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       T R O U B L E D   C O M P A N Y   R E P O R T E R

                 L A T I N   A M E R I C A

          Friday, August 16, 2024, Vol. 25, No. 165

                           Headlines



A R G E N T I N A

ARGENTINA: Cash Tips Nears End Amid Fintech Boom


C A Y M A N   I S L A N D S

AKSO HEALTH: Onestop Assurance PAC Raises Going Concern Doubt


C H I L E

NOVA AUSTRAL: Bankruptcy Threat Finally Lifted


D O M I N I C A N   R E P U B L I C

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: St. Domingo, Santiago Gets 60% of Remittances


M E X I C O

JUS DOORS: Seeks Approval to Hire Daniel Forlano as Accountant


P E R U

NAUTILUS INKIA: Moody's Withdraws 'Ba2' CFR on Debt Redemption


P U E R T O   R I C O

EDGAR COLON: 1st Cir Upholds Ruling on Post-Dismissal Fees
OPTIQUS VISION: Hires Almeida & Davila P.S.C as Counsel


T R I N I D A D   A N D   T O B A G O

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery Headache Continues

                           - - - - -


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A R G E N T I N A
=================

ARGENTINA: Cash Tips Nears End Amid Fintech Boom
------------------------------------------------
Patrick Gillespie at Bloomberg News reports that tips are finally
going digital in Argentina thanks to both a boom in financial
technology and a footnote in President Javier Milei's "shock
therapy" plan to overhaul the economy.

E-commerce giant MercadoLibre Inc's payments unit, Mercado Pago,
has designed a new function in its widely used app specifically for
tipping, Bloomberg News notes.  The change reflects how fintech has
been integrated into cash-heavy Argentina, which had 312 firms in
the sector last year up from 72 in 2017, according to an
Inter-American Development Bank report, Bloomberg News discloses.

The latest update to the app - which is only available to Argentine
residents - builds on a growing, albeit uneven, trend of some wait
staff giving customers their personal Mercado Pago alias for tips
in the way Americans use Venmo or Zelle, Bloomberg News  relays.

"The spread of digital payments and decline of cash use started to
negatively impact the amount of tips waiters received," Agustin
Onagoity, senior director for Mercado Pago Argentina, said in a
statement.  "Our users and gastronomy workers really demanded a
tips solution."

Milei, meanwhile, will propose a law to formalise tipping on credit
and debit cards, while his government is paving the way for
commuters to pay for public transport with QR codes or a card like
in New York or London, Bloomberg News says.  Cash is still required
to top up a Sube  public transit card in Buenos Aires subway
station kiosks, though digital refill options exist too, Bloomberg
News discloses.

To be clear, another type of cash - US dollars - still flourishes
in Argentina, one of the top recipients worldwide of US banknotes,
according to US Federal Reserve research. Argentines hold billions
in US cash outside the formal banking system, economists estimate,
Bloomberg News says.  

Dollars aside, all tangible signs suggest the reign of peso
banknotes is ending, Bloomberg News notes.  Cash payments at
supermarkets in May made up only 17 percent of total purchases,
down from 36 percent in early 2020, Bloomberg News says.  Credit
card payments have surged as Argentines take advantage of payment
installments without interest to stretch out their buying power in
a country where 270 percent annual inflation erodes wage growth,
Bloomberg News discloses.

                      About Argentina

Argentina is a country located mostly in the southern half of
South
America. Its capital is Buenos Aires. Javier Milei is the current
president of Argentina after winning the November 19, 2023 general
election. He succeeded Alberto Angel Fernandez in the position.

Argentina has the third largest economy in Latin America.  The
country's economy is an upper middle-income economy for fiscal
year 2019, according to the World Bank. Historically, however, its
economic performance has been very uneven, with high economic
growth alternating with severe recessions, income maldistribution
and in the recent decades, increasing poverty.

The IMF's executive board completed on August 23, 2023, the fifth
and six reviews of Argentina's 30-month Extended Fund Facility
(EFF), and approved a US$7.5-billion disbursement to Argentina as
part of the larger program, which refinances payments Argentina
owes the institution from a previous bailout that failed to
stabilize the economy in 2018. Argentina would receive another IMF
disbursement in November of about US$2.75 billion pending another
staff-level agreement and board approval.

