Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon (centre) and the Ministry’s TTBizlink team. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Trade and Industry)
Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon (centre) and the Ministry’s TTBizlink team. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Trade and Industry) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 6, 2016: Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry officially launched an expansion of TTBizLink’s e- permits and licences module along with the introduction of the e-maritime services module and the e-utilities module on Wednesday April 6, 2016 at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre. This launch was a collaboration amongst several Ministries and Agencies which includes the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Public Utilities and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
In her Feature Address, Minister Gopee-Scoon stated that:
‘After three phases of development, and with more than 6,500 registered users, TTBizLink currently hosts 45 transactional e-services administered by 24 government departments across nine separate Ministries. It has substantially reduced the need to send duplicate and repetitive information to multiple agencies and has successfully improved information sharing among government agencies. Today’s event introduces another three modules, which includes twenty-four applications in the areas of health, public utilities and maritime services. At the foundation of TTBizLink’s success is collaboration—among several varied public and private sector Ministries, agencies and associations. TTBizLink also seeks to avoid duplication by utilizing existing systems, one example of which is the use of the authentication system via the TTConnectID’.
She added that:
‘Today’s launch of new e-services will facilitate the efficient movement and sale of antibiotics, pesticides and toxic chemicals; the arrival and departure of marine vessels; as well as building development and plumbing approvals. Though unrelated, the economic well-being of any country is linked to many component parts including: the physical health of its population, the ease with which marine cargo can enter and exit, and how efficient and transparent the process is to develop commercial infrastructure. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is therefore pleased to collaborate and support the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Public Utilities to see to it that government processes facilitate the needs and requirements of both the public and private sector’.
Mr. Norris Herbert, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry thanked the various Ministries for the continued collaboration stating that ‘the fruit of this collaboration will result in much needed improvements in the enabling environment in Trinidad and Tobago’ He said that ‘the TTBizLink platform will be further expanding its reach into areas that we are confident will further positively impact trade and business facilitation such as Mobile Inspections and Business Intelligence’.
Mr. Clint Ramcharan, Permanent Secretary, Works and Transport and Mr. Richard Madray, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health both congratulated the Ministry on the launch and reiterated their commitment to the collaboration to ensure the efficient delivery of services to customers.
Mrs. Charelle Joseph-Samaroo, SEW Specialist, Ministry of Trade and Industry in her presentation indicated that the TTBizLink platform seeks to focus on improving the ease of doing business and global competitiveness; increasing transparency; and further facilitating interconnectivity amongst Government Ministries.
Trade Minister (2nd left) with other members of the headtable at the event.
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Darryl Smith shares a light moment with one of the children of the FUNdamentals Easter Camp at Jean Pierre Complex. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 6, 2016: The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Darry Smith, visited the FUNdamentals Easter Camp hosted by the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, on April 5 at the Jean Pierre Complex.
The camp caters to kids between the ages of 7-14 years old and will run from the April 4th to 8th.
It is geared towards teaching children motor skills that will help them to learn proper coordination, jumping, kicking, hitting, running skills and other sport fundamentals. The Sport and Youth Minister, experienced first hand what was being taught at the camp by participating in a motor skills session with the kids.
Minister Smith stated that “the Easter Camp will allow kids to have options in the future to get involved in a sport of their choice by exposing them at an early stage to these fundamental skills. By getting involved they will be better equipped to hone their skills in their respective sporting disciplines.”
The Honourable Darryl Smith, reiterated that his goal is to utilise and refurbish existing sporting facilities such as the Jean Pierre Complex, notwithstanding future plans for other sporting facilities across the country. In keeping with technological advancements, Minister Smith hopes to implement a software maintenance programme that will allow for the tracking of upgrades and needs assessments at facilities.
Camp Instructor, Robelto Mathura conducts a demonstration.
Minister of Education, the Honourable Anthony Garcia (5th from left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ms. Gillian Macintyre (4th from left) stand with the newly appointed members of the Scholarship Selection Committee. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Education)
Minister of Education and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education stand with the newly appointed members of the Scholarship Selection Committee. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Education) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 6, 2016:The Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education, presented instruments of appointment to members of the Scholarship Selection Committee on 5th April, 2016 at the Old Fire Station Building, National Library, Port of Spain.
In his address to the newly established committee, Minister Garcia highlighted the importance of their contribution to the development of the nation. He said, “The selection of individuals for scholarships must always be in the interest of the nation and in facilitating the realisation of the national goals and self-actualization of the individual who is awarded a national scholarship. The scholarship must be seen in the overall strategic plan as an investment in our human capital.”
Minister Garcia challenged the committee to find the right formula to match the needs and aspirations of scholars with the developmental needs of the country, “Especially today, when we are challenged by the fact that our economy is not as strong as it was before.”
