NEWS
More jabs given at NAPA, QPS than RC cathedral in Port of Spain
Few people went to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Independence Square, Port of Spain, which was scheduled to partner with the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) to offer covid19 vaccination to church members on Wednesday. About 30 people from both the church and the community had arrived at the cathedral by 12pm to receive their first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. NWRHA staff member Jahan Bishop told Newsday around 20 volunteers were on site helping with the process. Read more here
6,000 businesses face permanent closure, won’t reopen Monday
Preparation is underway for the reopening of the retail sector next week but the Confederation of Regional Business Chamber says 6,000 businesses around the country will remain permanently closed. Coordinator of the Confederation Jai Leladharsingh told Guardian Media that based on a survey done by the Confederation, about 6,000 out of 17,000 small and medium enterprises are facing economic decimation. “Based on a survey that the confederation did, I say 6,000 businesses are going to permanently shut their doors. Restaurants, in-house dining, spas, beauty salons. It is sad, especially because many of these businesses are run by women. They need some help,” Leladharsingh said. Read more here
POLITICS
McClashie: Cabinet still discussing workplace vaccination policy
Labour Minister Stephen McClashie said on Tuesday that Cabinet has not made any decision as yet on any workplace vaccination policy. He said it was currently being discussed, "As you are aware, such a policy has many consequences," McClashie said, "and therefore we are looking at all the issues and their ramifications before the issuance of any guidelines." He could not give a specific time when such guidelines might be approved or issued, but said, "This will likely be ready for issue within the next week or so." Read more here
Young: Govt continues to guide T&T through difficult times
It’s been one year since the 2020 general election and since the People’s National Movement took office. At last year’s election, the defending PNM was able to amass some 13,000 votes over the United National Congress (UNC). The past year was not without great difficulty as the country dealt with the COVID-19 virus and the global battle for vaccines. Guardian Media reached out to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Energy Minister Stuart Young, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and the party public relations Officer Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing for feedback on this past year. Read more here
BUSINESS
National Energy profit falls 33% to $58.9m
National Energy Corporation has recorded $58.9 million in after-tax profit, a decline of 33 per cent, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. In its year-end report published on Tuesday, National Energy said the decline in performance was a result of lower operating revenue due to the negative impact of covid19 on the global economic environment. “National Energy recorded a profit before tax of TT$94.75 million in 2020 as compared to TT$138.06 million for 2019. Profit after tax of TT$58.97 million was 33.1 per cent lower than the profit of TT$88.12 million recorded for 2019.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Vote to remove GECOM trio delayed again
When members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) met on Tuesday, they were expected to vote on three motions to terminate the contracts of Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; his deputy, Roxanne Myers; and the District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo. However, this could not be done since the Opposition Commissioners refused to have the vote be put to the floor. According to pro-government commissioner, Sase Gunraj, the representatives from the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) did not want the motions to contain references that clearly outline the reasons behind the motions, and the allegations of electoral fraud that stemmed from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Wagner: Scale of Russian mercenary mission in Libya exposed
A new BBC investigation has revealed the scale of operations by a shadowy Russian mercenary group in Libya's civil war, which includes links to war crimes and the Russian military. A Samsung tablet left by a fighter for the Wagner group exposes its key role - as well as traceable fighter codenames. And the BBC has a "shopping list" for state-of-the-art military equipment which expert witnesses say could only have come from Russian army supplies. Russia denies any links to Wagner. The group was first identified in 2014 when it was backing pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since then, it has been involved in regions including Syria, Mozambique, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Read more here
Canadian businessman Michael Spavor sentenced by Chinese court to 11 years in prison for spying
A Chinese court has sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage, more than two years after he was first detained. Spavor, a Beijing-based businessman who regularly traveled to North Korea, was sentenced after being found guilty of spying and illegally providing state secrets to foreign countries, the Dandong Intermediate People's Court said in a statement Wednesday. The court said Spavor would also be deported, without specifying whether it was before or after he served his prison sentence. Read more here
11th August 2021