S&P Global Ratings, on Aug. 8, 2024, affirmed its 'CCC/C' foreign
and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Argentina. S&P also
affirmed its 'raB+' national scale rating on the country. The
outlook on the long-term ratings remains stable. S&P's 'CCC'
transfer and convertibility assessment for Argentina remains
unchanged.

S&P said the stable outlook on the long-term ratings balances the
risks posed by pronounced economic imbalances and other
uncertainties with recent progress in making fiscal adjustments,
reducing inflation, and undertaking structural reforms to address
long-standing microeconomic weaknesses that have contributed to
poor economic performance for many years.s that it
would likely consider to be distressed.

Fitch Ratings upgraded on June 13, 2023, Argentina's Long-Term
Foreign Currency (FC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'CC' from
'C'and affirmed the Long-Term Local Currency (LC) IDR at 'CCC-'.
Fitch typically does not assign Outlooks to sovereigns with a
rating of 'CCC+' or below.

The upgrade of the FC IDR reflects that Fitch no longer deems a
default-like process to have begun, as the authorities have not
signaled a clear intention to follow through with an intra-public
debt swap announced in March. The new 'CC' rating signals a
default
event of some sort appears probable in the coming years,
regardless
of the outcome of upcoming elections. The affirmation of the LC
IDR
at 'CCC-' follows the peso debt swap in June that Fitch did not
deem to be a "distressed debt exchange" (DDE).

Moody's Investors Service, in September 2022, affirmed Argentina's
Ca foreign-currency and local-currency long-term issuer and senior
unsecured ratings.  The outlook remains stable.  The decision to
affirm the Ca ratings balances Argentina's limited market access,
weak governance, and history of recurrent debt restructurings with
recent efforts to marshal fiscal and monetary measures to start
addressing underlying macroeconomic imbalances in the context of
the IMF program that was approved in 2022, according to Moody's.

DBRS, Inc. confirmed Argentina's Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer
Rating at CCC and downgraded its Long-Term Local Currency Issuer
Rating to CCC from CCC (high) on March 3, 2023.



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C A Y M A N   I S L A N D S
===========================

AKSO HEALTH: Onestop Assurance PAC Raises Going Concern Doubt
-------------------------------------------------------------
Akso Health Group disclosed in a Form 20-F Report filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2024, that its auditor has expressed substantial doubt
about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Singapore-based Onestop Assurance PAC, the Company's auditor since
2022, issued a 'going concern' qualification in its report dated
July 30, 2024, citing that the Company had a net loss of
approximately $9.5 million from operations for the year ended
March 31, 2024, and approximately $1.2 million for the year
ended March 31, 2023. These conditions raise substantial doubt
about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company's net cash provided by operating activities from
continuing operation was US$0.7 million for the year ended March
31, 2024 and the net cash used in operating activities was US$3.3
million for the year ended March 31, 2023. According to the
Company, Management has considered whether there is substantial
doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern due to the
Company's healthcare business as well as its planned new business
as a cancer therapy and radiotherapy oncology service provider and
evaluated its available cash balance against its working capital
requirements and investment to the cancer centers over the next
twelve months.

While management cannot accurately predict the prospects and
regulatory environment of the healthcare service industry, the
management believes that the Company would have sufficient funds
to meet its working capital requirements for fiscal year 2025, and
that its capital resources are currently sufficient to maintain
its business operations for the next 12 months.

A full-text copy of the Company's Form 20-F is available at:

                  https://tinyurl.com/2du33578

                         About Akso Health

Akso Health Group (NASDAQ: AHG), formerly known as Xiaobai Maimai
Inc., was founded on April 25, 2016 in the Cayman Islands, and
operates a social e-commerce platform in China that collaborates
with other domestic e-commerce platforms and offers users a wide
selection of high-quality and affordable products.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $142 million in total assets,

$3.6 million in total liabilities, and $138.4 in total equity.




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C H I L E
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NOVA AUSTRAL: Bankruptcy Threat Finally Lifted
----------------------------------------------
Fish Farmer Magazine reports that troubled Chilean salmon-farming
company Nova Austral appears to have been given the go-ahead to
continue with its reorganization.

