TTMA IN THE NEWS
Keeping the water level: Businesses, WASA talk water manageme
Water is a precious resource, needed in everyday life and business operations. However, every year the dry season presents a problem as drier conditions, Sahara dust and high heat affect water levels and rain, thereby limiting water supply. For many businesses this presents a problem, as cooling systems, beverages and even as a main input in services such as car washes, must grapple with lower water levels. It also presents a problem for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which is tasked with supplying the entire nation with sufficient water for crucial everyday use. Read more here
NEWS
Latest attack on places of worship: 6 murtis destroyed
Devotees at the Bharatiya Vidya Abhyas Mandali in Curepe were left heartbroken when vandals destroyed six murtis on their temple grounds on Wednesday morning. The temple's treasurer Zolika Ramdehal told Newsday the vandals caused $100,000 in damage. An upset Ramdehal spoke with Newsday via phone after the temple located at Watts Street, Curepe, was vandalised early Wednesday morning. She said the incident happened between 4 and 5.30 am. She said devotees showing up for morning worship made the discovery. Read more here
Businessman loses $10M as Barrackpore warehouse goes up in flames
A warehouse owned by Mathai Imports Ltd was yesterday gutted in Barrackpore, resulting in approximately $10 million in damages. Mathai Imports Ltd is a wholesale and retail car accessories business. Among the items destroyed were vehicle bed liners, tray covers, and headlights. The owner is out of the country, but his son Brandon Mathai, a director of the company, said around noon he got a phone call that the warehouse at Harewood Trace was on fire. “By the time I got here, which was about ten minutes after, the entire thing was on fire. The shed was collapsing and all the products we had were already burnt,” he recalled. He said firefighters and the police responded within 15 minutes. However, he said, they spent hours trying to extinguish the flames. Read more here
POLITICS
Hinds: Challenge to Erla's extension 'frivolous'
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says the legal challenge launched against the decision to extend the contract of Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher was frivolous. He made the comment while addressing the media at an impromptu press conference at the office of the Attorney General on Wednesday, after the Court of Appeal ruled that her year -long extension by the Cabinet was constitutionally valid. Harewood-Christopher was confirmed in the post by Parliament on February 3, 2023, and Cabinet extended her term by a year after she reached the retirement age of 60 on May 15, 2023. Read more here
Kamla: Public accounts probe an illegal sham
That is how Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has described an impending probe by a Cabinet-appointed committee into the understatement of public revenue for the 2023 financial year. On Tuesday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that retired High Court judge Justice David Harris was selected by the Cabinet to lead the investigation into the understatement of revenue in the last financial year and other related matters, which has caused an impasse between Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass and Finance Minister Colm Imbert. The appointment of the investigative team was the latest development after a dispute developed between the Finance Ministry and Auditor General in connection with the submission of documents relating to the $2.6 billion understatement. Ramdass also yesterday signalled that she was going ahead with a threat to sue Attorney General Reginald Armour to ensure the State pays for her legal representation in defending herself against what she calls an attack on her professional status. Read more here
BUSINESS
New multi-million $$ building for zoo
In a drive to attract more visitors and investors to the Emperor Valley Zoo, the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) is undertaking a $56 million improvement of the 7.2-acre facility, which is located north of Queen’s Park Savannah and west of the Botanical Gardens. On its website last week, Udecott said the Cabinet issued a mandate to Udecott for improvement and expansion works at the Emperor Valley Zoo. Part of the zoo-expansion and improvement project is the construction of a two-story building with a floor area of 8,550 square feet. The structure is to be called the Discovery building, the construction of which is underway. “The footprint of the building was designed in the shape of a butterfly and consists of an exhibition centre, cinema/theatre, restaurant, ice cream parlour, cutters bar, conference/meeting room, offices/information centre, shops, kiosks and outdoor dining, amphitheatre and children’s play area,” Udecott said. Read more here
Guardian Media reports $3m loss in Q1
Guardian Media Ltd has reported a total comprehensive loss of $3 million for its first quarter ended March 31, 2024, further extending the group’s loss-making position from its previous financial year. GML said in unaudited results for its first quarter published yesterday that the loss before tax was $4.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023 the media arm of the ANSA McAL conglomerate reported a total comprehensive loss of $11.2 million. “Revenues for the quarter ended March 31 were $22.4 million, a nominal decrease of $.3 million or 1% over the corresponding quarter in 2023,” GML chairman Peter Clarke stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
Land acquisition for new Demerara Harbour Bridge: Gov’t initiates demolition notices
The Government of Guyana has started acquiring the properties along the Nandy Park and La Grange alignments as part of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge construction project. This announcement came from Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, during a media briefing on Wednesday. Minister Edghill outlined the legal process that led to the acquisition, citing April 6, 2024, as the date when properties identified for compulsory acquisition became vested in the state of Guyana. With this legal hurdle cleared, the government is poised to proceed with bridge construction. He added, “So all the lands there that is [sic] in the path of the bridge having gone through the legal process is [sic] now vested in the state of Guyana, so we can get on with the construction of the bridge.” Edghill stated that as a result of this order, on May 7, 2024, notices of eviction and demolition of property were dispatched to residents who did not accept offers from the government. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Half of Gaza water sites damaged or destroyed, BBC satellite data reveals
Hundreds of Gaza's water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel began military action against Hamas, satellite analysis by BBC Verify has found. Damage to a major supplies depot has also severely disrupted repairs. The lack of clean water and flows of untreated sewage pose a serious threat to health, say aid agencies. The Israel Defense Forces told the BBC that Hamas cynically exploits civilian infrastructure for terror purposes. The destruction comes despite Israel's duty to protect critical infrastructure under the rules of war, unless there is evidence sites are being used for military reasons, say human rights lawyers. Read more here
9th May 2024