Orlando -- Consular officers from Caribbean nations will gather in Orlando for the second time this year to hear questions and concerns from their countries' nationals at a town-hall meeting organized by the Conference of Heads of Caribbean Organizations in Central Florida.

Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are expected to attend.

Petrotrin and Schlumberger have successfully deployed the PeriScope* 15 well placement technology for Petrotrin in the North Soldado field off the southwest coast of Trinidad.

Petrotrin, the national oil company of Trinidad and Tobago, deployed PeriScope 15 as part of a production enhancement campaign. PeriScope 15 was used to address a geological well placement challenge in the North Soldado Field. PeriScope 15 navigated a thin bed of oil-bearing sand in well S854, despite the complex subsurface environment. More than 1325 feet of oil-bearing sand between six and 10 feet thick was penetrated.

Observer Reporter

FOREIGN Minister K D Knight yesterday welcomed the resolution of the work permit impasse which had threatened to deny six Jamaican workers employment in Trinidad and Tobago.

The impasse had resulted after the government of Trinidad and Tobago rejected requests for certificates of employment for the workers from the West Indian Tobacco Company, which is owned by British American Tobacco Company.
The West Indian Tobacco Company is affiliated to the Carreras Group.

BY ASHA JAVEED

Do not expect a Digicel service until April 30. This is the official word from its rival and incumbent provider, TSTT.

“Digicel well knows the interconnection process because they underwent the same process in all of the Caribbean countries in which they now operate. And they know the time frames. It is not something which you can take out of a shelf,” said Lisa Agard, vice-president of TSTT’s Legal Regulatory and Carrier Services.

By Gail Alexander, Trinidad Guardian

UNC chairman Basdeo Panday made it clear at Wednesday’s meeting with leader Winston Dookeran that the Opposition Leader’s post is not vacant, sources told the Trinidad Guardian yesterday.

The issue was among several discussed at Wednesday’s “secret” meeting among Panday, Dookeran and UNC deputies Jack Warner, Wade Mark and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at Dookeran’s Trincity home.

Canadian oil company Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM) invested Cdn$21mn (US$17.8mn) in Trinidad during the third quarter to spud its first onshore exploration well on the Eastern block, president and CEO Jim Buckee said.

The Zaboca well is the first of three planned exploration wells, Buckee said in a conference call on Wednesday to discuss Q3 results.

Moreover Talisman also began drilling a development well in Q3 and the target depth is nearly reached, he said. Investment in this well was Cdn$2mn during the quarter.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) -- Spanish energy firm Repsol YPF purchased a $229 million (euro 189 million) controlling stake in three Trinidadian oil fields from BP Trinidad and Tobago and plans to further invest in the Caribbean.

The Spain-based Repsol energy conglomerate secured a 70 percent stake in three of BP Trinidad and Tobago's fields off Trinidad southeast coast, which have been producing for more than 30 years. The government of Trinidad government holds a 30 percent stake.

Hauliers at the nation’s ports are planning to with hold labour next week in protest of the worsening crime situation.

Secretary of the Hauliers Association, Curtis Seepersad tells us his membership feels it is under attack.

Speaking with i95.5 News Now a short while ago Mr. Seepersad said there have been recent attempts to kidnap and rob some of his members.

He said it appears the authorities hands are tied.

Mr. Seepersad said as a result of the situation operations at the ports would be affected.

But he said the demonstration is necessary.