Following a new appeal by the company and other organizations, a
court in the south of the country has permanently reversed a
bankruptcy order, according to the report.

A temporary appeal was allowed in May, the report notes.  This
means a long running saga, and a series of delays which saw the
business come close to being wound up or sold, should at last be
over, the report relays.

As reported in the Troubled Company Reporter-Latin America on Aug.
11, 2023,  Bloomberg News reports that the owners of Chilean salmon
farmer Nova Austral SA have presented a debt restructuring plan
that would transfer ownership to creditors -- but it may pit
bondholders against a bank.

Nova Austral, owned by Norwegian private equity firm Altor Equity
Partners, presented the plan at a Chilean court, according to the
report.




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D O M I N I C A N   R E P U B L I C
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: St. Domingo, Santiago Gets 60% of Remittances
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dominican Today reports that in July, the Dominican Republic
received over $921 million in remittances, with Greater Santo
Domingo and the province of Santiago accounting for 58.5% of the
total.

Data from the Central Bank reveals that the National District
received 38.1% of the remittances, followed by Santiago with 12.1%
and Santo Domingo with 8.4%, according to Dominican Today.  The
Northern region received 12.9%, while the Eastern region received
7.2%. The Southern region saw the smallest share, with only 6.2% of
the total remittances, the report notes.

The Central Bank projects that by the end of the year, remittances
will total approximately $10,500 million, foreign direct investment
(FDI) will exceed $4,500 million, and tourism revenue will surpass
$10,600 million, the report relays.

These foreign currency inflows have contributed to the relative
stability of the exchange rate, with the national currency
depreciating by 2.1% by the end of July 2024 compared to the end of
2023, the report recalls.

The increased external income has also helped maintain a healthy
level of international reserves, which reached $15.3 billion by the
end of July, the report notes.  This amount covers around 5.8
months of imports and is equivalent to 12.3% of GDP, exceeding the
IMF's recommended thresholds, the report adds.

                   About Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation that shares the island
of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west. Capital city Santo Domingo
has Spanish landmarks like the Gothic Catedral Primada de America
dating back 5 centuries in its Zona Colonial district. Luis Rodolfo
Abinader Corona is the current president of the nation.

TCR-LA reported in April 2019 that Juan Del Rosario of the UASD
Economic Faculty cited a current economic slowdown for the
Dominican Republic and cautioned that if the trend continues,
growth would reach only 4% by 2023. Mr. Del Rosario said that if
that happens, "we'll face difficulties in meeting international
commitments."

An ongoing concern in the Dominican Republic is the inability of
participants in the electricity sector to establish financial
viability for the system.

On December 4, 2023, the TCR-LA reported that Fitch Ratings has
affirmed Dominican Republic's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer
Default Rating (IDR) at 'BB-' and revised the Outlook to Positive
from Stable. Fitch says the Positive Outlook reflects a trend
improvement in governance, and robust growth prospects that should
lead to continued gains in per capita income.  According to Fitch,
growth has decelerated in 2023, but it expects Dominican Republic
to recover to high levels during 2024-2025. External liquidity
metrics have improved in recent years, and foreign currency share
of government debt is on a downward path.

In August 2023, Moody's Investors Service changed the outlook on
the Government of Dominican Republic's ratings to positive from
stable and affirmed the local and foreign-currency long-term issuer
and senior unsecured ratings at Ba3.  Moody's said the key drivers
for the outlook change to positive  are: (i) sustained high growth
rates have enhanced the scale and wealth levels of the economy; and
(ii) a material decline in the government debt burden coupled with
improved fiscal policy effectiveness will support medium-term debt
sustainability.

The affirmation of the Ba3 ratings balances the Dominican
Republic's strong economic growth dynamics and relatively contained
susceptibility to event risks, with a comparatively weaker fiscal
position, reflecting long-standing credit challenges which include:
(i) a shallow revenue base compared to peers, (ii) weak debt
affordability metrics, and (iii) high exposure to foreign currency
borrowing.

