NEWS
CSO: Inflation rate at 4 per cent in February
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) has reported the inflation rate for February 2022 (measured as the percentage change in the average All Items Index for the period January to February 2022/January to February 2021) at being four per cent. This represents an increase from 3.8 per cent which was recorded in the previous period (January 2022/January 2021). The inflation rate for the comparative period (January to February 2021/January to February 2020) was 0.9 per cent, the CSO said in a release on Monday. Read more here
TTPS: Protest but obey the law
The TTPS informs that while it recognises the right of citizens to protest, it asks that such actions are done with respect to the law, warning that criminals laws broken during protests will be dealt with accordingly. Read more here
POLITICS
Padarath to Minister Gonzales: Come clean on suspension of WASA CEO
Princes Town MP Barry Padarath is calling on the Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales to come clean with the nation and explain why WASA's acting CEO Sherland Sheppard was suspended by the board on Wednesday. Padarath, the Opposition's shadow public utilities minister said in a press release on Monday that the suspension of Sheppard was a clear sign that the day-to-day management of WASA had failed and the utility was continuing to spiral out of control. Read more here
PM addresses the nation on the reopening of schools
Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago sends his well wishes to students across Trinidad and Tobago, urging the public to still be cautious during the pandemic. Read more here
BUSINESS
GraceKennedy invests in data analytics firm
Jamaican conglomerate GraceKennedy announced last week that it has made a private equity investment in a full-service research and data intelligence consultancy called Bluedot. In a regulatory filing, GraceKennedy said Bluedot was founded by entrepreneur and information technologist, Larren Peart in 2016. The company uses data collection and analytics to inform business insights and decision-making, according to GraceKennedy notice. Read more here
REGIONAL
Family picnics mark return of Easter celebration
After two years of not being able to celebrate Easter with traditional family outings, Guyanese came out in huge numbers on Monday and were overjoyed to finally be able to see things return to near normalcy. With Easter Monday celebrated as a day of coming together with family and friends, picnicking and flying kites with the children, Guyanese were prevented from doing this over the past two years due to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic restricted gatherings and caused the closure of many public spaces, including the Botanical Gardens, National Park and Seawalls. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US judge throws out Biden mask mandate for planes and trains
A federal judge in Florida has struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for airplanes and other forms of public transit, calling it unlawful. US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the national public health agency had exceeded its legal powers in issuing the mandate. The US transit authority said it would now no longer enforce mask wearing. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just last week extended the mandate until 3 May. Judge Mizelle is based in Florida, but federal judges can issue rulings that block nationwide government policies. Her order on Monday effectively removes the masking requirement in all airports, trains, taxis and transit hubs. Read more here
19th April 2022