NEWS
British Airways flight arrives Monday in Tobago
Almost two years after the country’s borders were shut down to prevent the spread of covid19, international flights to Tobago will resume from Monday. Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Tashia Grace Burris has confirmed that British Airways and KLM will resume flights to the island on January 10 and 29, respectively. But when asked by Newsday about the arrangements in place for the British Airways flight on Monday, Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd CEO Louis Lewis did not want to give details. Read more here
More Government workers get vaccinated to keep jobs
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. That’s how two Government workers said they felt after they took the vaccine on Wednesday. Last month Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that from mid-January Government workplaces will require vaccinated staff and unvaccinated workers will be furloughed. It’s the main reason why one employee of the National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS) who asked to remain anonymous decided to get vaccinated. He spoke to Guardian Media outside the Government Campus Plaza on Richmond Street in Port of Spain. Read more here
POLITICS
AG shares proposed law to regulate fireworks
People wishing to discharge fireworks will only be allowed to do so on public holidays and Old Year's Night, but would otherwise require a police permit to do so. This is if Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is able to pass the Summary Offences (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Parliament. Al-Rawi sent a copy of the 15-page bill to media houses on Wednesday, with a statement promising public consultations on fireworks. Read more here
AG not backing down on THA/Duke legal matter
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is not letting go of the Watson Duke legal matter and yesterday presented ten reasons to keep the matter alive. Just three days ago, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine said that when Duke emitted office as president of the Public Services Association (PSA), the lawsuit became invalid. The two THA executives are represented by Kiel Taklalsingh. In a ten-point response, the AG said that the deadline for the filing of affidavits was yesterday “which suggests that the issues raised by your letter really constitute an abusive attempt to derail the strict time frames imposed by the Court for the determination of this matter.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Vemco builds success on people, innovation
Now more than ever, running a business is difficult. With rising prices along every value chain in every industry, difficulties in sourcing raw materials and issues with freight and foreign exchange, businesses face more challenges than ever before. Added to that, the world is entering its third year of the covid19 pandemic; a perfect storm that could stop a business in its tracks and leave consumers without vital products and services. Businesses have to be flexible and innovative, and make tough decisions to ensure they stay afloat, as well as provide the best service and products for consumers. Read more here
Pay more to eat; Food prices on the rise
If you think food prices are high now, expect them to continue to rise over the next year as the country reels from imported food inflation. Already we’re paying higher prices for flour, bread, cakes and even beer and there is more to come this year. This from president of the Supermarket Association of T&T Rajiv Diptee who noted that the cost of imported as well as locally manufactured goods will continue to increase. He explained that domestically, manufacturers are constantly faced with higher costs of operation arising from the fall out of the COVID-19 pandemic which eventually trickles down to the consumer. And as this country remains import dependent, Diptee said very little can be done to address this. Read more here
REGIONAL
Health sector has capacity to handle surge in COVID-19 cases
In light of a surge in COVID-19 cases, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has urged Guyanese not to panic, but rather to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and heed scientific advice to guard against the harmful effects of this malady. During an emergency media briefing on the country’s COVID-19 situation, on Wednesday, President Ali urged citizens to get vaccinated and wear their masks at all appropriate times, in order to avoid being infected and to also prevent the spread of the virus, especially with there being a possibility that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is in Guyana. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Capitol riot: Biden to blame Trump for 'carnage' one year on
President Joe Biden will blame Donald Trump for the US Capitol riot as he marks the anniversary of the attack on the seat of American democracy. Speaking at Congress, Mr Biden will say his predecessor holds "singular responsibility" for the "chaos and carnage", said spokeswoman Jen Psaki. Investigators have so far arrested 725 suspects in connection with the attack. Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress was meeting to certify Mr Biden's presidential election victory. Images of US lawmakers cowering from the mob in the gallery of the House of Representatives on that afternoon of 6 January 2021 shocked the world. Read more here
6th January 2022