S&P Global Ratings, in December 2022, raised its long-term foreign
and local currency sovereign credit ratings on the Dominican
Republic to 'BB' from 'BB-'. The outlook on the long-term ratings
is stable. S&P affirmed its 'B' short-term sovereign credit
ratings. S&P also revised its transfer and convertibility (T&C)
assessment to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'.  The stable outlook reflects S&P's
expectation of continued favorable GDP growth and policy continuity
over the next 12-18 months that will likely stabilize the
government's debt burden.

In February 2023, S&P said its BB ratings reflect the country's
fast-growing and resilient economy.  It also incorporates the
country's historical political and social challenges in passing
structural reforms to contain fiscal deficits, despite recent
improvements in the electricity sector. The ratings are constrained
by relatively high debt, a hefty interest burden, and limited
monetary policy flexibility.



===========
M E X I C O
===========

JUS DOORS: Seeks Approval to Hire Daniel Forlano as Accountant
--------------------------------------------------------------
JUS Doors, Inc. seeks approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the Middle District of North Carolina to employ Daniel Forlano, an
accountant practicing at Greensboro, North Carolina.

The accountant will render financial and accounting advice to the
Debtor, including the preparation of tax returns.

Mr. Forlano will be compensated at his hourly rate of $125 for tax
preparation and business counseling and $85 per hour for
bookkeeping.

Mr. Forlano disclosed in a court filing that he is a "disinterested
person" as the term is defined in Section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy
Code.

The accountant can be reached at:

     Daniel Forlano, CPA
     5709 Gate City Blvd., Suite 204
     Greensboro, NC 27407
     Telephone: (336) 814-3100
     Facsimile: (336) 814-3104
     Email: info@dftaxprep.com

                         About JUS Doors

JUS Doors, Inc. offers full design, fabrication, installation,
service & maintenance of four fold doors, hangar doors, and custom
doors across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

JUS Doors filed its voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11
of the Bankruptcy Code (Bankr. M.D.N.C. Case No. 24-10432) on July
12, 2024. In the petition signed by Michael Peters, president, the
Debtor disclosed up to $10 million in both assets and liabilities.

The Debtor tapped Dirk W. Siegmund, Esq., at Ivey, McClellan,
Siegmund, Brumbaugh & McDonough, LLP as bankruptcy counsel and
Daniel Forlano, CPA, as accountant.




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P E R U
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NAUTILUS INKIA: Moody's Withdraws 'Ba2' CFR on Debt Redemption
--------------------------------------------------------------
Moody's Ratings withdrew all of Nautilus Inkia Holdings SCS
(Inkia)'s ratings, including its Ba2 Corporate Family Rating and
Ba2 rating on its 2027 senior unsecured notes. The outlook at the
time of withdrawal was stable. The withdrawal follows the company's
discharge of obligations for the 2027 notes.

RATINGS RATIONALE

Inkia has fully satisfied the obligations under notes by
transferring to the Trustee the amounts sufficient to pay and
discharge the entire amount of principal and interest payments on
the notes accrued to the redemption date, which will occur by
November 12, 2024. The outstanding indebtedness amounted to $ 28.4
million, following settlement of the company's previous cash tender
on the notes for an amount of $189.9 million on July 12, 2004.

All of Inkia's ratings have been withdrawn since all of its rated
debt is no longer outstanding. Please refer to Moody's Ratings'

Nautilus Inkia Holdings SCS is the indirect parent of Kallpa
Generacion S.A.(Baa3, stable) an independent power producer (IPP)
in Peru. The senior unsecured notes under Inkia were co-issued by
three entities: Nautilus Inkia Holdings SCS (Inkia), Nautilus
Isthmus Holdings LLC (Nautilus Isthmus), and Nautilus Distribution
Holdings LLC (Nautilus Distribution). The three co-issuers have
been indirectly controlled by funds managed by I Squared Capital
Advisors (US) LLC (I Squared) since December 2017. These co-issuers
had jointly and severally agreed to undertake all obligations under
the 2027 senior unsecured notes, but following the sale of
Energuate's assets (previously held by Nautilus Distribution),
Kallpa had become the primary source of cash flows supporting
Inkia's senior unsecured notes.