He invited them to closely follow the contribution of the Minister of Finance in Parliament on Friday 8th April, 2016, and added, “Whatever he says will impact our decisions, in terms of scholarship selection.”
The Scholarship Selection Committee comprises ten members from four Ministries, the Tobago House of Assembly, and those representing the public interest. The following is a list of the members appointed and their designations:
Ms. Jacqueline Wilson, Chairperson
Ms. Angela Sinaswee-Gervais, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education
Ms. Joanne Deoraj, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Development
Ms. Marcia Mc Kellar, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development
Ms. Roxanna Hall, Director of Advanced Training and Advisory Services, Tobago House of Assembly
Ms. LaVonne Blondell, Public Management Analyst, Ministry of Public Administration
Ms. Bernedatte, Koroma Office of the Prime Minister
Prof. June M. George, Public Interest
Mr. Fasil Muddeen, Public Interest
Mrs. Renata M. Tulsie, Public Interest
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago spends approximately more than $30 million annually on the non-Advanced level. These scholarships are administered by the Scholarship and Advanced Training Division of the Ministry of Education.
The Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis
The Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 6, 2016: The Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Trinidad and Tobago’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), will be attending the Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the IDB and the thirty-first Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) in Nassau, The Bahamas from April 7-10, 2016.
At this year’s meeting, Minister Robinson-Regis, on the behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, will sign a Loan Contract with the IDB, “Strengthening of the Single Electronic Window (SEW) for Trade and Business Facilitation”. The SEW loan engenders national benefit through the upgrading of the Customs System which is a major source of fiscal revenue. The loan also enables the implementation of an electronic payment system for users and tax payers. The overall objective of this project is to improve the trade performance and business facilitation environment in Trinidad and Tobago through the strengthening of the Single Electronic Window (SEW). The project’s specific objectives are to: i. Optimize and simplify foreign trade and business processes to reduce time and costs; ii. Improve domestic transactions among national government institutions and external interactions with trading partners; and iii. Update and regulate the institutional framework of the SEW.
The annual meeting of the Boards of Governors of the IDB and the IIC is usually held in late March or early April of each year in one of the Bank’s member countries. This official gathering is a forum for discussion among the Bank’s Governors, most of whom are Ministers of Finance, Presidents of Central Banks, or other high level authorities of the member countries. Representatives of multilateral financial institutions, development agencies, and private banks also attend this annual meeting. Trinidad and Tobago is usually represented at the annual meeting of the Bank by the country’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the IDB, who is supported by a team of professionals from the Ministry of Planning and Development, Finance, the Tobago House of assembly and the Central bank of Trinidad and Tobago.
As is customary, this meeting provides the opportunity for the Minister of Planning and Development, to hold bilateral discussions with the President of the Bank, Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno and senior IDB officials on issues pertinent to Trinidad and Tobago, as well as general corporate governance issues with implications for Trinidad and Tobago.
During the Meeting, seminars and workshops on issues pertinent to the Latin American and Caribbean Region are to be conducted by panels of international experts, thereby providing the opportunity for high level discussions among the Region’s Officials.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 5, 2016: Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry delivered the Feature Address at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce’s Pre-Mission Breakfast Seminar on ‘Doing business in Panama’ on Tuesday April 5, 2016. Speaking to thirty plus exporters, the Trade Minister said ‘Trinidad and Tobago’s trade relationship with Panama has grown steadily since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1995. We have experienced a positive trade balance with Panama over the years and in 2015, Trinidad and Tobago’s exports to Panama exceeded its imports by TT$221.9M. This relationship is anticipated to increase once the Partial Scope Trade Agreement between our countries enters into force’.
The Minister noted that the Agreement, which is in keeping with Government’s policy to establish and expand access into the Latin American markets, will benefit both countries and seeks to enhance economic relations between Panama and Trinidad and Tobago; eliminate barriers to trade; expand trade in goods; future expansion of trade in services; and strengthen cooperation activities in areas relevant to trade. She informed the participants that ‘the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is almost complete with the procedures that will ensure that the relevant legislation is proclaimed and the Partial scope Trade Agreement enter into force and the government is willing and able to fulfil all of its obligations for the formalization of trade relations with our Central American counterpart’. Minister Gopee-Scoon gave her commitment to the private sector including the manufacturing sector to work together to facilitate continued exports, revenues and jobs.
Ms. Catherine Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce expressed anticipation for the proclamation of the Partial Scope Trade Agreement which she said will ‘provide a platform from which our exporters and manufacturers could gain preferential access to the Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama markets’. She stated that ‘decreasing FDI within CARICOM and increasing FDI in Latin America are trends that we cannot continue to ignore. This is the time when we should source new markets for our exports and new means of promoting foreign exchange in the non-energy sector’.
