NEWS
CPSO urges Caricom states to enact full free movement under CSME
The Caricom Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) is calling on other member states to implement full free movement of nationals after Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines decided on its implementation by October 1. In a statement on July 12, the CPSO urged member states to resolve any outstanding administrative and legislative issues so that full free movement of labour could be realised by December 31. Read more here
Farmers allege land grabbing at Retrench Estate
Farmers on the Retrench Estate in San Fernando are calling for a formal investigation into what they describe as land grabbing by a private contractor allegedly linked to a former government minister. During a protest yesterday, Retrench Farmers’ Association president Nigel Bowen said farmers have been planting crops such as sweet potatoes, corn, and citrus on the 70-acre block of land between the Solomon Hochoy Highway, the M2 Ring Road and the old Caroni air strip for over 30 years. He said the farmers had formed a cooperative and applied repeatedly for leases, but even though his name appears on the cadastral sheet and he has a verification code, he has not yet obtained a lease. Documents obtained by Guardian Media show his name on the cadastral sheet. A notice issued in 2008 also shows farmer Mahase Samuel had been occupying lands there since 2008. Read more here
POLITICS
URP RED FLAG... Minister Ameen, PNM clash over claims of feeding frenzy in social programme
Allegations of deep-rooted corruption within the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) have sparked political controversy. This, after Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen accused the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration of turning the initiative into a “feeding frenzy” for friends, family members, and financiers. Responding to questions on the status of an audit into the programme from Guardian Media yesterday, Minister Ameen claimed the URP, intended to provide temporary employment for the nation’s most vulnerable, had been exploited for partisan benefit. “It is one of the areas that the PNM used to siphon state funds to the pockets of their friends and families and activists, and it was a total abuse of the public purse,” Ameen said in a telephone interview. Read more here
BUSINESS
TTMB issues bond targetting women
The announcement on June 30, 2025 by IDB Invest to subscribe to $250 million in social bonds issued by T&T Mortgage Bank Ltd (TTMB), in partnership with Republic Bank Ltd (RBL), marks the first time in the Caribbean such financing is targetting women. This initiative is not just a financial transaction—it’s a strategic intervention aimed at reshaping access to homeownership for underserved populations. What makes this project particularly groundbreaking is its explicit focus on supporting women and women-led families, a demographic often left behind by traditional financial systems. The funds would enable the TTMB to expand its mortgage portfolio, focusing on middle and lower middle-income families, as well as women and women-led households. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Our greatest chapter is still ahead of us’
OUTLINING a future built on a forward-looking strategy, visionary leadership and unity, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday reminded a mammoth gathering of supporters that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) remains the engine of development and prosperity for all Guyanese. Pledging continued investment in home ownership, agriculture, health, education and other key sectors, the Head of State stressed that economic stability is not a luxury but a right for all Guyanese. His address was welcomed by a massive gathering of supporters at the Kitty Market Square, Georgetown, coating the streets in the party’s signature fiery red paraphernalia. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Clashes between Druze and Bedouin in southern Syria kill at least 30
At least 30 people have been killed in armed clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias in southern Syria, the country's interior ministry says. The violence erupted in the predominantly Druze city in the province of Suweida on Sunday, two days after a Druze merchant was reportedly abducted on the highway to Damascus. The interior ministry called the situation "a dangerous escalation" and said security forces were being deployed to try to restore calm. Read more here
14th July 2025