Pennywise Cosmetics has been prohibited by a Judge from selling the ZO Skin Health brand of medical-grade skincare products in its ten (10) retail stores across the country. Pennywise is one of the largest retail chains in the Caribbean, which specializes in health and beauty products. ZO Skin Health is manufactured in the United States.
The order was made on Friday (12th April, 2024) by Justice Joan Charles, who granted an injunction to the Maraval-based dermatology clinic, Skin Health Institute (SHI), led by Dr. Rachel Eckel, who has used the ZO Skin Health brand at her clinic for the past seven (7) years. In an application for the injunction, Dr. Eckel and SHI maintained that the ZO product line was medical-grade and was intended to be physician-controlled only, so the products could only be sold through physician-dispensed channels. The injunction application contended that in August 2023, the claimants — SHI, Dr. Eckel and Barbados-based Dermedica Medical Limited, the exclusive distributor of the ZO product line in the Caribbean — discovered that Pennywise began selling twenty (20) items from the ZO product line. “Pennywise is neither a ZO subsidiary, sales agent partner nor a ZO distribution partner…” It also contended that Pennywise purported to have permission to sell the products when it was not authorized to do so. The three (3) claimants have alleged Pennywise engaged in unfair competition, “passing off” the product, misrepresenting its association with the products and engaging in “deception” by its advertising of the ZO products while telling its customers they could get a prescription from Dr. Eckel or get advice from her and SHI. Dr. Eckel and SHI further contended that Pennywise’s actions, in linking itself to them, were “an overt act intended to make a connection…and thereby cause damage to the claimants’ sales and reputation.” Pennywise’s Attorneys, however, argued that the company had breached no law and had always engaged in honest business practices. They also pointed out that ZO products were available, without a prescription, from international retail sources such as Walmart, Amazon and eBay. Pennywise’s defence said the company had no interest in being associated with SHI or Dr. Eckel as it had its own independent, well-established reputation while also accusing both of attempting to “obtain a monopoly” over the local sale of ZO products. This, the local retail chain said, was contrary to the spirit and tenor of the Protection Against Unfair Competition Act. Their Attorneys also pointed out that the ZO product labels show that physician supervision is not mandatory for persons using the ZO products, while accusing the claimants of setting out to “create fear and hysteria. Additionally, the importation of the products was not flagged by any Government agency as being illegal and/or unlawful.” In her ruling, Justice Charles said it was not in dispute that the ZO line of products was introduced by SHI and Eckel in 2016. She said from the evidence presented, it showed that Pennywise’s employees were relying on the reputation and goodwill of SHI to sell the products and there were “false statements” as being the exclusive distributor. “The advertisements, signage and statements combined to create a false impression to the public and were likely to deceive customers into believing that Pennywise had collaborated with the claimants in providing the products for sale and that it was the sole distributor of said products. I, therefore, hold that there is evidence of an intention to deceive the public which could likely lead to the public being deceived.” She further stated, “The issue regarding the authenticity of the products on sale by the defendant is one for trial, but at this stage, it is clear that they did not have exclusive rights to sell the products neither were they sourced from the manufacturer as the claimants’ products were.” According to the Judge, SHI and Dr. Eckel stood “to lose more” on sales if Pennywise was allowed to continue to sell the ZO product line until trial. Pennywise was therefore prohibited from passing off ZO Skin Health products until the trial, could not sell the line at its stores, and had to remove all the products from the line from its shelves, as well as all advertising material and social media posts. Pennywise had previously agreed to remove the line from its shelves in October 2023, until the Judge gave her decision on the injunction application. The ZO line of products was invented by Dr. Zein Obagi, a Pathologist and Dermatologist with forty (40) years of clinical experience. SHI, Dr. Eckel and Dermedica Medical Limited were represented by Attorneys Terrence Bharath, SC, Shiv Sharma and Daniella Bharath, while Pennywise was represented by Larry Lalla, SC, Vivek Lakhan-Joseph and Taruna Mangroo. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Newsday]
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The bodies of three (3) children, including two (2) sisters, were recovered by rescue teams after they allegedly drowned in a pond in Guyana on Tuesday night (26th March, 2024). The deceased have been identified as 6-year-old Nia Jeffreys, her 5-year-old sister, Michele and their 9-year-old cousin, Alicia Dorrick.
According to reports, the children left their parents’ home and went to swim in the Razor Grass pond, located in the small Massara Village, North Rupununi, where they all subsequently drowned.
