Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Trinidad and Tobago, March 22, 2025 – From the energy minister to the Prime Minister and now a general election set for April 28 already announced; it has been a whirlwind week on the political scene for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Keith Rowley did as was expected when he stepped down as the country’s prime minister, after ten of service in that role.  Taking on the job of chief executive in governance is Stuart Young, an attorney by profession and the man who has held several ministerial portfolios including Energy, Communications and Security.

One day after becoming the Prime Minister, Stuart Young made headlines again when he demonstrated a readiness to receive a clear mandate from the nation’s voters and announced a national poll.

In addition to the election announcement, Young has re-organised the Cabinet.                                                                                                                                                                                            He has named Camille Robinson-Regis, an attorney as the new Attorney General; Adrian Leonce is now the Housing Minister; Marvin Gonzales, is the new Security Minister and shifted from the Ministry of Finance is Colm Imbert, who now takes up the Public Utilities portfolio.

It was just days into the new year when Keith Rowley announced his successor as Stuart Young.

Young had been selected, he said, by the Parliamentary Caucus of the People’s National Movement (PNM) as the party’s next leader.

Young has also served as National Security Minister and Communications Minister and is the eighth prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Nomination Day is April 4, 2025.

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Haiti, March 22, 2025 – The last thing Haiti needs is a resurgence of Cholera in the country, but it appears cases are rising and so is concern at the United Nations, whose team on the ground points to a need for water and sanitation supplies.

“Since the beginning of the year, more than 900 suspected cases and four confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide,” explained the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

“OCHA also warns that years of underfunding for the humanitarian response means that millions of Haitians are missing out on the essential support they need.”

Interventions and support have lost their grip on the situation which became a real problem in the aftermath of the infrastructure and human resources depleting earthquake of 2010.

The radical gang-led violence which has driven more than one million people from their homes and terrorized citizens and systems, is continuing to take a toll on the land. The UN says densely populated ‘Sun City’ is showing the highest spike.

“In Cité Soleil, more than 100 suspected cases have been reported in the past three weeks. The deteriorating security situation hinders access for surveillance teams and response efforts, raising concerns about undetected community transmission.”

The Government and the World Health Organization (WHO) are jointly responding to the outbreak by providing medicine and medical supplies and setting up rehydration and chlorination points, informed a March 20 report.

“Funding for water, sanitation and hygiene services is particularly low, with only $3.6 million out of the required $87 million received. Additionally, just less than 30 percent of health facilities with beds across the country – and just over 40 per cent in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area – are fully operational.”

The World Health Organization, WHO informs that Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease that can be fatal within hours if not treated. Quick access to treatment is crucial.  Adding that researchers estimate that there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths from cholera worldwide each year.

Photo by Lizaj Lakay News

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Turks and Caicos, March 22, 2025 – Long before Trump’s tariff talks were making headlines, there was a cadre of Turks and Caicos businesspeople hatching a plan to broaden the shipping lane between the TCI and the Dominican Republic; this coming Tuesday that consortium opens a showcase to expose the potential.

“The opportunities there are endless and we’re doing trade with them as it is, so because of the proximity to the Turks and Caicos Islands it takes half the time to get your products here.  The cost of importing products here is very high, because of the freight, so we’re basically saying look at the DR as an alternative,” said Cesar Campbell, president of the TC-DR Trade Alliance.

There will be 25 vendors at the Trade Show on Tuesday March 25, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Shore Club and it’s free to the business community.  One only need to RSVP attendance at olympia@olympiadmc.com.

The Turks and Caicos is already trading goods surpassing the $100 million dollar mark with the Dominican Republic; one of the leading markets for sourcing goods particularly in building materials.

The TCI-DR Trade Alliance wants to see the government get involved and establish a firmer link to the wide range of supplies that are closer and more cost effective; it is destined to drive down the cost of living and tame stubborn inflation rates.

“We are doing business but we’re not doing it in a formal way. What we would like to see is more trade between us and the DR, more formally where government is having trade relations and that will come in at some point.”

The Trade Show offers the opportunity to meet top suppliers who are ready, we are informed to introduce local companies to the availabilities in construction, renewable energy, agriculture, gaming, health, food and prefabricated materials.

Recently, Bahamian grocery store chain Super Value and Quality Supermarkets announced a government supported trade relationship which has brought lower cost eggs to the New Providence market.  The price of the kitchen staple is half what residents were paying before, and it comes packaged in Super Value branded cartons.

Zhavargo Jolly, the TCI Minister of Agriculture, this weekend announced, the Turks and Caicos is also exploring new possibilities in shopping for eggs in the Dominican Republic, to bring lower prices to the local market.

“The DR is a big exporter of food products, especially where produce is concerned, and poultry and I have no doubt they can meet the demand.  There is a market there for us and I have no doubt that they can meet supply demands here,” added Mr. Campbell.

The product options are so diverse that at the Trade Show, there will be an exhibitor showing off its line of hotel supplies including linens.

Admittedly, there is a sizable trade deficit between the Turks and Caicos and all its trade partners, but there is some hope that the deepening of this regional relationship could spawn a new marketplace for Turks and Caicos producers as well.

“I think that is something down the road.  If we can do more business with the DR and be better off economically… then why not!”

For now, the Turks and Caicos is chiefly a consumer market and the TC-DR Trade Alliance, which began planning the trade show over a year ago, is in discussions with the Trade Commission and Invest Turks and Caicos agency about potentially defining the government’s role.

Campbell sees it as a win-win.

“It would expand our supply chain.  I also think that because the DR produces a lot of their goods within their country, we will find competitive prices when compared to other markets, like the USA, which is our principal market right now.”

The Turks and Caicos Dominican Republic Trade Alliance is also working closely with Pro Dominicana, that country’s investment arm and the Chambers of Commerce in the DomRep.