Harsh reality
Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams has officially confirmed what everyone, except the Cabinet, had long known: the economy is in decline.
The starkest figure cited by Mr Williams when he released the Bank’s Monetary Policy Report last Thursday was related to unemployment. The unemployment rate has already moved from just over four percent last year to between six and seven percent in the first quarter of 2009. This means that the Government can no longer boast about having achieved zero unemployment in Trinidad and Tobago. But, as long as two years ago, economists such as Jawala Rambarran and Ronald Ramkissoon were warning that the unemployment figures were essentially illusory.

Central Bank gives banks a lending hand
Faced with stagnation and an inflation shadow, the Central Bank yesterday sliced off fifty basis points of its repo rate to eight percent, a move designed to get banks to reduce their interest rates and spur borrowing.

Enill: Don’t panic, economy still growing
There is no need to panic, the economy is not stalling and the increase in unemployment is only temporary, says Minister of Energy Conrad Enill.

Mariano on economic gloom: It’s not the end of the world

Selby: No surprise in $$ slowdown
A former finance minister and an independent senator agreed yesterday that the current rapid deceleration of the local economy comes as no surprise.

…Worries over recession, job losses

…Central Bank makes big ‘repo’ rate cut

NIB Director says $ crisis may force up retirement age

…Retirement age might go from 60 to 65
NATIONAL Insurance Board (NIB) executive director Jeffrey McFarlane yesterday warned that NIB may resort to changing its mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 and to up contributions in order to cope with the country’s worsening economic outlook.