Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

RECENT duty hikes have exploded the cost of Trinidad and Tobago’s favourite store-bought liquor, but could there be a silver lining for local, family-run, small-batch wine makers? Husband and wife team Shantelle and Jabari Mayers told Business Day, there is. “I think because of the increase in prices for drinks on the shelf, even the people who were not so into the idea of supporting local, it's forcing them in that direction,” Jabari told Business Day in an interview on December 17. Shantelle said when she and her brother, Anson Trimmingham, began their business Wine and Whimsy in 2019, customers were often deterred by the price. Because their recipe uses specialised wine yeast instead of regular yeast used in most local wine recipes, Wine and Whimsy sold for more than twice the price of the cheapest store-bought wine just a few months ago. But the couple says the recent hike has created a more level playing field for their home-made products to compete on. This, added to the public’s growing interest in purchasing locally-made products in recent years, has resulted in more support for the business. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eghTJ6kS

The ACCA Virtual Skills platform supports new professionals entering the workforce by offering practical guidance to prepare for job applications and interviews In today’s competitive jobs market, it’s harder than ever for job seekers to stand out to employers – especially members of Gen Z at the beginning of their careers. Now candidates can give themselves a competitive edge when preparing for interviews and applications by using a new digital resource from ACCA. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/enYvcfmC

THE DECEMBER 15 reconfiguration of the board of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, the holding company of Republic Bank, followed by confirmation this week of the appointment of Yashmid Karamath as the company’s chairman, fulfils the government’s promise to exert a tighter grip on the country’s largest bank in terms of branch network. Liberalisation of banking thus appears more distant than ever. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/erf4jpdK

PROCUREMENT is at an inflection point, veteran industry leader John Dickson suggested to delegates at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) Caribbean Conference and Awards 2025, arguing that the profession must move decisively beyond its traditional fixation on cost-cutting. Instead, he said, procurement must reposition itself as a driver of value, resilience and long-term competitiveness. Addressing procurement and supply chain leaders at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain on December 10, Dickson said too many organisations still misunderstand what procurement actually does. “If you think about (procurement as) an iceberg, the one-ninth that a business sees is typically about cost reduction and cash generation,” he said. “What drives this function… is much more deep than that.” Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eNDVGVex

Across the Caribbean, there’s a growing sense of frustration in the workplace and business world. People are working hard, getting qualified, doing “all the right things” — yet still feeling stuck. Salaries aren’t moving fast enough. Opportunities feel limited. Systems feel slow. And many are quietly wondering if success requires leaving the region altogether. The reality is this: the rules of success have changed — not just globally, but locally as well. By 2026, success in the Caribbean will depend far less on job titles, degrees, or years of service, and far more on intangible skills that give people leverage in imperfect, slow-moving systems. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/ef7WnYbJ

In 1967 and 1968 when the TT government had been negotiating with Pressprich and TWA with a view to obtaining capital injections by mid-1968, it had been the expectation of all concerned that the new capital to be brought in by the private sector would be used to provide working capital necessary for medium-range development. So disastrous were the results of the BWIA's operations for 1968, that the sum of $8 million received in 1969 was simply swallowed by current debts. In fact, the operating loss sustained by the airline in 1968 despite the efforts of experienced management amounted to $6.9 million. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/er-4F7_t

The TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber) and the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE) signed a memorandum of understanding on October 30 during the 31st Mexican Foreign Trade Congress, held in Querétaro. The signing was co-ordinated by the Embassy of Mexico in TT. This trade and business development alliance established an institutional framework for functional collaboration between the private sectors of both countries, aimed at sustainable growth, innovation, and regional economic integration. The document sets out cooperation mechanisms for the promotion of joint projects, the exchange of information, the organisation of business missions, and mutual support for trade and investment promotion. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/esrvm864

The Christmas season in Trinidad and Tobago runs from late November to early January and is marked by lively celebrations, shopping, decorations and traditional foods. However, the busy festive period often leads to reduced attention to safety, increasing the risk of accidents at home, on the roads, at work and in public spaces. Unsafe conditions and behaviours can turn celebrations into tragedy, making it essential to prioritise safety to prevent injuries, property damage and loss of life. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eU75DHKz

Five electrical graduates are on course to work for Angostura for two months at the start of the new year. They were chosen from among 30 who completed a nine-week electrical programme funded by Angostura, and conducted in collaboration with the NESC Technical Institute (NESC-TI). The customised programme – Wired for Success – focused on residential electrical installation with commercial applications. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eDz8b85Z

VENDORS trying to earn money for the Christmas season are saying it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay in business as sales have been slow, coupled with the fact that visitors are being told to carry limited cash when they leave the cruise ship to walk in Port of Spain. The cruise ship season is now in full swing with ships expected to dock in Trinidad from December until February/March. Five ships have visited this month with two of those – MSC Explora 2 and Coral Princess – arriving on December 16. Read more from the Business Day magazine in today's Newsday or on our website here: https://lnkd.in/ezgEQc8P