NEWS
Sou Sou Lands Co-operative Society wants to help Ramjattan Trace squatters
The Sou Sou Lands Co-operative Society, a non-profit organisation since 1987, has said it is willing to help find land for the people who were evicted from Ramjattan Trace, Arima, last week. “We would like to speak with them because we feel like we can assist,” said chairman of Sou Sou Lands Co-operative Society Lennox Sankersingh, in an interview with Newsday on February 9. “We can also go to them. We can chat and see what is possible.” Sankersingh said while the lands the organisation has available may not be close to Ramjattan Trace, if squatters were to visit the Sou Sou Lands office in Couva, iy may be able to help. Read more here
One year later, Tobago still recovering from oil spill
On February 7, 2024, Tobago’s coastline was devastated when a barge capsized, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel into the sea. The disaster hit the island hard—environmentally, economically, and socially. One year later, Tobagonians are reflecting on how the disaster changed the island. Thick oil covered the shore in a matter of minutes after the Gulfstream barge overturned and crashed just off the coast of Cove, spewing bunker fuel. It was the beginning of months of recovery. The spill was catastrophic, choking marine life and suffocating the island’s economy, incurring a $76 million bill. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC candidate: Young offenders being abandoned
Attorney and United National Congress’ (UNC) candidate for Aranguez/St Joseph Devesh Maharaj said the country is failing its youths. He was speaking at the party's virtual media conference on February 9. His comments were also based on a media report in which acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Junior Benjamin said gangs are replacing the role of the family unit.“You can no longer go to the basketball courts at night because they are taken over by gangs. You are not seeing anyone playing small goal in the road as we used to do when we were younger,” Maharaj said. Read more here
Opposition renews calls for details of Petrojam deal
The Opposition has renewed its call for the Government to disclose details of a supply deal between State-owned Paria Fuel Trading Company and Jamaica’s Petrojam. United National Congress (UNC) deputy political leader and Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee made the call while addressing the party’s weekly press briefing yesterday morning. The deal, related to the supply of very low sulphur fuel oil used by ships, was revealed almost two weeks ago. While reports from Jamaica suggested that the deal was worth approximately US$90 million, Paria issued a release last week, indicating that it was worth US$50.2 million. Read more here
BUSINESS
No rate increase for households using under 1,000 kwh
The Energy Chamber says it “firmly believes” that every household in this country should have access to a basic supply of electricity at an affordable rate. “No family should ever have to choose between keeping the lights on or meeting other essential needs. All children must be able to do their homework under electric lights, and families must be able to safely refrigerate food. These are fundamental necessities, and the Energy Chamber supports ensuring that every household has access to them,” the Energy Chamber stated yesterday. The Energy Chamber made the statement in a blogpost on its website titled “The Energy Chamber and Electricity Pricing”. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali mulls construction of municipal airports in Berbice, Lethem
While Guyana is well on its way to enhancing its infrastructure, meeting its ambitious economic targets will require significant additional work which when completed, will help to create intricate interconnected networks both domestically and with our immediate neighbours. This is the belief of President, Dr Irfaan Ali, who during an Energy Perspective Podcast which was released on Sunday, stated that there is still an ‘enormous gap’ to where he envisions the country should be. “We have started to address critical infrastructure that is linked to economic expansion, creation of new wealth, the support to the agriculture sector, and, of course, the efficiency in the transport system.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor - a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern Gaza following the pull-out - often to scenes of utter destruction. The Israeli withdrawal is in line with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement of 19 January under which 16 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners have so far been freed. By the end of the first stage of the ceasefire in three weeks' time, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are expected to have been freed. Israel says eight of the 33 are dead. Read more here
10th February 2025