Commander of the Regional Police Division, Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose, confirmed the tragic incident. “Upon discovering their absence, their parents initiated a search, eventually leading them to the Razor Grass pond, where the bodies of the three (3) girls were found floating in the water,” Police said in a statement The bodies of the children have since been taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. Investigations are continuing. More on this as it becomes available. [Source: Uncutt] Prime Minister Keith Rowley received a courtesy call from Miss World Trinidad and Tobago and newly crowned Miss World Caribbean 2024, Aché Abrahams, at Whitehall in Port-of-Spain on Thursday (21st March, 2024). According to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Senator the Hon. Randall Mitchell, Minister of Youth Development and National Service, the Hon. Foster Cummings and Minister of Education, Dr. the Hon. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly were also in attendance. Co-Franchise Owner - Miss World Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Boodhai and National Pageant Director - Miss World Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs. Charu Lochan Dass, accompanied the Miss World Caribbean to Thursday’s meeting.
Parents of Miss Aché Abrahams, Ms. Camille Abrahams and Mr. Carl Abarhams were also present at the meeting. Pictured Above: Miss World T&T Aché Abrahams, 24. Following Miss World Trinidad and Tobago, Aché Abrahams, becoming the new Miss World Americas and the Caribbean, after reaching the top four (4) at the 71st Miss World Pageant in India on Saturday (9th March, 2024), both Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar have paid their tributes. In a brief statement via the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Sunday (10th March, 2024), Prime Minister Rowley said, “Thank you for representing Trinidad and Tobago with such class and poise!” Also on Sunday, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said, “Aché, your achievement is one of the best things to happen to Trinidad and Tobago in a long while, we celebrate you and thank you for inspiring all of us, especially the young people of our country to be a voice, an advocate, and an example for others to follow!” She added, “You uplifted our nation and brought immense national pride at a critical and difficult time in our nation's history. Keep being that beacon of hope and the light that dispels the darkness.” The 71st Miss World Pageant was held on Saturday at the Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, India. Abrahams, 24, brought Trinidad and Tobago to the closest it has been to the Miss World crown in years.
Abrahams worked her way through the top forty (40) contestants, top twelve (12) and top eight (8) before she beat Miss Brazil to come out on top of the Americas and the Caribbean region. Abrahams, Lesego Chombo of Botswana, Krystyna Pyszkova of Czech Republic and Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon, were the top four (4) contestants. Pyszkova was crowned Miss World while Zaytoun was first runner-up. Pictured Above: Miss World T&T Aché Abrahams, 24. Miss World Trinidad and Tobago, Aché Abrahams, is the new Miss World Americas and the Caribbean after reaching the top four (4) at the 71st Miss World Pageant, held earlier today (Saturday 9th March, 2024) at the Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai, India. Abrahams, 24, brought Trinidad and Tobago to the closest it has been to the Miss World crown in years. Abrahams worked her way through the top forty (40) contestants, top twelve (12) and top eight (8) before she beat Miss Brazil to come out on top of the Americas and the Caribbean region. Abrahams, Lesego Chombo of Botswana, Krystyna Pyszkova of Czech Republic and Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon, were the top four (4) contestants. Pyszkova was crowned Miss World while Zaytoun was first runner-up. Abrahams faced two (2) question-and-answer segments. She was first asked, “According to you, what is the most pressing issue that most working women face, and why?” She replied, “I have to say it’s not a lack of talent or skills, it’s a lack of opportunities. So I’m grateful for Miss World for giving me this platform because you’re allowing me to follow my dreams.” She sent a message to the girls and boys from the country, saying, “Your voice is just as powerful as everyone else’s.” In her second question, she was asked to “pitch” to the Shark Tank India Judges as to why she should win the competition. To which she replied, “In sweet T&T we say may every creed and race find an equal place. I live my life every day with that motto, with that mantra. I believe Miss World has a similar mantra. I believe when you have compassion and understanding for differences, you can really make a difference in the world and work hand in hand to create a bright future. For me I am so honoured to be here and to share the mindset of T&T because we can truly make a difference. In Trinidad and Tobago, we acknowledge our similarities but more importantly, we celebrate our differences. We see the beauty in diversity and we promote inclusion.” The only Trinidadian to win the Miss World Pageant was Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde-West in 1986. Michelle Khan and Gabrielle Walcott both placed third at the 45th and 58th editions of the Miss World contest in 1995 and 2008, respectively.
[Source: CNC3] Prime Minister Keith Rowley will be hosting a Press Conference at 2:30 PM this afternoon (Wednesday 28th February, 2024) to discuss several important matters concerning Trinidad and Tobago. Today’s Press Conference was announced earlier today by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 2:30 PM, courtesy of TTT. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) announced a short while ago that Prime Minister Keith Rowley will be hosting a Press Conference at 2:30 PM this afternoon (Wednesday 28th February, 2024) at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport. No further details were provided by the OPM.
