NEWS
MoE: February 7 return to school for forms 1-3, standard 5
The Ministry of Education has said students in forms one-three and standard five will return to the physical classroom on February 7. In December 2021, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly announced that lower forms and standard five students preparing for Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams would be allowed to return to face-to-face classes in February. With the increase in covid19 cases, particularly the omicron variant, there has been some concern among parents and stakeholders that the government may decide not to move forward with its return to the physical classes. Read more here
Don’t build roads near mangroves says FFOS
Following the partial collapse of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension, secretary of the Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) Gary Aboud issued a warning to the government that building in mangroves or on the edge of wetlands was ill-advised. Aboud said, “What has happened today at Mosquito Creek is that $281 million has washed away. It is symptomatic of what is to come in the future.” He explained that the collapse occurred because of liquefaction, which is a geological term used to describe soil that is loosely packed and water-logged near the ground surface. “Are these unstable sediments likely to be responsible for the collapse of the recent Mosquito Creek Highway and will the Contractor or the good Minister pay for this catastrophe? Read more here
POLITICS
Al-Rawi: Govt funds access to justice for women
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said the Government's ample spending on real and virtual law courts is helping women to access justice, addressing the Finance (Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2021) Bill 2022 in the House of Representatives on Monday. The bill transfers $574 million from the Ministry of Finance to three heads including $35 million to the Judiciary, $8.6 million to the Personnel Department and $531 million to the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. Read more here
PM, Chief Secretary break ice with breakfast meeting
For the first time since being sworn in as Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine has officially met with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. The two had breakfast on Sunday at Dr Rowley’s official residence in Blenheim, Tobago. “We had a conversation that was meant to break the ice,” Farley Augustine said.
On December 6, Augustine’s Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) defeated the People’s National Movement (PNM) 14-1 in the THA elections. Read more here
BUSINESS
NGC bidding for Guyana liquids project
Wholly State-owned National Gas Company (NGC) of Trinidad and Tobago is among 12 companies that have submitted bids to pre-qualify for a project in Guyana that combines a gas-to-energy power plant and a natural gas liquids (NGL) facility. The Guyanese project also received bids from companies from the US, Brazil, China and Guyana. In a statement, the Guyanese government said that the rationale for the combination of the power plant and the NGL facilities is guided by findings by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), the local subsidiary of US oil giant ExxonMobil, that there will be substantial savings from combining these two facilities. Read more here
REGIONAL
Net-Zero emissions by 2050
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday said that reaching Net-Zero emissions by 2050 is essential for development of the Region, but it would only be possible if the global system rectifies its inherent disparities and unevenness. In his keynote address to over 300 participants at the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference 2022, the President said that achieving the target is imperative to the survival of the planet, but more so for Small Island Developing States and Low-lying Coastal Nations. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Africa Cup of Nations: At least eight killed in crush at Cameroon stadium
At least eight people have been killed and 38 injured in a crush outside an Africa Cup of Nations football match in Cameroon. Videos showed crowds of screaming football fans being crushed at the entry gates to the Paul Biya stadium in the capital Yaounde. Witnesses described chaotic scenes outside the ground as thousands of fans struggled to get access. The dead include a boy of 14 and seven people were seriously injured. Cameroonian President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into the crush and sent his "deepest condolences" to the victims' families. The Confederation of African Football has also launched its own investigation. Read more here
25th January 2022