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P U E R T O   R I C O
=====================

EDGAR COLON: 1st Cir Upholds Ruling on Post-Dismissal Fees
----------------------------------------------------------
Chief Judge Lara E. Montecalvo of the United States Court of
Appeals for the First Circuit ruled on appeals from decisions
issued by the United States District Court for the District of
Puerto Rico on motions filed by the parties in the case captioned
as EDGAR A. REYES-COLON, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. BANCO POPULAR DE
PUERTO RICO and POPULAR AUTO, INC., Defendants, Appellees, Nos.
22-1706, 22-1715 (1st Cir.).

These consolidated appeals stem from a Chapter 11 involuntary
bankruptcy petition that Banco Popular de Puerto Rico filed in 2006
seeking to compel Edgar Reyes-Colon into bankruptcy. The procedural
posture of each appeal is slightly different, although both are
appeals from the Puerto Rico District Court's decisions connected
to Reyes-Colon's bankruptcy case:

     1. Reyes-Colon appeals from the district court's decision
affirming the bankruptcy court's determination that it did not
have subject-matter jurisdiction over Reyes-Colon's post-dismissal
motion for fees and costs (Case No. 22-1706).

     2. Reyes-Colon appeals from the district court's decision
denying his motion for withdrawal of reference1 filed in a separate

adversary proceeding (Case No. 22-1715).

Judge Montecalvo says, "With respect to the first case, we conclude
that the bankruptcy court had jurisdiction over the fee motion but
that the fee motion was untimely, and accordingly, we affirm. As to
the second case, we conclude that the district court erred in
denying the motion for withdrawal of reference as untimely and
therefore vacate and remand to the district court for further
consideration of Reyes-Colon's motion for withdrawal of
reference."

The relationship between the parties began when Reyes-Colon
obtained a loan from appellee Popular Auto, Inc., and guaranteed
an affiliate's loan from Banco Popular. When Reyes-Colon allegedly
failed to pay his debts, Banco Popular initiated an involuntary
bankruptcy petition, which Popular Auto later joined. Not long
after, however, the bankruptcy court dismissed the petition after
concluding that Banco Popular had failed to join the requisite
number of creditors despite having had a reasonable opportunity to
do so. On appeal, the bankruptcy appellate panel determined that
all of Reyes-Colon's creditors needed to be given notice and the
opportunity for a hearing before the bankruptcy court could dismiss
the petition. After lengthy proceedings, in 2016, the bankruptcy
court again dismissed the petition for lacking the requisite number
of creditors -- "[Sec.] 303(b) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that
an involuntary petition against a debtor have at least three
petitioning creditors if, at the time the petition was filed, the
debtor had twelve or more eligible creditors."

On appeal, the First Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy court's
dismissal of the petition given that Reyes-Colon had 15 eligible
creditors and only two had joined the involuntary petition.
Judgment was entered on April 24, 2019, and mandate was issued on
June 19, 2019.

On June 18, 2020, Reyes-Colon filed a motion for $902,489.85 in
attorney's fees and costs pursuant to Sec. 303(i)(1) of the
Bankruptcy Code. In response, Banco Popular contended that the
bankruptcy court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction "to entertain
any further proceedings." The bankruptcy court agreed and denied
the attorney's fees motion. Reyes-Colon appealed that decision to
the District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, which affirmed.
Reyes-Colon now appeals to the First Circuit.

Shortly after he filed the attorney's fees motion, Reyes-Colon on
June 29, 2020, initiated an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy
court; the complaint alleged that Banco Popular filed the
involuntary petition in bad faith, demanded a jury trial as to all
issues so triable, and sought "compensatory, consequential,
special, and punitive damages" (inclusive of the $902,489.85
already requested in the attorney's fees motion) pursuant to both
the fees-and-costs and bad-faith provisions of 11 U.S.C. Sec.
303(i). The adversary proceeding was referred to the same
bankruptcy judge who presided over the involuntary-petition case.
On June 30, 2020, Reyes-Colon filed a motion for withdrawal of
bankruptcy reference, seeking to have the district court take over
the adversary proceeding and conduct a jury trial. In the same
order denying Reyes-Colon's attorney's fees motion, the bankruptcy
court referred the motion for withdrawal to the district court. The
district court, after affirming the denial of the attorney's fees
motion, issued an order denying the motion for withdrawal and
dismissing the adversary proceeding, finding that the motion for
withdrawal was untimely. Reyes-Colon then appealed.

