We hosted a Mini Conference at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya. Our Directors, and our guest speakers, gave valuable insights into Land and Property in Trinidad & Tobago.
Here’s a look at some important points that were discussed.
Afra Raymond sits with Hema Ramkissoon on the Morning Brew to discuss the newly revealed public-private agreement to finance and build 5,000 apartment units in Port of Spain and San Fernando with China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co Ltd (CGGC). Opinions on whether this is a good deal or not.
Afra Raymond talks on:
- the role and importance of stakeholder participation / buy-in / collaboration / information sharing,
- issues of transparency & accountability specifically the underlying commercial arrangements, and
- strategies for the way forward,
during this panel discussion: ‘Resort Development in Tobago: Power, Politics & People’ organized by Department of Management Studies of the University of the West Indies.
Sandals Tobago and what you need to know - an Analysis
16th DECEMBER 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogAfra Raymond was at the Scarborough Public Library in Tobago on 13 December 2018 to speak on his successful Freedom of Information request to see the Memorandum of Understanding between the T&T government and the Sandals Group to develop and run a Sandal/Beaches resort in Tobago. His analysis of the MoU was discussed and Q&A followed.
Interview on TTT on Tobago Sandals MOU
11th DECEMBER 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogAfra Raymond was interviewed on the Tobago Sandals MoU on TTT on the morning programme NOW on Tuesday 11th December 2018. Please read his interpretation of the MoU in his previous post.
Morning Brew interview on La Brea Dry Dock project
10th SEPTEMBER 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogAfra Raymond is interviewed by Hema Ramkissoon on CNC3’s ‘Morning Brew’ on Monday 10th September 2018 to discuss the recently-announced La Brea Dry Dock project with China Harbour Engineering Company. Perspectives on T&T-China relations and government-to-government contracts are given. Also touches on Curepe Interchange project.
Interview with Afra Raymond on CNC3 Morning Brew
7th AUGUST 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogThis morning on CNC3’s the Morning Brew Hema Ramkissoon spoke with Afra Raymond about HDC. Mr. Raymond said the plan under the National Housing Authority which was developed in 2002 was to build 100,000 homes in 10 years, he said the HDC has built approximately 12,000 homes. This is from 2003-2015.
Property Tax interview on Morning Brew
29th MAY 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogHema Ramkissoon on CNC3’s The Morning Brew spoke with Chartered Surveyor Afra Raymond about the Property Tax. Mr Raymond said the Tax is not a new tax.
Interview on housing policy on CTV
1st MAY 2018
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogThis is the full CTV interview with Dionne Baptiste on the national housing policy and programme on 1st May 2018.
Hotel Facts Seminar at University of West Indies
9th NOVEMBER 2017
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogThis is our Hotel Facts Seminar held at The UWI’s Noor Hassanali Auditorium on Thursday 9th November 2017 featuring Afra Raymond, David Walker and Rishi Maharaj of Disclosure Today.
We would like to thank Professor Rose-Marie Belle-Antoine, Dean of the Law Faculty, for her support, without which we would have been unable to convene this seminar. We also thank Rhoda Bharath of #newsauce and The Eternal Pantomime for being our MC/Moderator at such short notice.
Bussin’ Files, Part 2
15th NOVEMBER 2017
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogThis is the second in the Bussin’ Files series held at The Big Black Box on Wednesday 15th November 2017. In this episode we deal with the Hotel Facts research and its implications for the Sandals Tobago proposal.
I would like to thank The Big Black Box team for their support, without which we would have been unable to convene this seminar. I am especially thankful to Wendell Manwarren for being our host and MC.
UWI Engineering Faculty 2017 Prizes & Awards Ceremony feature address
24th OCTOBER 2017
View Original Article on Afra Raymond Bloghis is my keynote address to the 2017 Prize and Awards Ceremony for UWI, St Augustine’s Engineering Faculty, held at the Max Richards’ Building on Tuesday 24 October 2017. The topic was ‘The role of Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Regional Development’.
Address to 6th Annual Caribbean Valuation and Construction Conference
3rd NOVEMBER 2017
View Original Article on Afra Raymond BlogThis is my address to the 6th Annual Caribbean Valuation and Construction Conference: Best Practices and Experience Sharing hosted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the International Property Tax Institute, and the Institute of Surveyors of T&T held at the Trinidad Hilton on Friday 3 November 2017.
I spoke on the topic “Best Procurement Practice” in which I outlined the new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act and posed the question, “How effective are laws if we do not conduct ourselves ethically?”