NEWS
KFC staff receiving counseling after restaurant murder
Staff at KFC's Gasparillo branch are been offered counselling after a shooting incident at the restaurant on February 16, left one man dead. Luka Lorenzo Goring, 31, of Gopaul Lands, Marabella was shot dead on Friday night during a physical altercation with another man inside the restaurant. CCTV footage showed Goring and the suspect arguing while a security guard attempted to intervene. The guard was pushed away. During the scuffle, Goring appeared to stab the man several times before the suspect took out a gun from under his jacket and fired several shots at Goring. Read more here
Analyst warns Govt: Expect backlash for MPs salary rise proposal
Political analyst Dr Bishu Ragoonath believes the SRC’s recommendation to increase the salaries of the country’s top public officials can only be viewed as obscene and the Government may face a pushback from the population. Ragoonath was giving his take on the recommendations. “The fact that public servants were given a four per cent pay hike over six years, it could be seen as obscene that the Prime Minister and they would take a 30 per cent while they call on the population at large to hold strain,” he said. Ragoonath said the offer the Government put on the table for public sector employees “this is hardly one that I think would get the vast support of the population.” Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: Downstream energy sector on brink of collapse
Claiming the downstream sector is on the brink of collapse due to an insufficient gas supply, Opposition MP David Lee is demanding answers from the government on the status of the Dragon Gas deal which is expected to provide additional supplies to keep the sector afloat. Citing ambiguity over the licenses with the US that expire in April, Lee said, “We call on the Government to stop giving the people of this nation false comfort by saying our license with the US goes until 2025, and tell us if they have received any assurances that we will go beyond 2025 which is the key to get Dragon off the ground." At a UNC briefing on February 18, Lee called for clarification on the 30-year Dragon deal agreement in light of a decision by Methanex to shut down its Atlas Mentanol Plant at Point Lisas. Read more here
UNC: Give special grant to fisherfolk
The United National Congress (UNC) is calling on Government to give affected Tobago fisherfolk a compensation grant. Almost two weeks after a capsized cargo vessel caused an oil leak 150 metres off the coast of the Cove in Tobago, the Opposition said fisherfolk will now struggle to earn a living. During an Opposition news conference yesterday, Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram said fisherfolk in areas such as Lambeau have not been able to ply their trade since the incident took place on February 10. He also accused the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries of not dealing with the contaminated seafood in Tobago. Read more here
BUSINESS
Oil spill impact could be profound, long term
The long-term economic impact of the oil spill in Tobago could be profound, as it could lead to the deepening of the island’s dependence on Trinidad, depending on the extent of the contamination of the island’s ecosystem, Tobago economist, Dr Vanus James said on Friday. He said the oil spill could have a short-term impact on Tobago’s tourism as the story of the oil spill has been all over the international media. The impact on the island’s tourism product could be long term depending on where and how much damage is done to Tobago’s beaches, reefs, mangroves and dive spots. Read more here
Sagewan, Annisette reject SRC pay hikes
Economist Dr Indera Sagewan says the country cannot afford salary increases. Responding to questions from the Express on Saturday about the Salaries Review Commission’s recommendations that Government members get pay raises, she said this was the very Government that could only offer 4% increases to public servants. “I am of the firm view that politicians should be well remunerated, as this can act as an incentive away from corruption. In addition to which their jobs, if done well, are all-consuming. However, politicians are responsible for good governance, the Prime Minister is the country’s CEO responsible for growing the economy. The Opposition is the Prime Minister-in-waiting responsible for holding the Government in check and under pressure to perform. The question is, are they doing their jobs?” Sagewan said. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyana inches closer to boasting world-class tourism, hospitality sector
Set to be country’s largest tourism and hospitality investment, the sod was turned on Sunday at Carifesta Avenue where the Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre will be built. Boasted to be a world-class facility, the new resort will feature 260 rooms and suites, 150 service apartments and premium villas and it represents a collaboration between the Governments of Guyana and Qatar. During an address at a ceremonial sod turning event, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the facility will add to the growing improvement in the quality of service the country is already offering. The investment he noted further fits into the country’s overall plan of ensuring sustainable development. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Gaza doctors: ‘We leave patients to scream for hours and hours’
Doctors across Gaza have described operating on patients without anaesthetic, turning people with chronic conditions away, and treating rotting wounds with limited medical supplies. "Because of the shortage of painkillers we leave patients to scream for hours and hours," one told the BBC. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the state of healthcare in Gaza as being "beyond words". It said 23 hospitals in Gaza were not functioning at all as of Sunday - 12 were partially functioning and one minimally. The health agency said air strikes and a lack of supplies have "depleted an already under-resourced system". Read more here
19th February 2024