value-Chain Fund’ and enhanced IP protection have left many in the sector confused, especially given the previous administration’s dismantling of key agencies like FilmTT, FashionTT, and MusicTT. These agencies were replaced with a new entity tied to Eximbank, created without stakeholder consultation and with unclear operational mechanics. The creative sector’s underfunding has been a persistent issue, with film grant funding once plummeting to just $1 million—insufficient even for catering on a small foreign production. To unlock the sector’s potential, experts propose several interventions, including a national ‘buy-local’ campaign, the enactment of local content policies, the establishment of a national arts council, increased funding for CreativeTT, and the launch of a national tour company to export Trinidad and Tobago’s creative IP. Additionally, addressing the human crisis among local creatives, building creative hubs, and setting growth targets for Carnival are seen as critical steps. Without these measures, the creative sector’s vast potential will remain untapped, leaving Trinidad and Tobago lagging behind global peers like the UK, where the creative industries generate billions annually.

The Central Statistical Office (CSO) recently announced a decline in inflation to one per cent for the previous month. While this is a positive development, questions arise about the timing of this information, released just four days after Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo presented the national budget. The budget included fiscal measures directly impacting prices, such as reductions in super gasoline costs and increased duties on alcohol and tobacco. This raises concerns about the CSO’s role in forecasting the effects of such budgetary measures. Currently, the CSO collaborates with government departments in data collection and analysis but lacks a formal role in projecting budget impacts. Historically, the CSO’s data has been somewhat delayed, though this gap has significantly narrowed in recent years. The budget process is inherently forward-looking, with only a minor focus on past reporting. Given the CSO’s annual budget of at least $55 million, there is a strong argument for its involvement in estimating future fiscal impacts. Globally, independent fiscal oversight bodies, such as the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility and the US Congressional Budget Office, are common. Locally, the establishment of an Economic Resilience Council is underway, but a neutral, independent body outside Parliament is deemed essential for thorough budget scrutiny. Utilizing existing institutions like the CSO and the Central Bank could enhance the timeliness and relevance of fiscal data, ensuring it remains useful rather than outdated.