Latest news with #TrinidadTobago
Washington Post
03-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
India's Modi arrives in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen ties in first official visit
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday for a two-day trip expected to boost investments in energy, health, security and other sectors. It is Modi's first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean nation. More than 35% of its 1.4 million inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during the colonial era.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Worldwide Reinsurance Limited
MEXICO CITY, July 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb-" (Good) of Worldwide Reinsurance Limited (Worldwide Re) (Trinidad and Tobago). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is positive. The ratings reflect Worldwide Re's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM). The positive outlooks reflect Worldwide Re's improvements to its ERM profile through enhancements to its non-proportional retrocession structure and further reinforcement of its corporate governance, which safeguards its strongest risk-adjusted capitalization supportive of a stable balance sheet strength, and sound operating performance. Worldwide Re launched operations in 2013, to provide reinsurance capacity for property, marine and liability lines of business and is diversified geographically throughout Europe, where the majority of its business is currently located, Oceania, Asia, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Worldwide Re operates through a network of brokers, intermediaries and managing general agents. The ratings also reflect Worldwide Re's good and sustained underwriting quality and profitability, solid capital management and geographically diversified premiums. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors are the highly competitive landscape in its target geographic markets amid a challenging economic environment. The company's capital base has grown consistently over time through reinvestment of earnings, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 10.5% as of 2024, mainly driven by sound underwriting practices. In 2024, Worldwide Re recorded a combined ratio of 72.7% and a return on equity of 31.4%, enabled by a surge in its growth and well-contained overall expenses, as well as a release of excess reserves. Additionally, AM Best expects future acquisition expenses to offset deviations in claims as the company decreases its risk retention, while expanding consistently in target geographies, along with a good reinsurance security panel. Financial income continues to support Worldwide Re's results; however, the company is not dependent on this revenue to achieve positive bottom-line results. Worldwide Re constantly reviews its underwriting guidelines to improve the performance of its business segments that are deviating from targets. Positive rating actions could occur if the company is able to maintain improvements in its ERM profile, while maintaining its current level of risk-adjusted capitalization supporting a stable balance sheet. Negative rating actions could occur if the company's operating performance deteriorates to a level no longer supportive of the ratings. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on Contacts Salvador Smith, CQF Associate Director, Analytics +52 55 9085 7506 Alfonso Novelo Senior Director, Analytics +52 55 9085 7501 Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
India's Modi arrives in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen ties in first official visit
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday for a two-day trip expected to boost investments in energy, health, security and other sectors. It is Modi's first official visit to the diverse, twin-island Caribbean nation. More than 35% of its 1.4 million inhabitants are East Indian, descendants of indentured workers brought from India during the colonial era. Modi said on X prior to the trip that he was 'looking forward to deepening ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share very old cultural linkages.' Hours before Modi landed in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, closed schools and non-essential government offices as a security measure aimed at reducing traffic. Modi was scheduled to meet with officials on Thursday evening and address both Houses of Parliament on Friday, as well as sign several agreements. While many in Trinidad and Tobago's Hindu community were excited about Modi's visit, the nation's largest Muslim organization, the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association, had its reservations. In a letter sent to a local newspaper, the association criticized Modi's government, saying it has 'emboldened religious intolerance and targeted the Muslim community' in India. 'We cannot ignore Mr. Modi's political legacy and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally,' the association said. About 18% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is Hindu, while 5% is Muslim. Modi is scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina this weekend and meet with President Javier Milei.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Parents Want a ‘90s Kid Summer' for Their Families—but Is It Realistic?
