Two headlines

Jan 06, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor, 

Perusing the independent newspapers on New Year’s Day several interesting items  caught my attention.  However, they were two that stood out: ‘Trinidad supermarkets now locking away cheese to stop shoplifters’ and ‘Remote MD files for bankruptcy, local companies owed over $100m’ (Both headlines in SN).

Supermarkets in neighbouring Trinidad have resorted to placing cheese and luxury meat products under lock and key in an effort to deter shoplifters. During the Christmas season, particularly, there were almost daily videos on social media of persons going into stores and supermarkets locally and pilfering items from shelves.  Maybe it is a chronic situation, regardless of where ever it is taking place.  Would we have to consider the Trinidad initiative?

The second headline is vexatious as a foreign company came in, suddenly file for bankruptcy, while leaving local companies in a quandry, wondering if they are left holding the proverbial stick. Just what safeguards, if any, were built into the local contracts, it has to be queried?  Our several experiences with airlines which folded, leaving passengers stranded among other ills, should have taught us to be wary and put the necessary safeguards in place.  This is a classic example where a foreign company has a recourse while locals are left to fend for itselves.  Can it get any more unfair than this?

Regards,

Shamshun Mohamed