NEWS
Chamber presidents say not all businesses will reopen
While many in the food sector are eager and preparing to open come July 19, not every business that closed in May will be in a position to reopen its doors. Penal Debe Chamber of Commerce president Rampersad Sieuraj said that businesses have been battered financially and fears that many may close permanently. This is why he wants the government to consider giving those facing permanent closure a helping hand. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: Reopen the economy, teach us to live with virus
Opposition Senator Wade Mark wants the government to reopen the economy. The call was made during a virtual press conference hosted by the Opposition on Sunday. Mark said the public was left with a great burden and asked to make sacrifices to reduce the covid19 cases and deaths. He said this caused significant damage to the economy and the livelihoods of many. Read more here
Unions ready to defend workers forced to take vaccines—Duke
Watson Duke, president of the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) is calling on employers, to stop using the Government’s “Vaccinate to Operate,” policy to violate the human rights of workers. Duke made the call during an interview with Guardian Media, in which he was responding to Prestige Holdings’ “KFC workers must be vaccinated to return to work stance.” Duke who also heads the Public Services Association (PSA), said while NATUC and the PSA understood the trend of the world in the use of vaccines to prevent death and slow the spread of COVID-19, it also understood the right of all human beings to accept or reject anything that goes into their body. Read more here
BUSINESS
Rock Hard adjusts prices for its cement
Cement importer, Rock Hard Cement, has adjusted the price of bags of cement delivered to hardware stores, by adding a delivery surcharge to the price before July 1. In a newspaper advertisement early last month, Rock Hard signalled its intention to increase the price of its cement on the local market from July 1, 2021, “due to rising prices worldwide along with the volatility of shipping during the second half of the year.” In its notice to the public, Rock Hard Cement said: “We have seen the impact of the global pandemic on the prices of products and the economic challenges faced in many countries after being closed for several months.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Vision is to achieve diverse, resilient economy
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, says the government’s vision is to achieve a diverse and resilient economy. The minister was speaking, on Saturday, at a review meeting for the projects being facilitated by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The meeting, which included newly elected CDB President, Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon and his delegation, was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“It goes without saying that the extraction, production and export of oil promised the opportunity of a very significant transformation in Guyana. But we recognize, with the abundance of examples around the world that becoming an oil and gas producer is by no means, on its own, an assurance of prosperity and long-term well-being for a country. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Cuba protests: Thousands rally against government as economy struggles
Thousands of Cubans have joined the biggest protests for decades against the island's Communist government. They marched in cities including the capital Havana, shouting, "Down with the dictatorship!". Images on social media showed what appear to be security forces detaining and beating some of the protesters. Cubans have been angered by the collapse of the economy, as well as by restrictions on civil liberties and the authorities' handling of the pandemic. The protesters were demanding a faster coronavirus vaccination programme after Cuba reported a record of nearly 7,000 daily infections and 47 deaths on Sunday. Read more here
12th July 2021