NEWS
Scrap iron dealers plead again for industry to reopen
SCRAP Iron Dealers Association president Allan Ferguson has said some people may turn to a life of crime in search of income as the ban on scrap-iron exports continues. He again called on the Prime Minister to reopen the industry. He was speaking at a news conference in Kelly Village, Caroni on Monday morning. The six-month ban was announced on August 15, although, under the Customs Act, it came into effect on August 12. An emotional Ferguson said members of the association have been calling him saying they cannot afford to take care of their families, among other things, and are "willing to do anything" to earn a dollar. Read more here
Westmoorings woman, Debe man under probe for social media extortion racket
A Westmoorings woman and a Debe man were detained by police over the weekend, following several reports that they were soliciting victims via social media dating applications—and imprisoning and robbing them, before threatening the victims and their families in exchange for money. The 29-year-old woman, of West Park Villas, Westmoorings; and the 35-year-old man, of Ramdhanie Trace, Debe, remained in police custody up to yesterday. However, the two were expected to be released by last night, as no charges were brought against them while investigations were ongoing. Read more here
POLITICS
Chief Sec: Sport can make Tobago a major player
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is eyeing sport as a tool to make Tobago a major player in the tourism market. Augustine was speaking on Monday at the opening of World Travel Market 2022, ExCel London, where he is leading a local delegation. Also on the trip are Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Antiquities Tashia Burris, Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd chairman Alicia Edwards, hoteliers, foreign marketing partners, the Tobago Performing Arts Company and other stakeholders. Read more here
UNC challenges Govt's LG reform law in lawsuit
The United National Congress (UNC) yesterday began seeking a judicial review of Government’s recent decision on the Local Government reform law which has opened the door for the postponement of the Local Government polls. And a UNC government will bring law to allow "average law-abiding" citizens to legally obtain firearms and will change the People's National Movement (PNM) Government's laws that make it hard for such people to get legal firearms. UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced this at the party's Monday Night Forum, where Senator David Nakhid warned about the Tranquillity Government Secondary School students' attack on their principal. Persad-Bissessar said the UNC issued a pre-action protocol letter seeking the judicial review on Monday. Read more here
BUSINESS
Republic’s 2022 profits rise 16.7%
Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd (RFHL), Vincent Pereira, announced yesterday that the Port of Spain-headquartered regional bank reported profit attributable to equity holders of $1.526 billion for the year ended September 30, 2022. That represents an increase of $218 million or 16.7 per cent over the 2021 reported profits of $1.308 billion. The 2022 profit number is $55 million or 3.5 per cent below the 2019 reported profits of $1.581 billion. In a news release yesterday, the bank said its performance for the 2022 financial year reflects the impact of the Group’s expansion, revenue diversification and cost management strategies, the uptick in economic activity as well as the increase in yields in the US-dollar denominated financial instruments held across the Group. Read more here
REGIONAL
Several GECOM staffers compromised integrity of tabulation, verification processes
Details of how some employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) participated in an alleged plot to divert votes to the APNU +AFC administration instead of safeguarding the electoral system, were heard during the second day of testimonies at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the conduct of the 2020 general and regional elections. Over the course of his nearly five-hour long testimony on Monday, former executive member of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Johnathan Yearwood, verbalised his recollection of the events that unfolded in the aftermath of the elections, placing strong focus on GECOM’s introduction of a mysterious flash drive during the tabulation of votes in Region Four. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
COP27: Ukraine a reason to act fast on climate change - Rishi Sunak
The war in Ukraine is a reason to act faster to tackle climate change, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told the UN climate summit COP27. "Climate and energy security go hand-in-hand," he said in his first international appearance since taking office. Leaders from 120 countries are meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to discuss next steps in curbing climate change. Key topics are compensation and support for the most-affected countries. "Putin's abhorrent war in Ukraine and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change. They are a reason to act faster," Mr Sunak said. Read more here
8th November 2022