标签： Trinidad and Tobago

In the 1960s, Air Canada and the Canadian government played a pivotal role in bolstering British West Indian Airways (BWIA) to become the Caribbean’s regional carrier. By 1967, the Trinidad and Tobago (TT) government had advanced $15,255,816 to sustain BWIA’s operations, recognizing the urgent need for fleet expansion and financial restructuring. However, BWIA faced more than just financial challenges. A 1966 memorandum from BWIA’s chairman highlighted critical deficiencies in top management, engineering, planning, and accounting expertise, as well as a severe shortage of experienced pilots. The chairman concluded that BWIA needed a financially strong partner with the ability to provide managerial and staffing support. Acting on this advice, the TT government sought suitable partners, leading to a proposal from Canada on May 23, 1967. The Canadian government, after reviewing BWIA’s situation, proposed a comprehensive corporate association between Air Canada and BWIA. Key elements of the proposal included designating BWIA as the regional carrier for the Commonwealth Caribbean, allowing Canada to acquire up to 49% of BWIA shares, appointing a majority of BWIA’s board of directors, and negotiating multilateral air agreements. The TT government, optimistic about BWIA’s potential, had envisioned it as a regional carrier since 1961, when it salvaged the airline. Despite initial efforts to persuade other West Indian territories to join BWIA, the airline’s transformation into a regional carrier was a complex and collaborative endeavor involving multiple governments and stakeholders.

A recent analytical report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has revealed that Trinidad and Tobago (TT) experienced the slowest remittance growth in the Caribbean in 2025, lagging significantly behind its regional counterparts. Remittances, which refer to funds sent by individuals working or living abroad to their families back home, serve as a crucial financial lifeline for households across the region. These transfers are particularly vital in low- and middle-income countries, helping families manage living expenses and providing economic stability during challenging times. According to the IDB’s ‘Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025’ report, TT saw a mere 1.3% increase in remittance inflows, the lowest among all Caribbean nations analyzed. In contrast, the broader Caribbean region recorded a 9.2% growth, driven by strong inflows to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. TT’s minimal improvement starkly contrasts with the region’s overall momentum. The Caribbean collectively received $20.883 billion in remittances in 2025, accounting for 12% of all transfers to Latin America and the Caribbean. While the report did not provide a specific figure for TT, it identified the country as one of the smaller recipients in the subregion. The study highlighted general factors influencing Caribbean remittance trends, such as labor market participation in the U.S. and the financial strategies of migrant households, but did not pinpoint specific reasons for TT’s weak performance. Instead, TT was grouped with economies where remittance inflows remain modest and have shown limited growth in recent years. The IDB emphasized that remittances continue to play a stabilizing role in household income across the region, particularly in countries with growing diaspora communities that maintain strong financial ties with their families. For many households, these transfers represent essential monthly contributions from relatives working abroad, quietly but significantly impacting daily expenses. The report is part of the IDB’s ongoing efforts to monitor cross-border family transfers, which are essential for understanding consumption patterns, vulnerability, and the financial behavior of migrant populations.

In anticipation of the COP 30 summit earlier this month, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) introduced a groundbreaking unified framework for responsible investment. This innovative approach seamlessly integrates sustainability considerations into strategic decision-making processes. Developed in collaboration with the universities of Witwatersrand and Leeds, the framework, titled ‘Understanding Responsible Investment,’ provides a comprehensive yet concise guide linking environmental and social issues to capital allocation and investment decisions. The framework outlines eight essential steps that organizations can follow to align their financial success with environmental and social responsibilities. Sharon Machado, ACCA’s head of sustainable business, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, ‘Despite the growing urgency to address climate change and social inequity, a unified approach to responsible investment has been lacking. Our collaborative effort has now filled this gap, offering a model that systematically incorporates all risks and opportunities into investment analysis.’ The framework includes key components such as ESG integration, sustainability frameworks, screening methods, investor proactivity, strategic purpose, investment options selection, regulatory requirements, and outcome measurement. Dannielle Cerbone, an associate professor at the University of Witwatersrand, praised the report for its academic rigor and practical relevance in an increasingly complex investment landscape. The report also highlights the evolving nature of sustainability reporting and the need for investees to balance financial, ecological, and social value creation to better access responsible finance. Machado expressed hope that the report would serve as a practical tool for investors and companies, particularly in assessing the impact of sustainability-related factors on organizational valuation—a task that remains challenging.

At the American Chamber of Commerce of TT’s HSSE Conference and Exhibition 2025, held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Port of Spain on November 12, American safety speaker Lee Shelby delivered a compelling presentation on workplace safety. Shelby, a survivor of a life-altering electrical accident, emphasized the dangers of complacency and overconfidence in the workplace. He shared his personal story of losing both arms in a 1991 accident, which he attributed to a series of small, avoidable mistakes and a mindset that dismissed risk. Shelby warned that most serious incidents stem from ordinary tasks and the normalization of unsafe behaviors, such as rushing, distraction, and procedural shortcuts. He urged business leaders and safety professionals to foster a culture of intervention, respectful communication, and vigilance. Shelby’s message was clear: safety is a personal responsibility that impacts not only the individual but also their colleagues, family, and community. His presentation underscored the importance of behavioral safety, leadership accountability, and proactive measures to prevent workplace accidents.

The renowned Caribbean beauty brand, Cher-Mere, marked its debut in Guyana at the prestigious Guyana Expo 2025 (GuyExpo), held from November 13-17 in Georgetown. The event, Guyana’s longest-standing trade exposition, attracted over 270 exhibitors from across the Caribbean and globally, alongside more than 100,000 visitors. Cher-Mere showcased its signature natural beauty and hair care products, including its premium hair oils such as Organic Black Castor Oil, Pure Batana Oil, and a blend of Batana, Rosemary, and Tea Tree Oil, all crafted by The Herbarium Ltd. in Trinidad and Tobago. The brand also featured Bigen Hair Care products, distributed through Merle’s Hairdressing Supplies Ltd. The Cher-Mere team, led by promotions manager Janelle Wiltshire, spa operations manager Khadine Knights-Benjamin, and retail manager Khadine Hinds, engaged visitors with product demonstrations, giveaways, and educational sessions on their wellness-focused offerings. Cheryl Bowles, biochemist and founder of Cher-Mere, expressed her enthusiasm for entering Guyana’s dynamic market, emphasizing the brand’s alignment with consumer demand for sustainable, authentic, and science-based beauty products. Founded over 40 years ago in Trinidad and Tobago, Cher-Mere has evolved from a local hair-care brand to an internationally recognized name in natural beauty and self-care. The company’s participation in GuyExpo 2025 underscores its strategic expansion into the Caribbean region, aiming to forge partnerships with distributors, salons, and wellness retailers while connecting directly with consumers. Notable visitors to the Cher-Mere booth included Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, and Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Candice Shade, among other dignitaries.