NEWS
Panorama competition returns to QP Savannah – PAN ON A HIGH
Despite missing steel beams and other issues during construction, it was clear the North Stand and Panorama had made a strong return to Carnival after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic. Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore said on Sunday afternoon that over 5,000 tickets were sold for the stand that was closed in 2018. There were already hundreds of people in the stand by the Panorama semifinals 1 pm start. Read more here
Missing fishermen’s boat found sunk at sea
A Mayaro family is now clinging to hope that their patriarch, Herralal “Lenus” Cooblal, and his fellow fishermen will return home alive, after a search crew found his vessel abandoned at sea yesterday. Cooblal, 54, a father of three of Grand Lagoon, Mayaro, left the Guayaguayare Fishing Depot around 2 pm last Tuesday aboard his mother boat Benom 2. Accompanying Cooblal were Rishi Kimchan, 38, of Grand Lagoon, Andy George and another known only by his alias, Tall Man, who lived around the area. T&T Coast Guard, Air Guard, Mayaro and Cedros police, Guayaguayare fisherfolk and the Hunters Search and Rescue (HSR) combed the shore and sea to locate the men up to yesterday evening but without luck. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC calls on LATT, CoP to investigate Armour
In announcing that it has filed a motion of no-confidence in Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, UNC Senator Wade Mark on Sunday called for the Law Association (LATT) and Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher to separately investigate whether or not Armour had committed misconduct. Both LATT president Sophia Chote, SC, and CoP Christopher could not be reached for comment. At the UNC's weekly Sunday press conference, Mark said the Opposition, “Intends to prosecute this matter inside and outside of Parliament. Read more here
UNC raises more issues over Dragon Gas deal
With Energy Minister Stuart Young scheduled to travel to Venezuela this week for talks on the Dragon Gas Field deal, Government must give answers to lingering questions on the issue, including whether oil giant Shell will see it profitable to handle the project for a mere two years. United National Congress whip David Lee raised these points at yesterday’s media briefing in Port-of-Spain. Lee noted that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made the Dragon Field announcement on January 24, giving T&T hope there would be benefits soon. “That’s why I asked the question in Parliament last Friday on first gas but the Prime Minister said it was ‘mischievous’.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Global food prices fall further in January
The benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in January for the tenth consecutive month, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported Friday. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 131.2 points in January, 0.8 per cent lower than the previous month and 17.9 per cent below its peak reached in March 2022. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. The price indices for vegetable oils, dairy and sugar drove the January decline, while those for cereals and meat remained largely stable. Read more here
REGIONAL
GIACO building port to support construction boom in Region Three
With the final works to be completed in February, GAICO Construction Inc., which is now offering oil and gas support services, will soon begin operations at its port facility and laydown yard at Nismes in Region Three. n an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, GIACO’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Komal Singh, explained that, once completed, the port facility will generate a host of economic opportunities for the region. With the dry season fast approaching, Singh said works are progressing rapidly and if the weather permits, all construction works could be completed by the end of this month. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Huge quake toppled buildings in Turkey and Syria as people slept
A powerful earthquake has struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing more than 1,000 people as they slept and trapping many others. The US Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep. Hours later, a second quake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, hit the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province. So far, more than 900 people have died in Turkey and 500 in Syria. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the death toll there was now 912. The Syrian health ministry said 371 people had died in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus. Read more here
6th February 2023