NEWS
Trump extends trade pact to aid local manufacturers
A trade agreement which allows for goods produced in TT and other Caricom countries to have duty-free access to the US market has been extended for another 10 years by US President Donald Trump. A release from the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Sunday said the extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) was signed off by Trump on October 10. Read more here
Guyanese man sues CAL for negligence following drug arrest
A Guyanese man who claims he was “unwittingly turned into a drug mule” when his suitcase was allegedly tampered with during a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight to the US, has sued CAL for alleged negligence. The story was carried in the October 10 edition of the New York Post. It involved an October 2018 incident concerning Guyanese-born Simeon Wilson who lives in Queens, New York. Read more here
POLITICS
Duke knocks PM over criticism of absent public servants
President of the Public Services Association (PSA) Watson Duke has described the Prime Minister's criticism of public servants as careless, irresponsible and ill-informed. Duke on a Facebook message on Sunday morning responded to Dr Rowley’s comments that public servants were abusing the covid19 measures that allowed work on a rotational basis and were ducking work. Read more here
Deyalsingh to study WHO’s call to end lockdowns
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says he has to study statements by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Dr David Nabarro who has urged world leaders to stop “lockdowns” continuing as the primary means of controlling the COVID-19 virus. Since February Nabarro’s worked for the WHO’s Director-General assisting in dealing with the pandemic. The WHO advocated lockdowns when the pandemic began. Read more here
BUSINESS
Government’s balancing act for 2021
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) is currently in the throes of a major macroeconomic shock amid subdued energy markets as well as the debilitating effects of the global pandemic. Read more here
REGIONAL
Virus Causing COVID-19 Can Stay On Some Surfaces For 28 Days Says Study
The coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 can remain infectious on surfaces such as banknotes, phone screens and stainless steel for 28 days, the BBC has quoted researchers. The findings are from Australia's national science agency and they suggest SARS-Cov-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19, can survive for far longer than thought. Read more here
All set — President says airports ready, prepared to operate safely
Growing economic challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has pushed local authorities to reopen its international airports to commercial travel, from today, and President, Dr. Irfaan Ali is confident they are ready and prepared to operate safely and in a way that minimises importation of COVID-19 cases. Though no flight is expected today, the country will soon see a number of commercial flights “touching down,” but there are strict guidelines which will have to be adhered to, said President Ali. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump takes his Covid misinformation machine back on the road
President Donald Trump takes his Covid denial tour back to the campaign trail Monday as the tense final stretch of an election now three weeks away gets a fresh jolt with Senate hearings on his Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett. Trump, who announced Sunday, without providing evidence, that he has tested "totally negative" after his bout with the virus, plans to hold his first rally since his diagnosis was publicly disclosed, in Florida, in what risks turning into yet another super spreader event. Read more here
Covid-19: China's Qingdao to test nine million in five days
12th October 2020