TTMA IN THE NEWS
T&T helps Barbados clean up after massive ashfall
The Ministry of National Security says this country is not only providing assistance to St Vincent and the Grenadines as a result of the volcanic eruption but also to Barbados which has been affected by the volcano’s ashfall. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said, “The devastating effects of the ash clouds from the eruptions of La Soufriere in St Vincent and the Grenadines over the past week, did not only affect the island and its inhabitants but extended eastward to Barbados.” Read more here
TT assists Barbados with volcanic ash clean-up
TT is sending relief items to neighbouring Barbados to assist in the clean-up of the accumulation of ash from St Vincent’s La Soufriere volcano. In a release on Sunday, the Ministry of National Security said the devastating effects of the ash clouds from the eruptions of the volcano did not only affect St Vincent, but also extended to Barbados. The ministry said through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), in addition to providing relief support to St Vincent and the Grenadines, cleaning items, collected with the assistance of the Trade Ministry and the TT Manufacturers’ Association, were sent to Barbados on Saturday. Read more here
NEWS
UWI-SRC receives donations to assist monitoring of La Soufriere volcano
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF SPC) has given the UWI Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) a US$17,150 grant to support its monitoring efforts during the ongoing eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In a release, the centre said the grant will fund equipment to strengthen the network, rebuild existing monitoring sites and provide back-up equipment for this ongoing event. Read more here
Deyalsingh: Massive increase in cases, post-Easter spike occurring
A massive jump in reported COVID-19 infections yesterday is a “post-Easter spike” and likely caused by the increased activity and mingling over the Easter weekend. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh confirmed that the 134 new COVID-19 cases reported yesterday were a direct result of the Easter weekend. He described the new figures as a “massive increase.” “Up until yesterday, the rolling seven-day average was 61 cases. This 134 has pushed the rolling day average to 77. That is a massive increase,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday. Read more here
POLITICS
Equal Opportunity Act to be amended
The Equal Opportunity Commission is in discussion with the Attorney General's office to have the Equal Opportunity Act (EOA) amended, Ian Roach, chairman of the commission told Newsday on Friday. Scotiabank recently announced employees in same-sex relationships will be able to have their partners access to the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual common-law couples. Read more here
UNC: Unemployment may spike after three week restrictions
There could be a further spike in unemployment following the three weeks of restrictions announced by the government. This was the view of Opposition Member of Parliament Rudy Indarsingh, who questioned the wisdom behind the restrictions announced last week during the United National Congress’ press conference at the Opposition Leader’s office in Port-of-pain yesterday. Indarsingh described the restrictions, which were announced last week amidst a spike in COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks, as a potential death blow to the economy. Read more here
BUSINESS
Review of Q1 equity markets
In the local stock market, the Composite Index continued along its expansionary path as it posted a return of 1.54 per cent in Q1 2021, up from 0.45 per cent in Q4 2020. Read more here
REGIONAL
Indian company ‘set to buy’ Guyana’s oil
The government-owned Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) is set to buy a consignment of Guyana’s crude oil from production offshore in the Stabroek block, according to reports by the Business Standard, a daily Indian newspaper. “According to oil ministry officials, this deal is at competitive rates and is in line with the strategy to have multiple sources of crude oil for Indian refiners,” the Business Standard reported recently, adding that this deal with Guyana is being made in an effort to diversify the sources of India’s imported crude oil. Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, could not confirm the reports since engagements are ongoing. Instead, he noted that a press release would be issued at the appropriate time. Read more here
TBC’s Shuttleworth under fire but lawyer cites constitutional rights as defence
Religious station TBC Radio has been given an 11-day ultimatum by the Broadcasting Commission to turn over a controversial recording over allegations that it may have misused its licence in airing commentary that the state-issued COVID-19 vaccine… Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
A body with Covid washed ashore. Now this Pacific island nation isn't taking any chances
A Pacific island country has banned outward travel from its main island for three days after a body washed ashore that later tested positive for Covid-19, Radio New Zealand has reported. The body of a Filipino fisherman was discovered April 11 on a Vanuatu beach a short drive from the main wharf of the capital, Port Vila, on Efate island, according to the report. That day, a United Kingdom-flagged tanker found one crew member was not aboard as it sailed out of Port Vila, New Zealand public broadcaster RNZ reported last week. Vanuatu port authorities told the tanker to return to port and a search and rescue operation got underway. Read more here
Nasa successfully flies small helicopter on Mars
The American space agency has successfully flown a small helicopter on Mars. The drone, called Ingenuity, was airborne for less than a minute, but Nasa is celebrating what represents the first powered, controlled flight by an aircraft on another world. Confirmation came via a satellite at Mars which relayed the chopper's data back to Earth. The space agency is promising more adventurous flights in the days ahead. Read more here
19th April 2021