NEWS
TT Chamber CEO: Midnight curfew lets factories operate efficiently
TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria on Saturday said that while the chamber supports the Government's proposed extension of the state of emergency (SoE) to curb the covid19 virus, it would like the curfew to start at midnight to facilitate business activity, particularly by manufacturers. Under the current SoE the nightly curfew runs from 9 pm to 5 am. The House of Representatives sits on Wednesday to debate an extension of the SoE until late November. Read more here
51,000 seeds given out in homegrown food drive
For hours from 8 am yesterday, hundreds of people in with their vehicles, queued outside of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Headquarters in Chaguanas, waiting to collect plants and seedlings. The initiative, called Feed the Nation, was hosted by the hunting group, Hard Grounds Get Soft and in partnership with the Agriculture Ministry, with an overall aim of encouraging more homegrown food. By the day’s end, according to organisers, more than 51,000 plants were distributed for free. Bags that were given out included, among other things, lettuce, celery, pineapple, dasheen, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and bananas. Read more here
POLITICS
Gopee-Scoon: SoE extension puts Trinidad and Tobago in 'safe place'
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said on Saturday a recent ease-up on retail activity was brightening up the country, but care must still be taken against the spread of covid19, as the Government moves to extend the state of emergency (SoE) for three more months until late November. Even as MPs prepare to debate this matter on Wednesday, many in the business sector have called for curfew hours to be eased, including one call for the curfew to start at midnight. Read more here
PM lays out case for extending SoE, maintaining curfew hours
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has made a case for keeping the 9 pm to 5 am curfew and for extended the State of Emergency (SoE) by an additional three months. Dr Rowley yesterday defended the curfew period in a text exchange with Guardian Media, saying that it was necessary to reduce movement and congregating that could trigger a third wave of the COVID-19 virus. “The curfew reduces mixing and congregation of people where it is not necessary to have such exposure 9:00 pm to 5:00 am,” he said. Members of the business community, including the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, have asked for the curfew hours to be relaxed, with the Chamber suggesting that it begins at midnight instead of 9 pm. “This approach is the most prudent in anticipation of the possibility and likelihood of facing a possible Delta virus challenge,” he said. Read more here
BUSINESS
Crude falls 8% on Covid fears
Oil prices closed out their biggest week of losses in more than nine months with another down day on Friday, as investors sold futures in anticipation of weakened fuel demand worldwide due to a surge in Covid-19 cases. Read more here
REGIONAL
Distribution of $7.8B flood relief starts in Reg. 6
Sixty- Year old Chetram (correct and only name), a rice and cattle farmer, was among hundreds of persons who turned up to receive the Government of Guyana’s flood-relief cash grant in Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne) on Sunday; it is intended to provide financial assistance to persons ranging from those with kitchen gardens to massive rice farms who had been affected by the recent floods. Chetram of Black Bush Polder was overwhelmed with emotion when he collected his cheque for $1.4 million. He told the Guyana Chronicle when the flood hit, it completely destroyed his 300 acres of rice land that were prepared for cultivation. He also lost a large number of cattle which were stuck in the savannah that was heavily inundated. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Afghanistan: People at Kabul airport flee Taliban with just a suitcase
It hits you like a brick as soon as you put your foot on the tarmac at Kabul international airport. The intensity, the urgency, the darkness of this hour. In every direction, there are the huge grey military transport planes from the US and many other countries. Military helicopters are in the sky. Heading towards every single plane are long queues of Afghans. The lines don't seem to end. They have been told they can only bring one suitcase and the clothes they are wearing, as they leave their country behind - the country now controlled by the Taliban. Read more here
23rd August 2021