NEWS
Two beehives removed from Palmiste Park
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) has removed two of seven beehives identified after a bee attack on Easter Monday. At least seven people had to be taken to hospital after being stung during the attack at Palmiste Park, San Fernando. A ministry statement on Thursday said an evaluation identified three of the hives as a safety risk to users of the park that required immediate removal. It said two had been removed so far, with the third earmarked for relocation to a private apiary under the care of a beekeeper. Read more here
Arsonists torch 15 vehicles at dealership
Arsonists torched 15 vehicles on the compound of HSM Motors in Chase Village, Carapichaima, yesterday, in an attack that left the owner puzzled. HSM chief executive officer/director Mikhail Hosein was left counting millions in damage, since the fires, set to vehicles in at least two separate areas on the compound, spread to buildings as well. Speaking to Guardian Media at his dealership yesterday, Hosein said, “Three individuals would have entered the compound crossing over from Pastor Cuffie’s side where they firebombed several vehicles on the compound.” As the CEO recounted what transpired, he said CCTV footage showed the perpetrators pouring a liquid, suspected to be fuel, on the cars, breaking the glasses to wet inside, then setting them alight. Read more here
POLITICS
Imbert extends TT Revenue Authority deadline again
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has again extended the deadline for the implementation of the long-touted TT Revenue Authority (TTRA). The new deadline is now April 30. The extension was gazetted on April 2 and signed by Imbert. This decision comes after attorneys were advised by the Court of Appeal that a judgment challenging the operationalisation of the authority “will not be delivered by March 31.” Attorneys for the State asked the court for an update, since Imbert had previously extended the deadline to March 31, and wanted to know when a decision was likely to be delivered “so that the minister may know whether it might become necessary to give consideration to a further extension.” Imbert did so on April 2. Read more here
Browne: T&T calling for respect of Guyana’s sovereignty
The Caricom family remains united on issues related to the Guyana-Venezuela border and T&T’s consistent position calls for full respect of Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, says Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne. Browne made that clear yesterday, after Wednesday’s move by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to sign into law the results of Venezuela’s December 3, 2023 referendum laying claim to the Essequibo—two-thirds of Guyana. Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali immediately put Venezuela, Caricom governments and other regional and international bodies on notice that “Guyana will not countenance the annexation, seizure or occupation of any part of its sovereign territory”. Read more here
BUSINESS
NP chairman: No more outlets for EVs...yet
National Petroleum Marketing Company Ltd (NP) chairman Sahid Hosein says apart from one of its service stations, the company does not have any plans at this time to build additional outlets to charge electric-powered vehicles. He made this comment during a meeting between company officials and members of the Public Accounts Enterprises Committee (PAEC) at the Red House in Port of Spain. In response to questions from Government Senator Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing, Hosein said NP’s service station at Preysal has outlets where electric vehicles could be recharged. None of its other stations have those facilities. Read more here
Push for economic diversification
To push the diversification of the economy further, the Government is still “aggressively pursuing market access opportunities for manufacturers”, Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon has said. As for the services sector, she touched on the progress made within the Caricom region in terms of the “one-time registration”. “The trade ministers are seeking to enhance the focus on professional service providers and in that regard, Caricom developed what is called the ‘single registration of professionals regime’ which is intended for registration of professionals in a one-time act to move around the region. This means that professionals, having satisfied the registration requirements of one participating member state, will automatically be registered to operate throughout the region,” Gopee-Scoon said. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Guyana very careful, watchful of everything that is happening’
GUYANA has maintained its stance for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing border controversy with its western neighbour, Venezuela. The country’s Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali, while in discussion with leaders at the Sixth Annual Security Challenges in Latin America Forum in the United States of America on Thursday, said the country wants to peacefully coexist with its neighbour. Dr. Ali’s sentiments follow Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro’s action to enact a legislation in the Bolivarian Republic to assert its claims to Guyana’s Essequibo region. “We want to ensure that no action is initiated from Guyana that can destabilise the region that can contribute to the creation of one more problem in the world,” President Ali said. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Gaza war: Where does Israel get its weapons?
Western governments are coming under growing pressure to halt arms sales to Israel over how it is waging the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel is a major weapons exporter, but its military has been heavily reliant on imported aircraft, guided bombs and missiles to conduct what experts have described as one of the most intense and destructive aerial campaigns in recent history. Campaign groups and some politicians among Israel's Western allies say arms exports should be suspended because, they say, Israel is failing to do enough to protect the lives of civilians and ensure enough humanitarian aid reaches them. Read more here
5th April 2024