NEWS
CMO: TT testing meets WHO guidelines
The testing rate for covid19 in TT is well within WHO guidelines, even as concerns mount given the increase of covid19 cases in the country. The percentage of positive tests to number of unique samples completed saw a decrease from three per cent to 1.8 per cent since July 20 when the recent spike in cases began. The WHO said, in countries where extensive testing has taken place, between three and 12 per cent of tests have been positive. Read more here
POLITICS
Baboolal: Put tribal politics in the past
PNM candidate for Princes Town Sharon Baboolal called on constituents to put tribal politics in the past and work for a better community on August 10. Speaking at the PNM's virtual campaign meeting on Monday night, Baboolal urged voters not to be divided by petty politics, but work together for better representation. Referring to recent remarks by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who likened the repatriation process during the covid19 pandemic to that of slavery and indentureship, Baboolal said it was an act of desperation for a leader to make such divisive statements for political mileage. Read more here
BUSINESS
OWTU: Govt guilty of bad faith on refinery
The Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) was ready to sign off the final documents presented by the Government to acquire Petrotrin oil refinery, but where it stands right now, there is no deal. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘We’re going to work in a unified manner’
Continuing the management of Guyana, President Irfaan Ali met with his staff at the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP), on Monday, where he assured them that his government’s intention is work in a unified manner and its expectation from staff is the highest possible standard. President Ali was accompanied by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira. “Guyana requires the skills of all of us to work in a collective manner if we are to build a strong and sustainable country, a country that all of us can be proud of,” the President said. Read more here
No free-for-all - Judges rule there must be limits on freedom of expression in dreadlocks case
The lawsuit challenging a decision by a Jamaican public school not to enrol a then five-year-old girl because of her dreadlocks is about self-expression and not religious rights and freedoms. That’s according to the full transcript of the controversial ruling of the Constitutional Court in the lawsuit filed against Kensington Primary School, located in St Catherine, and the Jamaican State by the parents of the minor. The full judgment was made public late Monday even as it continues to stoke emotions locally and garner international attention. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump spinning virus failure as a win again by celebrating 'encouraging' progress
Every time President Donald Trump and his political team claim great progress in the pandemic it's a dangerous sign: things are likely about to get worse. Forever spinning their failure in handling the crisis, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence on Monday made selective claims of "significant" advances and "very encouraging" signs and celebrated "plateauing" cases in sunbelt areas that might have escaped their disasters by ignoring the President's advice. Read more here
Coronavirus: Melbourne police 'assaulted and baited' over lockdown rules
Authorities in the virus-stricken city of Melbourne have warned of a "dangerous" rise in people resisting lockdown measures, sometimes violently. Police said this trend included so-called "sovereign citizens" being combative with officers in recent days. In one case a woman repeatedly smashed a policewoman's head into the ground, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said. Authorities have increased fines for repeated rule breaches as Melbourne endures a deadly virus second wave. Read more here
4th August 2020