Reyes-Colon argues that the bankruptcy court had post-dismissal
jurisdiction over the Sec. 303(i) motion while Banco Popular argues
that the bankruptcy court could only have such jurisdiction if it
provided a jurisdiction-retention statement in its dismissal
order.

The First Circuit holds that a bankruptcy court has post-dismissal
jurisdiction over Sec. 303(i) motions in these circumstances. In
other words, although the bankruptcy court in this case did not
provide an explicit jurisdiction-retention statement in its order
dismissing the involuntary petition, it still had jurisdiction over
Reyes-Colon's attorney's fees motion made pursuant to Sec.
303(i)(1).

The First Circuit points out because the bankruptcy rules did not
provide a deadline for this type of motion, the district court,
adopting the approach of a Massachusetts district court, applied
the District of Puerto Rico's local rules regarding attorney's fees
and costs. The relevant local rule provides in part that "[a]n
application for fees [and costs following appeal] shall be filed
within fourteen (14) days after issuance of the mandate." Thus, the
district court reasoned that, given that the relevant motion was
filed 365 days after mandate issued, the motion was untimely.

The First Circuit agrees with the district court's reasoning and
conclusion.

Reyes-Colon had 14 days from the day mandate issued on June 19,
2019, to file his request. Because his motion was filed 365 days
after mandate issued, it was undeniably untimely. Accordingly, the
First Circuit affirms the dismissal of Reyes-Colon's attorney's
fees motion.

Banco Popular objected to the motion for withdrawal, arguing that
it was untimely.

After "agreeing with the bankruptcy court's conclusion that it did
not have jurisdiction to consider Reyes-Colon's fee motion,"
(cleaned up), the district court entered an order denying
Reyes-Colon's motion for withdrawal as untimely. Specifically, the
court referenced and incorporated its affirmance of the bankruptcy
court's subject-matter jurisdiction determination, thereby
conflating timeliness of the motion for withdrawal with timeliness
of (and jurisdiction over) a Sec. 303(i) motion and defining
timeliness of the motion for withdrawal as measured from the
dismissal of the involuntary petition. The district court then
dismissed the adversary proceeding with prejudice.

The First Circuit agrees with Reyes-Colon that what matters in
addressing the timeliness of the motion for withdrawal is the
amount of time between when Reyes-Colon raised his bad-faith claim
-- the proceeding Reyes-Colon wishes the district court to
adjudicate -- and when he filed the motion for withdrawal. "[T]he
timeliness of a motion to withdraw must be measured by the stage of
the proceedings in the bankruptcy court," and "[a]s a bankruptcy
proceeding becomes more developed, complicated, and involved, a
court is more likely to find a motion untimely."

According to Judge Montecalvo, "Here, Reyes-Colon first initiated
the claim on June 18, 2020, when he filed the bad-faith complaint
in the involuntary-petition case. Eleven days later, he initiated
the adversary proceeding, and one day after that he filed the
motion for withdrawal. Thus, a mere twelve days after first raising
his bad-faith claim, before any litigation over the complaint had
begun, Reyes-Colon requested that the case be transferred to
district court. On these facts, we are confident that the motion
for withdrawal was timely."

Accordingly, the district court's denial of the motion for
withdrawal on the basis of timeliness is vacated and the case is
remanded for the court to assess whether there is cause to withdraw
the reference.

A copy of the Court's decision dated August 1, 2024, is available
at https://urlcurt.com/u?l=LQFZrw

The case is IN RE: EDGAR ABNER REYES COLON, Chapter 11, Debtor,
Case No. 06-04675 (ESL).


OPTIQUS VISION: Hires Almeida & Davila P.S.C as Counsel
-------------------------------------------------------
Optiqus Vision Inc. seeks approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the District of Puerto Rico to employ Almeida & Davila, P.S.C.
to handle its Chapter 11 case.

