NEWS
Police caution businessmen frustrated by lockdown: Hold strain
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said the defiant stance by businessman Stephen Hadeed towards the law and reopening his business on Monday is simply due to frustration. Hadeed’s social-media post, “I am opening on Monday, the bank calling me, the finance company calling me! Let them come and close me, I have court clothes!” has generated hundreds of likes, comments and shares. Responses have been for and against. Read more here
As construction sector back out today: No smooth sailing says Contractors Assoc
The two-month national lockdown enforced by the Government on May 3 as a measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus has adversely affected the State’s housing programme with projections for 1,800 housing units by the end of 2021 now being scaled back to 1,000 units. Hundreds of construction workers are scheduled to resume work this morning at public and private sector projects that had been put on hold due to the restrictions imposed by the Government. Read more here
POLITICS
Davidson-Celestine: Tobago autonomy bills a ‘great start’
Political Leader of the Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Tracy Davidson-Celestine has explained what she meant by describing the Tobago autonomy bills as “not perfect, but will get Tobago where they want to be.” Responding to Guardian Media’s query on her statement, the PNM leader said the bills are better than the existing legislation governing Tobago. “...I refer to the fact that the bills cannot sufficiently articulate the individual desires of everyone. I am comfortable, however, that they have sufficiently taken into consideration the collective desires of the people,” she said. Read more here
BUSINESS
Work on Tobago airport resumes
Construction of the new airport terminal in Tobago is expected to resume today, the date of the resumption of Government construction activities. Work had to be suspended in May as a result of anti-Covid-19 restrictions. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced on Saturday the reopening of all construction today after announcing last week Saturday that only Government construction would be open today. The National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO), in an update on their social media page last week, said China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Company Ltd is the contractor undertaking the design, construction and commissioning of the airport. The facility is expected to take two years to complete. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana’s commitment to Caricom strong, unwavering
President, Dr Irfaan Ali said that Guyana’s commitment to CARICOM remains strong and unwavering and is prepared to play its part in the transformation of the Community for the benefit of its peoples. President Ali gave the assurance in a message to mark CARICOM Day today. Today marks the 48th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty Establishing the Caribbean Community. This year also marks 20 years since the adoption of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that cleared the way for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. According to the President, the Community remains buoyed by the political commitment of Member States to make it work, and, indeed, by significant achievements, much of which are often not acknowledged. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Philippine Air Force plane crash death toll rises to 50
Fifty people were killed when a Philippine Air Force plane crashed in the southern Philippines on Sunday, the country's worst military air disaster in decades. The C-130 military plane was transporting troops from Cagayan de Oro, in Mindanao, to Sulu province when it missed the runway on the island of Jolo, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported, citing Armed Forces Chief Cirilito Sobejana. Read more here
5th July 2021