NEWS
Fuel price increase won't break egg farmers says association
Egg farmers have decided to absorb costs arising out of the impending fuel price increase announced by the finance minister on Friday last week. The comes after egg producers announced a ten per cent increase, effective April 4, prior to the announcement of the increase in the price of fuel. From April 19, premium and super gasoline will increase by $1 from $5.75 to $6.75 and $4.97 to $5.97 respectively. Diesel will go up by 50 cents to $3.91 per litre, and the price of kerosene was adjusted to $3.50 a litre. LPG will remain at $21 for a 20-pound cylinder. Read more here
Health Ministry raises warning flags on virus
The Ministry of Health is raising warning flags about the country’s COVID-19 position, noting what officials call “concerning” developments and appealing for increased vigilance as the country heads into the Easter weekend. The developments include an increase in weekly COVID-19 cases, a plateau in the positivity rate, an increased presence of the more transmissible BA.2 Omicron variant in sequences and the continued presence of the less transmissible but more severe Delta variant in the population. Read more here
POLITICS
Senator Deyalsingh concerned about paedophile teacher applicants
Some people may want to become teachers because they are sexually attracted to children. The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has had to deal with 71 disciplinary matters involving teachers between 2018 and this year. These were some of the matters raised during a virtual meeting of the Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities Committee on Wednesday. Read more here
BUSINESS
Marketing expert Ernie Ross connects best brands to the people
Intangience is the language of human connection, the science of connecting values that the best brands stand for with people who share those values. The system developed by marketing guru and Ross Advertising CEO Ernie Ross to bring marketing campaigns such as Carib Brewery's Can You Feel It and Hold on to the Carnival campaigns to life, is now being used to educate businesses on how to strengthen their connection with the consumer. Read more here
Sagicor Life Jamaica Ltd gets ‘highest creditworthiness’ rating
The Caribbean Information & Credit Rating Services Ltd (Caricris) has reaffirmed “highest creditworthiness” rating for Sagicor Life Jamaica Ltd. In a statement Caricris said this rating includes a credit uplift for implied support from SLJ’s ultimate parent company, Sagicor Financial Company Ltd (SFC), through its controlling interest in Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited (SGJ). “The rating indicates that the level of creditworthiness of this obligor, adjudged in relation to other obligors within Jamaica is the highest,” Caricris explained. Caricris has also maintained a stable outlook on the rating which is based on Caricris’ expectation that SLJ will likely realise modest revenue growth over the next 12 to 15 months. Read more here
REGIONAL
Great opportunities also exist outside O&G sector
The fostering of closer ties between Guyana and Canada will see many investors from Canada being made aware of many other opportunities for business outside of the oil and gas sector here. This is according to Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who was at the time speaking at a welcome reception for Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Mary Ng on Tuesday evening. Dr Jagdeo related that prior to the discovery of oil and gas in Guyana, very little international interest was paid to the country and today, all the attention is being paid only to this sector. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Russian warship Moskva: What do we know?
Russia's flagship Black Sea missile cruiser has been "seriously damaged" and its crew forced to evacuate, Russian state media says. The defence ministry said ammunition on the Moskva exploded in an unexplained fire, but that the 186-metre (610 foot) vessel was still afloat. Ukraine claims it struck the vessel with two of its Neptune missiles. The 510-crew warship has led Russia's naval assault on Ukraine, making it an important symbolic and military target. Earlier in the conflict the Moskva gained notoriety after calling on Ukrainian border troops defending Snake Island in the Black Sea to surrender - to which they memorably radioed a message of refusal which loosely translates as "go to hell". Read more here
14th April 2022