Business as usual for Warriors’ games

WITH one day to go before Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors begin their 2006 World Cup campaign against Sweden in Dortmund, Germany, the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce has said that “globally competitive nations and companies do not shut down because of World Cup matches.”
In a statement Wednesday, the chamber said while it recognised the role of sports in nation building, it was also necessary to “maintain our balance between this objective and the necessity to remain safe, competitive and productive.”
The chamber said employers could give their workers the opportunity to watch or listen to TT’s World Cup games against Sweden tomorrow, England on June 15 and Paraguay on June 20 but this may not be possible for all businesses.
The chamber added that for some industries, such as those dealing with safety or health, flexibility to watch TT’s World Cup matches may not be an option.
On last week’s Regulated Industries Commission announcement of higher electricity rates, the chamber said there will be some increased costs for some companies but its main concern was the practice of price-gouging and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs should take steps to ensure that the population “does not suffer any unjustified consequences of this increase.”
The chamber said higher electricity rates by themselves will not affect TT’s overall competitiveness. The chamber identified customs reform, providing a crime-free environment and updating TT’s financial regulatory framework as some of the factors which could affect TT’s competitiveness.