Her Excellency Carmen Gabriela Menendez, Ambassador of Panama to Trinidad and Tobago expressed eagerness to commence the Trade Mission to Panama which will be beneficial to both countries. Dr. Eduardo Palacios, Vice Minister for Negotiation and Export Promotion, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Republic of Panama highlighted the Key Areas for Increased Trade and Investment in Panama; Mr. Eduardo Carles, Director General, Institute of Agriculture Marketing (IMA), Panama spoke on the opportunities for increased Trade and Technical Cooperation in Agriculture; and Mr. Adrian Theodore, Chief Executive Officer, ExporTT detailed the tools for increased Trade: where, what and how?
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce will lead a delegation to Panama from June 8 to 12, 2016. Over the four-day visit, mission participants would engage in business to business meetings; visits to the newly-modified Panama Canal and the Colon Free Zone – the epicentres of trade and investment in Panama.
Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry in high level talks with the senior representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and officials of Panama.
The program of activities for the afternoon are as follows
Event: Homecoming for Johnson Charles and Captain Darren Sammy
Date:Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
Time: From 1:45pm
1:45 – 1:50 pm Plane arrives at UVF BA 2159 1:55- 2:10 pm Meet and greet on tarmac 2:15- 3:15 pm Official Meeting in VIP lounge 3:15- 3:20 pm Exit from VIP lounge 3:20- 3:45 pm Meet and greet outside the airport
3: 50 -4:30 pm Motorcade begins and goes inside Dugard 4:30 -5:45 pm Motorcade continues and goes inside Millet 5:45-6:00 pm Stops at Governor General’s House 6:05 -6:30 pm Courtesy call on Governor General 6:35-6:45 pm Motorcade ends at Sir Derek Walcott Square 6:45 -9:00 pm Main Event
Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique: ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, APRIL 3, 2016- GIS: – Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cricket Governance, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, has extended congratulations to the historic West Indies Women’s Team, as they defeated Australia to become the World T20 champions on Sunday.
According to Dr. Mitchell, “this victory is a true testament to the power of team play in overcoming great odds.”
The West Indies Women’s team had lost all of their eight previous T20 internationals against Australia.
“This was quite an exciting run by the West Indies Women’s and Men’s team, and as a region, we are all proud and happy. The teams deserve every little bit of success given their recent challenges on and off the field. Hopefully, the Women’s success will further help to propel the men to a similar feat by the end of Sunday,” said the CARICOM leader.
Prior to the matches on Sunday, Prime Minister Mitchell had reached out to extend best wishes to both the Women’s and Men’s teams, saying that he was“optimistic in the abilities of the teams and their respective coaching staff to secure the championships on Sunday, and that whether the teams win or lose, they [were] already considered victors in the eyes of the Caribbean people.”
The West Indies Women’s team won their first T20 championship by eight wickets, with three balls to spare.
(FP) BARBADOS: Government’s Security Guards Service is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary and a number of events are being planned.
There will be a service on Sunday, April 3, at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, beginning at 8:00 a.m., at which the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Patrick Todd, will deliver an address.
A scenic bus ride and picnic will be held on Thursday, April 28, National Heroes Day, travelling to Silver Sands, Foul Bay and East Coast Road.
A nature hike will be held on Saturday, May 14, starting at the Bathsheba Community Centre. There will be a sponsor walk on Saturday, June 18, commencing at the David Thompson Complex in St. John.
There will be a social evening on Saturday, August 27, at the General Post Office Amphitheatre, beginning at 7:00 p.m., and on Saturday, October 8, staff will be celebrated during an Awards ceremony and Dinner at the Savannah Hotel.
During the celebrations, there will also be a cake sale, a T20 Cricket Match, a quiz evening and a heritage tour of the Garrison tunnels.
The Government’s Security Guards Service was conceptualised on March 2, 1973, when 21 temporary posts were created. The Service was later established as a department of the Ministry of Defence and Security on April 1, 1976.
Its main purpose was to offer protective and security services to the island’s airport, and government ministries and departments. Over the years, the Service has expanded due to the vast number of ministries requesting security services. sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb
GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE REHABILITATION AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT COORDINATOR REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) has applied for financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) – United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) towards the cost of Road Infrastructural Rehabilitation and Institutional Capacity Building and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOAB and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOAB shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.
The Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH), the Executing Agency, now wishes to procure the services of a Project Coordinator to manage the project.
The expected outcome of the project is the rehabilitation of road infrastructure through climate resilient designs and construction methods and enhanced institutional capacity.
The objective of the consultancy is the effective and timely achievement of the project outputs and outcome(s) through efficient coordination of project implementation.
