NEWS
Amcham's 2nd covid19 survey: Impact can be cushioned by Govt intervention
The economic impact of businesses closing and the general economic slowdown due to the covid19 pandemic, is already evident but can be considerably cushioned, especially for the working-class, if government makes good on its promise to help with employee retainment, an updated survey from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has found. The responses to the second such survey, conducted between April 22-30, with 109 responding companies, across 14 industries, saw a stark disproportion of companies indicating that they have not received any type of relief from the Government or from government institutions. Read more here
NGOs challenge Rambharat on hunger claim
Although Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat says there is no data to prove many citizens are suffering from “severe hunger,” his theory is being disputed by the leaders of several charitable foundations. During his contribution in the Senate last week, Rambharat said Government had recognised that now was a very difficult time for people. He said Government had put certain measures in place through the Social Development Ministry, noting, “But there’s absolutely nothing to suggest there’s severe hunger in T&T.” He listed measures offered, including temporary food support for students in the School Feeding Programme benefiting 20,500 families. He said all 41 MPs were each allocated 500 food cards to give to students’ parents or guardians. Yesterday, however, ASH-NAD Foundation head Ashmead Ali, whose NGO has so far distributed more than 1,000 hampers to poor families, said yesterday hunger was widespread in many areas across T&T. Read more here
POLITICS
Le Hunte: Recovery team to report by Friday
PublicUtilities Minister Robert Le Hunte is very upbeat about the work of the Cabinet-appointed Roadmap to Recovery Committee, which he hopes would report to the Prime Minister as early as this Friday. Le Hunte and Gerry Brooks are its deputy chairs, and Dr Rowley is chairman. The 22 members of the committee variously head 16 sector sub-committees which Rowley has instructed to take a very consultative approach with stakeholders such as civil society groups. Le Hunte told Newday, “That work started about ten days ago and is continuing.” Read more here
PM wants unique identity card system for T&T
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is recommending unique key identity cards for every citizen as a means of eliminating wastage and corruption in the post-COVID-19 world. Addressing the team during last week’s meeting with the Roadmap to Recovery team, Rowley said T&T has been underperforming and had failed to utilise technology like other countries. Saying the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing T&T to become better than before, Rowley said, “I want to tell the presenters that you have given me such great hope that this exercise will produce what I anticipated.” Making reference to the presentation done by labour stalwart Michelle Annisette, Rowley said the use of key identity cards such as those used in Estonia will go a long way to better management of the country’s resources. Read more here
BUSINESS
IMF programme not inevitable—Economists
Several economists have disagreed with Marla Dukharan that the country will be forced to return to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme next year although they admit it will be challenging In an interview with Guardian Media, former Finance Minister, Karen Nunez-Tesheira said: “I think we are in for a very difficult time, I’m not quite sure, what she means that we will have to go to the IMF, that’s a very bold statement.” Nunez-Tesheira continued: “Really thinking it out, I think she was being too much of an alarmist.” The former Finance Minister shared that while she does not believe T&T was on the cusp of returning to the IMF programme, it can still happen as the implementation ability of the current government is very weak. Read more here
Is it a bull or a bear?
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) is not only creating havoc on people’s health, but also on the economy and financial markets. Read more here
REGIONAL
Recount to begin Wednesday
SHOULD plans remain on track, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will commence the long-awaited national recount process on Wednesday with an order, expected today, to solidify the process. This was one of the main decisions coming out of an extremely heated meeting, at the Commission’s Cowan and High Streets office, on Sunday. The meeting was particularly heated, as members of the media, from their position on the pavement, could hear loud screams emanating from the building, as the Commissioners engaged in a verbal battle on the issue of live streaming the recount. “Transparency! Transparency!” one Commissioner shouted while another argued that no one should “hide behind the law.” Read more here
‘Laws with bite’ - Tufton launches inspections of uncertified private hospitals
An order for the immediate inspection of all uncertified private hospitals and for the full force of the law to be brought against them are among the early responses of the Holness administration now in mop-up mode following a Sunday Gleaner exposé. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has also disclosed that he was “unaware” that Andrews Memorial Hospital was among the uncertified facilities when his ministry last month brokered an agreement to accommodate non-COVID patients of the Kingston Public Hospital at the Hope Road institution. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
A 'travel bubble' between New Zealand and Australia could be a model for the future
It may be some time before tourists are traveling the globe again. But what if you could travel through designated, approved parts of it? Politicians fromAustralia and New Zealand are discussing the possibility of opening up borders to each other, creating a travel corridor -- or "travel bubble" -- between the two nations. Both countries almost completely shut their borders to foreigners in March, a huge blow to their respective tourism industries. But with both appearing to have successfully brought their coronavirus outbreaks under control, politicians are now talking about when borders could be opened to each other. "If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last month. Read more here
Coronavirus: UK hospital trials new treatment drug
A new drug developed by UK scientists to treat Covid-19 patients is being trialled at University Hospital Southampton. Developed by UK bio-tech company Synairgen, it uses a protein called interferon beta, which our bodies produce when we get a viral infection. Initial results from the trial are expected by the end of June. There are currently few effective treatments for coronavirus with doctors relying on patients' immune systems. Read more here
4th May 2020