NEWS
Hundreds flock to beaches for a “last dip”
Many people decided to enjoy a last trip to the beach, a visit to the bar or enjoy a movie before the new covid19 regulations come into effect on Monday. The Prime Minister announced on Saturday a roll back on previously relaxed measures including no in-house dining at restaurants and bars; no contact sports; the closure of all teaching institutions; beaches; rivers; all places of worship; water parks, casinos; members clubs and cinemas. The Government is also looking at making wearing masks mandatory. Although Maracas beach was not overcrowded, hundreds of people enjoyed a last dip before beaches and rivers were closed once again in the wake of increasing covid19 cases in TT. Read more here
Parents grateful SEA exam still on
There are mixed views among some following the Ministry of Education’s decision to go ahead with the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) on Thursday, but for the most part parents of students actually sitting the exam are satisfied with the decision. While lamenting that schools may not be able to reopen again this year due to recent developments with the COVID-19 virus locally on Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley confirmed the rescheduled exam is still on. Read more here
POLITICS
Duke: My bad boy days are done
After his defeat at the polls in the August 10 general election, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader and Tobago East candidate Watson Duke said his approach to dealing with matters within the Public Services Association (PSA) and the Tobago House of Assembly has changed. PNM incumbent Ayanna Webster-Roy retained the Tobago East seat with 7,127 votes while Duke received 5,866. On Thursday, Duke announced in a live video on his Facebook page that he will use a different perspective to address matters. Read more here
Deyalsingh: Heightened COVID vigilance critical now
Even as the country prepared yesterday for the newest phase of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions - which go into effect from today - another person died from the virus yesterday and 55 more people had tested positive, taking the overall number of positive cases so far in T&T to 552.The latest victim is a 41-year-old man from South Trinidad. In its 10 am update yesterday, the Ministry of Health said the man had pre-existing medical conditions. On Friday, two people- an elderly woman and a man- died from the virus. Despite this continuing upward trend in cases and deaths and a warning on Saturday to the public to avoid leaving home unless absolutely necessary, hundreds of people yesterday flocked to beaches, rivers and bars for what was deemed by many as last lap limes before today’s new restrictions kick in. Read more here
BUSINESS
Another huge slide in TTNGL’s quarterly profits
After being hit with an 85 per cent slide in profit for the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, Trinidad and Tobago NGL Ltd (TTNGL) has revealed a profit for the second quarter ended June 30th 2020 (Q2) of $7.6 million. This successive quarterly reduction in profits amounted to $20 million or 72.5 per cent. Moreover, TTNGL’s profit of $14.5 million for its half-year ended June 30th 2020 also represented a large decline of 80.2 per cent or $58.9 million. In TTNGL’s unaudited financial statements, the Chairman Conrad Enill said: “The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has ravaged the worldwide economy and the reduced economic activity has resulted in changes in the energy supply and demand patterns in 2020.”Enill acknowledged that economies across the world have suffered declines in gross domestic product (GDP) during the first half of 2020, as compared to the previous corresponding period last year. Read more here
Investment lessons from Covid-19
In 2019 it was a great year for the global capital markets, however 2020 has proven to be more of a challenge. Read more here
REGIONAL
Free-for-all checkpoints putting country at risk as virus spreads
The quarantine zone around the COVID-19-infected community of Sandy Bay in Clarendon is being compromised, potentially putting thousands at risk as the disease continues to pose health and economic challenges to Jamaica. Sandy Bay, located in Clarendon South East, was placed under a 14-day community quarantine on August 6 because of a spike in COVID-19 cases, mainly linked to the Mount Zion House of Prayer church. The quarantine is to end in another three days, but lapses have been observed, with motorists given free rein to enter and exit the community. On Sunday, a Gleaner news team observed many vehicles passing through two checkpoints set up along the main road without being vetted. Read more here
‘We need all hands on deck!’
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Sunday called on each and every Guyanese to recognise that the only way to beat this coronavirus is by collectively and consistently following the health guidelines. Sharing the ‘hot-seat’ on the televised programme, Government in Focus, Minister Anthony, who made his contribution to the conversation by way of Zoom, spoke on what his ministry has been doing since the new administration took office to ensure the safety of all Guyanese. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delays election over Covid-19
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is delaying the country's parliamentary election by four weeks to October 17 after the reemergence of Covid-19 in the country last week. The announcement on Tuesday that locally acquired cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in the New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, prompted the government to introduce strict level three lockdown measures on August 12. This comes after around 100 days without community spread. The rest of the country was put into level two lockdown, with both lockdown periods extended until at least August 26 as further cases of coronavirus were confirmed. Read more here
USPS: Pelosi to recall the House to 'save' the post office
Speaker Nancy Pelosi will call on the House of Representatives to return to session in the coming days to vote on a bill to protect the US Postal Service. In a letter released on Sunday, Ms Pelosi accused President Trump of a "campaign to sabotage the election". It comes after the USPS warned that millions of mail ballots may not arrive in time to be counted in the election. Critics blamed the new USPS head - a loyal supporter of the president - for a slowdown in deliveries. A record number of people are expected to vote by mail ahead of the 3 November presidential election due to the pandemic. The president has repeatedly said mail-in ballots will lead to voting fraud and give a boost to his rival, Democrat Joe Biden. However, experts say the mail-in voting system, which Mr Trump himself uses, is safe from tampering. Read more here
17th August 2020