NEWS
Tobago hoteliers to Government: 'What are your plans after covid19?'
Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) vice-president Carol-Ann Birchwood-James said it is time the Government revealed its plans for re-opening the island’s economy, post-covid19. “At this point, something has to give,” she told Newsday. “We cannot go on like this. You have all your hotels locked. Workers are not working. "No income is coming in. We can’t pay the banks. You can’t pay the utilities. Read more here
Experts fear ‘ecological disaster’ from Nabarima
There were reports yesterday that Venezuela’s state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) was preparing to unload crude from the FSO Nabarima, the floating storage facility that has been listing dangerously in the Gulf of Paria for several weeks. However, it was not entirely clear how the transfer would be made. Two tugs frequently used to facilitate operations were spotted near the vessel on Monday and PDVSA’s Panama-flagged Aframax Icaro is reportedly en route to the Paria port of Guiria to participate in a crude transfer, according to ship-tracking data and a local contractor familiar with the planned transfer. Read more here
POLITICS
TT signs trade agreement with Chile
Caricom and Foreign Affairs minister Dr Amery Browne said the signing of the general framework agreement for the partial scope trade agreement between TT and Chile will allow for deepening, widening and enhancing of bilateral ties between the two countries. Speaking during the ceremony on Tuesday, Browne said the signing of the agreement represents four years of active discussions, negotiations and compromise. Read more here
CXC to respond on review waiver calls today
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is expected to respond today to a unanimous request by regional Ministers of Education for a waiver of examination review fees. The request was made Monday as students and teachers across the region have queried results of this year’s Caribbean Secondary Entrance Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE). The minister making the request were from T&T, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Guyana. Read more here
BUSINESS
TTSEC hosts 9th US SEC Technical Assistance Programme
The T&T Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) is host to the 9th Technical Assistance Programme for financial sector regulators in the Caribbean, being facilitated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC). In a release the TTSEC remarked that this year, as a result of COVID-19, the programme is being conducted via a virtual platform on an eight-day period October 19 - November 16, 2020. The days will not run consecutively. Read more here
SME loan facility goes digital
Improved and innovative access to finance and loans for small, micro- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) is just a click away, as Term Finance Holdings Ltd (TFHL) and 3Stone Ltd have developed a strictly digital platform to assist such businesses. Read more here
REGIONAL
Golden Age Cluster - 43 COVID-19 Cases Discovered Among Elderly Residents, Staff At Kingston Home
A COVID-19 cluster of 43 cases discovered at the Golden Age Home in Vineyard Town, Kingston, has triggered emergency protocols to cauterise the spread of the deadly virus among the high-risk group. In a release last night, the Ministry of Health & Wellness said that COVID-19 testing was being expedited for persons linked to the facility, pointing out that the cases were found among residents and staff after 72 tests were conducted. Read more here
National unity a collective responsibility
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, made a stirring appeal for a united Guyana and challenged all leaders, including political leaders to work individually and collectively to achieve this milestone within the period of the current generation. He shared these sentiments while unveiling Commemorative Centenary Stamps to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former President, Janet Jagan, at State House. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump lashes out wildly as he seeks an election comeback
President Donald Trump is struggling to find a compelling rationale for his reelection ahead of the final presidential debate, firing off wild, scattershot attacks against an expanding list of perceived political enemies. On a day of vitriol and stunts, the President's base-stoking narrative of anger and personal persecution targeted Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Lesley Stahl of "60 Minutes," the Commission on Presidential Debates, the Supreme Court and Dr. Anthony Fauci. At an evening rally in Pennsylvania, he even took a shot at "Crooked Hillary." He also intensified pressure on Attorney General William Barr to launch criminal probes into Biden. Read more here
End Sars protests: People 'shot dead' in Lagos, Nigeria
A number of people taking part in a protest against police brutality have reportedly been shot dead or wounded in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos. Witnesses said up to 12 people were killed and others wounded when soldiers opened fire. Amnesty International said it had "credible reports" of deaths. The state governor said about 25 people had been wounded but denied there were any fatalities. An indefinite 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Lagos and other regions. Protests over a now-disbanded police unit - the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars) - have been taking place for two weeks, with demonstrators using the social media hashtag #EndSars to rally crowds. Read more here
21st October 2020