Prime Minister Rowley left for Guyana on Sunday 18th February, 2024, where he participated in Guyana’s 2024 Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, which commenced on Monday 19th February, 2024. He attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and also delivered an address at the opening ceremony, in which he stated: “With the emergence of our region as a significant player in the hydrocarbon industry, we are presented with a valuable chance to proactively utilize our combined knowledge and expertise in order to maximize future prospects. By ensuring our region fully capitalizes on its resources, including human and mechanical, we can guarantee the alignment of energy and industrial transformations with a collaborative economic strategy. For successful implementation, these strategies must be accompanied by efficient and effective public management systems and integration into the local economy through shared infrastructure and value chains. To this end, we in the deep southern Caribbean are currently actively engaged in spawning a cargo ferry service which we are confident can grow into a major catalyst for welcomed regional collaboration, development and diversification.”
While in Guyana, the Prime Minister also attended the Forty-Sixth (46th) Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
Regional leaders focused on several issues, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Food and Nutrition Security, Climate Resilience, Energy Security and Regional Security. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has announced that Prime Minister Keith Rowley will travel to Guyana today (Sunday 18th February, 2024), where he will participate in Guyana’s 2024 Energy Conference and Supply Expo.
The Conference is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Monday 19th February, 2024). The Prime Minister is expected to deliver an address at the opening ceremony. The theme of the event is “Fuelling Transformation and Modernisation.” The OPM said it aims to foster the exchange of innovative ideas, proposals, and strategies for substantial advancements within the energy sector. Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Stuart Young, will accompany the Prime Minister to the Conference. While in Guyana, Prime Minister Rowley will also attend the Forty-Sixth (46th) Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The meeting will be held under the Chairmanship of the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The OPM notes that regional leaders will focus on several issues, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Food and Nutrition Security, Climate Resilience, Energy Security and Regional Security. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, will join Prime Minister Rowley at the CARICOM meeting. Minister of Finance, the Hon. Colm Imbert, will act as Prime Minister in the interim.
A team of high-power Officials met at the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Head Office on Thursday (15th February, 2024) to initiate discussions on the operationalization of an Intra-Regional Ferry Service.
Hosted by Senator the Honourable Rohan Sinanan, Minister of Works and Transport, other regional Ministers included the Honourable G.P. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport (Barbados) and the Honourable Deodat Indar, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works (Guyana). Dr. Pauline Yearwood, Deputy Programme Manager Directorate of Trade and Economic Integration, Caribbean Community Secretariat and other regional Officials in the areas of Immigration, Customs and Plant Quarantine were also present. In a Media Release today (Friday 16th February, 2024), the Ministry of Works and Transport said intra-regional transportation has remained a focus of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for several years. In 2022, CARICOM Heads of Government, as part of the regional thrust to achieve the Twenty-Five by 2025 Initiative, namely, to reduce CARICOM's food import bill by 25% by the year 2025, identified the lack of regional transportation as a major challenge to regional security and the movement of agricultural products throughout the region.
At the meeting, chaired by the Honourable Deodat Indar, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, each Minister reiterated the objective verbalized by leaders of the three (3) CARICOM States to promote regional food security. Toward this end, it was identified that the three (3) countries were on the cusp of the formation of a company to drive the process for the introduction of a regional ferry service. This company would comprise Directors from each country to facilitate operations.
The meeting also focused on the issues surrounding possible pre-clearance in the three (3) areas of customs, immigration and plant quarantine. The present position in each area was identified by representatives and each delegation undertook to meet and provide details of possible issues and solutions based on the respective areas. A commitment was given that the highest level of public health, security and safety would be maintained. In charting the way forward, Ministers of each country took responsibility for the co-ordination of a specific area which technical teams would address. The Media Release concluded by saying, “Minister Rohan Sinanan stated that Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to be a part of this significant initiative which seeks to benefit the wider Caribbean by facilitating greater integration for the free movement of goods and services.” Following the public concern raised because of a video circulating on social media, showing an adult female gyrating on a minor, the Cyber and Social Media Unit (CSMU) conducted investigations to ascertain the origin of the video.
In a Media Release this afternoon (Thursday 15th February, 2024), the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said after a thorough investigation, the Officers concluded that the video is an old video and is not a local video. The video originated in Antigua and Barbuda for Carnival celebrations in St. John’s in 2019. The TTPS said the number plate seen in the video on the white truck, though not fully visible, is that of an Antiguan number plate design. Although the video clip did not originate in this country, the TTPS is still urging the public to desist from sharing any video of this nature as doing so may amount to child pornography, contrary to Section 40 of the Children Act. |
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