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Riding bikes to the local library. Splashy days at the public pool. The thrill of chasing ice cream trucks. The hunt for open fire hydrants. Unstructured playtime outside until the first whispers of dusk flutter across the sky. These are just a smattering of memories of a '90s summer that parents online are sharing as they consider the type of summer they want to provide for their kids. I get the appeal. I grew up in Trinidad & Tobago and often spent summers in New York City with my family. The heat coupled with the energy of the city created unforgettable childhood memories that I yearn for my kids to experience. A new Instacart x Harris Poll reveals that 71% of parents reminisce about their childhood summers and want to give their kids the same experience. For those who grew up in the '90s that figure jumps to 79%. Fewer screens, more outdoor play, and nostalgic snacks were some of the things that made these summers so memorable. There are benefits to this type of summer, such as increased self-mastery skills, more opportunities for creativity, emotional regulation, and stress reduction, says Sarah Harris, LMFT-S, a play therapist and family therapist. But the reality is it's not attainable for everyone. In a viral video, one mom points out that the '90s kid summer' trend doesn't work for every family for various reasons. Her takeaway: 'Do a '90s summer if it works for you and your family.' And if it doesn't work, that's OK too. My partner and I usually lock in our children's summer camp registrations by mid-March. We get nervous about the notion of having to entertain two restless children—with our jobs pressing from all ends—for the months of summer break. When we do try to capture some of the '90s summer vibe and keep them home, the balance of screen-free time, unstructured play, meal prep (three times a day every day!), and a healthy dose of sibling bickering can be, well, not great. And in 2025, all parents in a home may work because of the increased cost of living. That makes it that much harder to be around to support a child's '90s summer. 'There is privilege in being able to offer your child/ren a '90s summer,' says Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, a mother of four and producer of the Freedom Summer Camp in New York City. 'To do this, normally, at least one parent is working from home, and can take on the emotional and practical labor of making sure the kids are fed and not on screens all day. Plus, not everyone has a backyard or otherwise accessible and available outdoor place to roam.' As mentioned in the aforementioned Instagram video, for some kids who are neurodiverse, a summer that lacks structure and routine may spell disaster. And many families live in cities where free play in the streets for little ones simply isn't logistically safe. So, us parents are left with that yearning for the childhood we wish our kids could have and, as is often the case, we blame ourselves for not doing our best to provide them with that. 'I'm also thinking about the social and political background of the world that I also feel heavily as a parent, and wonder how that plays into my kids ability to have a '90s summer, and mine to parent for one,' Ashcraft adds. 'It's all very heavy, and shutting it all out is an act of privilege. Even so, cultivating rest and joy are necessary for collective liberation. So that balance is necessary and important.' Could there be a middle ground, though? Is there a way to include the elements of a '90s summer even as we deal with the realities of being parents in 2025? Unstructured play and minimal screen time are just a few of the tenets of the summer many parents may dream of and there are ways to infuse some of that into our kids' lives. Parents can plan with their kids on how to make it work for them. 'Over the summer, kids need a blend of unstructured and structured time,' explains Harris. 'Blended time can look like a child and parent collaboratively planning how they will spend the next day.' This mixture allows for some autonomy on the part of the child to aid in helping their creativity. For parents who need or prefer to put their little ones in summer camp, Harris recommends a few things to look out for when choosing one. 'Camps with mainly outdoor activities, or ones that incorporate free play in their schedule or have very limited screen time are ideal,' she advises. Camps can be a relief for parents whose work schedules remain unchanged in the summer months and it doesn't have to mean that their kids miss out on the fun. 'Summer camp gives kids and families something they often can't get during the year: time to play and learn without the pressure of testing and grades," says Adam Jacobs, a former summer camp director for 20 years and the current co-executive director of the National School Climate Center. That can even be the case in camps that focus on a specific theme, such as music, basketball, or theater, because there's typically still time for unstructured free play. "That's when kids learn from each other, interact with camp staff informally, pretend, imagine, try new things, and sometimes fail, all in a monitored, safe environment," explains Jacobs. And what can us parents do at home? Families can try a '90s summer morning or evening routine, Harris recommends. Pick a day or two a week, leave the phones indoors, invite some neighborhood kids to join, and engage in outdoor activities like a short hike, a scavenger hunt, or a walking tour of a new neighborhood. If you have sprinklers, turn them on or search for an open fire hydrant, if you're a city family. Families can also try outdoor reading time together in their backyard, local park, or front lawn. Ashcraft, who lives in the city with her family, says they're able to let creativity flow, even when indoors. 