The firm will be paid at these rates:

     Enrique M. Almeida Bernal, Esq.      $200 per hour
     Zelma Davila Carrasquillo, Esq.      $200 per hour
     Madeleine Llovet, Esq.               $200 per hour
     Associate attorneys                  $100 per hour
     Paralegals                           $100 per hour

The firm will be paid a retainer in the amount of $ $8,000.

The firm will also be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred.

Enrique M. Almeida Bernal, Esq., a partner at Almeida & Dávila,
P.S.C., disclosed in a court filing that the firm is a
"disinterested person" as the term is defined in Section 101(14)
of
the Bankruptcy Code.

The firm can be reached at:

     Enrique M. Almeida Bernal, Esq.
     Almeida & Davila, P.S.C.
     221 Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 1001,
     San Juan, PR 00918
     Tel: (787) 722-2500
     Fax: (787) 777-1376

              About Optiqus Vision Inc.

Optiqus Vision Inc., filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition (Bankr.
D.P.R. Case No. 24-02986) on July 18, 2024. The Debtor hires
Almeida & Davila, P.S.C. as counsel.




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T R I N I D A D   A N D   T O B A G O
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TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Pointe-a-Pierre Refinery Headache Continues
--------------------------------------------------------------
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reports that this month marks six years
since the Prime Minister announced the shuttering of the
Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, once one of the most important in global
history.

Since then, instead of things coming to a definitive end, there has
been a long, painful goodbye, according to Trinidad and Tobago
Newsday.

The refinery is a headache, says the report. It is likely to remain
so unless and until it is sold or leased, as per the original
rationale behind its 2018 closure, the report notes.

Dr. Rowley's war of words with the Opposition, over an apparent
change of heart by Indian businessman Naveen Jindal in relation to
a US$700 million investment into the mothballed facility, is but
the latest symptom of far deeper uncertainties facing the economy
amid a fast-changing and dynamic global environment, the report
relays.

It is also a sign the State's options are growing narrower, the
report says.  It may have backed itself into a corner through
excessive delay, the report notes.

When an initial process to dispose of the refinery was undertaken
in 2019, there were 77 expressions of interest, the report
discloses.  Since then, enthusiasm has seemingly waned, the report
says.

Energy Minister Stuart Young on August 6 said "just above ten" bids
were being considered, the report notes.

In April, a parliamentary committee heard there were eight, the
report relays.

In March, Dr. Rowley said two parties had emerged: "One looks very
promising, one looks very interested," the report notes.

While the UNC and others have aired valid questions about
procurement processes, these paltry figures add a different tone to
the Prime Minister's courting of Mr Jindal, the report discloses.

There's a sense, meanwhile, of other officials wanting badly to get
rid of this asset, the report relays.

Since its closure, it has cost the State about $36 million to
preserve the refinery.  The longer the closure, the greater the
degree of breakdown; the more expensive it will be to upgrade and
reopen, the report says.

"There is no greater driving force in trying to get somebody to
take it off our hands," the report quotes Michael Quamina, SC, who
heads the refinery company's parent entity, as saying earlier this
year.

Ironically, the Opposition may have helped Dr Rowley dodge a
bullet, if it is true he was unaware of the issues facing Mr
Jindal, the report relays.  Given the standard rigours of due
diligence, it is better for such issues to have arisen sooner
rather than later, the report notes.

The UNC appears sympathetic to trade union desires to take hold of
the refinery, a move that would at once please workers, end the
labour problems that dogged its operations for decades, and absolve
the State of fiscal and political responsibility, the report
discloses. But the move would also open a new set of risks relating
to management style and this country's place in the region.

There has been the suggestion that whoever runs the refinery could
do so in co-operation with Guyana, given the reserves there, the
report says. However, all parties have been silent over the
implications of the global transition away from fossil fuels, the
closure of refineries around the region and the Venezuelan crisis,
the report relays.

Parties have also been slow to outline what the facility means to
the people, ideologically, as a country, the report notes. Is it a
source of revenue? Employment? A geo-political bargaining chip?

Until answers are found, it will remain a headache with a
precarious future, no matter who owns it, the report adds.


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