NEWS
IMA: Oil in Tobago spill is 'diesel-like'
The spill on the Tobago coast consists of oil which is "diesel-like" according to a scientific assessment by the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA.) This from the Ministry of Planning and Development in a statement on Sunday. The statement was titled IMA completes first round of preliminary oil finger-printing results from samples taken at the site of Tobago oil spill. It said Planning Pennelope Beckles wanted to inform the public and media that the IMA completed the first round of analysis of the results of the hydrocarbon samples taken at the site of the ongoing oil spill near the shore of Cove Bay on the Atlantic side of Tobago. Read more here
Protect our culture with positive lyrics
Newly installed Chairman of Caricom President of Guyana Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has called for artistes in the region to focus on positivity in their music. In his address at the opening of the 46th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown yesterday, President Ali stressed that the region needed to pay particular attention to its cultural contribution to the world. “We in Guyana have taken a very conscious decision in ensuring that we invest in culture as a tool and mechanism of unifying our people and as a tool and mechanism of telling the story of who we are as a people. And in this region, we owe it to the generation ahead of us, to keep our alive and to invest in this culture, because culture is what distinguishes us from any other region. Culture is distinctly different from any other region,” he said. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC: 'Government must do more for children'
Opposition Senator David Nakhid and Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit on Sunday both called on the Government to do more to help the nation's children, citing the tragic shooting death of Ezekiel Paria, 12, by a stray bullet at Laventille Road, Port of Spain, last Thursday. The duo held a briefing at the Opposition Leader's office in Port of Spain. Nakhid said most regional leaders were "taking care of business" in the time between last week's energy conference ending in Guyana and the Caricom heads meeting opening there on Sunday, but criticised the Prime Minister for sightseeing in Guyana. Nakhid alleged Dr Rowley was sending a message that he did not care about TT nationals. Read more here
UNC: Send police and soldiers to schools
The United National Congress (UNC) has called for police officers and soldiers to help secure schools in crime-ravaged communities. Opposition Senator David Nakhid made the call on behalf of the party when he addressed its weekly press briefing from its headquarters in Chaguanas yesterday morning. Referring to the murders in east Port-of-Spain last week of 50-year-old Amoa Howe, who was shot dead outside the Gloster Lodge Moravian Primary School, and 12-year-old Ezekiel Paria, who was shot in his head by a stray bullet while riding his bicycle near his Laventille home, Nakhid called for the intervention of members of the protective services. Read more here
BUSINESS
Farmers get $5m in Govt grants
Agriculture Minister Kazim Hosein distributed over $5 million in cheques to 50 farmers on Friday. The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in a news release on Friday said, “These farmers were all recipients of the Agricultural Finance Support Programme (Agro-Incentive Grant), which was introduced in 2018 and disbursed over $25 million to more than 200 stakeholders.” Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali pledges US$2M from carbon-credit earnings to CARICOM
Recognising that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is extremely vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, Chairman of CARICOM, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced a US$2 million financing towards the Regional Adaption Fund. Speaking at an event to mark the opening of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM Sunday afternoon, President Ali reiterated the country’s commitment to the Bridgetown Initiative. The Bridgetown Initiative, piloted by Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amort Motley calls for the overhaul of the current global financial system led by the IMF and the World Bank to enable mobilisation of more private financing for the climate transition and improved resilience in vulnerable countries. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Norwegian Dawn: Mauritius blocks cruise ship over cholera fears
Mauritius has denied a Norwegian cruise ship permission to dock at the capital Port Louis over fears of a potential cholera outbreak on board. At least 15 people on the Norwegian Dawn have been in isolation over suspected illness. Mauritian authorities said the decision to block the ship was "taken in order to avoid any health risks". Samples were taken for testing on Sunday, with results expected to be known on Tuesday. The passengers developed mild symptoms of a stomach illness during a trip to South Africa, a representative of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said. Mary Francovilla Dees, 69, a passenger on the Norwegian Dawn told the BBC that despite the delay the atmosphere on the ship has been "fairly calm". Read more here
26th February 2024