'On the second day of summer, I found my children making a fort and producing a stop motion film, simply because I'd let them know the night before that it was going to be a screen-free day without any plans,' says Ashcraft. Whether a family chooses summer camp, a completely unstructured summer, or a mix of both, parents should try to shift away from the guilt of not providing their children with exactly what they had as children. After all, our children are living in a different time which comes with a unique set of opportunities and choices. So, don't get too stuck in nostalgia. Find the right fit for your children and have a bit of fun with them along the way. Read the original article on Parents
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trinidad and Tobago's move to honor Indian PM Modi divides opinion
News that Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will receive Trinidad and Tobago's highest honour during a historic visit to the country has been welcomed by the Indo-Trinidadian Hindu population but has drawn strong objections from the country's largest Muslim organisation. Modi's two-day visit to the country on Thursday marks the first time a sitting Indian prime minister sets foot in Trinidad and Tobago. Modi accepted the invitation from the recently appointed prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has longstanding diplomatic ties with India. India and Trinidad and Tobago share a diplomatic relationship stretching back decades and anchored in the legacy of Indian indentureship. Announcing the decision to honour Modi with the prestigious Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) during his visit, the government described it as 'a tribute of the nation's appreciation for prime minister Modi's outstanding contribution to the development of Trinidad and Tobago; and service to the region and wider international community'. But on Wednesday the Anjuman Sunnat-ul-Jamaat Association (ASJA) said it planned to write to the prime minister's office and the Indian high commission to express concern over the honour being extended to a political leader they say has a widely criticised human rights record. In a statement signed by general secretary Rahimool Hosein, the ASJA said it has 'deep and principled concern' about the state's legitimisation of a figure they believe has emboldened religious intolerance in India and targeted the Muslim minority. 'We cannot ignore Mr Modi's political legacy and its ramifications for Muslim communities globally,' the organisation said. The ASJA referenced the revocation of Kashmir's special status, and the 2002 Gujarat riots, during which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time, though the Indian supreme court cleared him of wrongdoing in 2022. The ASJA also pointed to continuing criticism from international human rights groups. While some Muslim communities and human rights advocates have criticised Modi's policies, he has also received state honours from several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The ASJA said it welcomed opportunities for interfaith dialogue but were 'compelled to clarify that interfaith dialogue requires more than polite diplomacy, it necessitates justice, truth, and accountability'. About 35% to 40% of Trinidad and Tobago's population is of Indian descent, one of the largest and most prominent Indo-diasporic communities in the Caribbean. Most trace their roots to the approximately 143,000 indentured workers brought from India between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar estates after the abolition of slavery. Leaders from the Indo-Trinidadian Hindu population have welcomed Modi's visit. 'This moment means something profound,' said Dr Devant Maharaj, a former UNC government minister and former executive member of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), Trinidad and Tobago's largest Hindu organisation. Describing Modi as a 'hero', Maharaj said: 'It is not just about politics or diplomacy. It is about the reawakening of a people who were once scattered but never severed. For Indo-Trinidadian Hindus, Modi's India feels like a karmic realignment – a mother remembering her children, and the children looking homeward with both awe and affirmation.' Under Modi's leadership, India has sought to deepen ties with the Caribbean. Earlier this year, he visited the oil-rich Caribbean nation of Guyana, where he met with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and other leaders from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), an intergovernmental organisation of 15 Caribbean nations, at a Caricom-India Summit. On social media, there have been mixed reactions to the visit, with some people supporting diplomatic ties and others questioning the logic behind the ORTT honour. Modi's trip to Trinidad and Tobago is said to be a part of a broader diplomatic tour spanning Africa and the Americas. After departing Port of Spain on 4 July, the prime minister will travel to Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. The Guardian has contacted Persad-Bissessar's office for comment and the Indian high commission in Trinidad and Tobago.