The Project Coordinator will report to the Director, MWH, or an officer designated, and will be assigned exclusively to the project and will mainly be responsible for the implementation of the works. His/her duties will include, but will not be limited to:
(a) acting as MWH’s representative with all major stakeholders including government and non-governmental agencies, sub-contractors and suppliers;
(b) providing contract administration services to MWH in relation to the project to include for, but not be limited to:
(i) project monitoring, specifically: (aa) finalising the Results Monitoring Framework, including collecting baseline data; (bb) developing a detailed results monitoring plan which clearly outlines the methods, sources, responsibilities and timelines for data collection; and (cc) collecting, analysing and reporting the results data as required by the Results Monitoring Framework;
(ii) managing the selection and engagement of technical assistance consultants and supervising these consultancies;
(iii) evaluation of bids and recommendation of the awards for the engineering consultants and construction contracts;
(iv) overseeing the engineering consultancies, to include for supervisory and certification of the works engineering consultant and construction contracts; and
(v) cost control.
(c) Supervising and monitoring all construction sites for compliance with safety standards as well as requirements of regulatory agencies; and
(d) Ensuring requirements of the CDB are met to include for but not limited to:
(i) expedition of the submission to CDB of claims for disbursement/reimbursement;
(ii) liaison with CDB on all technical and administrative aspects of the project;
(iii) preparation and submission to CDB of a Quarterly Report on the Investment Cost of the project in the form specified by CDB, within two weeks after the end of each calendar quarter, commencing with the quarter following the commencement of the assignment;
(iv) keeping separate accounts for project-related expenditures and disbursement activities;
(v) submission to CDB, within two weeks after the end of each month, of the monthly reports prepared by the Engineering Consultants;
(vi) submission to CDB of the annual report describing progress on targets outlined in the results monitoring framework and the level of road maintenance at the end of the preceding year;
(vii) submission to CDB of the Contract Completion Report within three months after the date of issue by the Engineering Consultants of a certificate of practical completion of each contract; and
(viii) preparation and submission to CDB of a Project Completion Report, within three months after practical completion of the works. This report will focus on the project’s performance on desired results as outlined in the results monitoring framework and lessons learned.
Prospective candidates must be civil engineers with a minimum of the following qualifications:
(a) a Masters Degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or Project Management with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the management and implementation of civil engineering projects; or
(b) a Bachelors Degree or equivalent in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or Project Management with a minimum of 15 years’ experience in the management and implementation of civil engineering projects.
The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of nine months.
GOAB now invites interested eligible individual consultants to submit Expressions of Interest indicating qualifications and experience required to provide these consultancy services.
Consultants shall be eligible to participate if:
(a) the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and
(b) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.
Eligible countries are member countries of CDB.
In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to qualifications and experience on similar assignments. All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between 0800 and 1600 hours, Monday to Friday.
Four (4) hard copies of the Expressions of Interest must be received at the first address below no later than 1500 hours on April 11, 2016 and one hard copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the second address below. The sealed envelope containing each submission should include the name and address of the applicant and shall be clearly marked “Expression of Interest – Project Coordinator, Rehabilitation of Road Infrastructure and Institutional Capacity Strengthening”.
Following the assessment of submissions, the most technically capable and appropriately experienced applicant will be invited to negotiate a contract to provide the consultancy services. GOAB reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not selecting any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.
1.
Chairman, Tenders Board
Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance
Government Office Complex
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St. John’s ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Tel: (268) 562-5825 / 5826 Fax: (268) 562-1717
Email: tenders_board@hotmail.com
2.
Procurement Officer Procurement
Policy Unit Caribbean Development Bank
P. O. Box 408
Wildey, St. Michael,
BB11000 BARBADOS, W. I.
Tel: (246) 431-1600
Fax: (246) 426-7269
Email: procurement@caribank.org
Caption: Champions- Members of the West Indies Women’s Team celebrate after beating Australia in the Women’s World Twenty20 Final in Kolkata. (Photo courtesy 234links.com) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 3, 2016: Prime Minister Rowley extends heartfelt congratulations to the West Indies Women’s and Men’s cricket teams who both emerged as champions today (April 3) in their respective final matches of the 2016 ICC World Cup Twenty20 played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India on April 3.
In superb performances which confirmed the resilience and prowess of West Indies cricket, despite recent challenges, the teams have brought honour back to the Region.
Playing earlier in the morning we witnessed the skills of the Women’s team who took their maiden title beating Australia by eight (8) wickets to win their match 148/5.
This victory was followed by a sterling performance from the Men’s team which snatched victory from England with a 161/6 win. Congratulations to captains Stafanie Taylor and Darren Sammy and all the players on well-deserved wins.
