NEWS
FIFA cancels mediation with TTFA
The matter concerning the TT Football Association (TTFA) and FIFA has taken another twist, as FIFA has stated that the mediation it agreed to previously had nothing to do with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee. On Monday, it was revealed that FIFA would consider mediation to resolve the matter regarding their decision to appoint a normalisation committee on March 17 to run TT football, replacing the TTFA executive. However, a statement by FIFA on Tuesday said, “For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the mediation FIFA previously agreed to with United TTFA would never have dealt with the legality of the appointment of the normalisation committee and would only have covered some costs related issues. This mediation will not go ahead now in any event, owing to the failure of the lawyers of United TTFA to keep the matter confidential, in line with their professional and ethical obligations.” Read more here
Gun shipment to T&T seized in Puerto Rico
A cache of semi-automatic weapons and pistol magazines destined for T&T was discovered stashed away in a toolbox, by officials of the United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) last Wednesday in Puerto Rico. According to a release posted on the USCBP website on Monday, the toolbox was sent via air courier from Tennessee to Port of Spain, Trinidad. The toolbox contained six semi-automatic pistols and nine pistol magazines. Carlos Nieves, Port Director in Mayaguez-Aguadilla, in the release, noted that “The exportation of firearms requires a license in compliance with US Export Control regulations”. “CBP officers enforce US import and export regulations to ensure that products entering the supply chain respect international trade agreements.” Read more here
POLITICS
Al-Rawi rejects COP claim
Attorney General and PNM San Fernando West candidate Faris Al-Rawi rejected a claim by the COP that a video posted on social media had anything to do with him or the PNM. In a statement, the COP said the video in which Al-Rawi appeared “carries a heavy racist undertone.” The video begins with clips of former PP health minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis telling PP supporters at a public meeting to shut up and later criticising then prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The video continues with a television interview with former PP justice minister Herbert Volney saying he had nothing to do with the Section 34 fiasco. There is footage of Al-Rawi from 2012 as an opposition senator, saying Persad-Bissessar had questions to answer about Section 34. The video ends with an unknown woman making derogatory remarks about a particular ethnic group. Read more here
Shelved UNC MPs offered other roles
Overtures have been made by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to some rejected UNC incumbents who might be brought into a future UNC Government via the Senate or otherwise, UNC deputy leader David Lee has said. Lee made the point yesterday when asked by Guardian Media about the sadness, anger and concern by constituents in some areas where MPs had been removed. This included in the constituencies held by Ramona Ramdial, Fazal Karim, Bhoe Tewarie and Christine Newallo-Hosein. A group calling itself “UNC Cabal” has also been raising concerns about some new candidates. Lee said, “The leader always said she would marry experience with youth and some of those MPs who did not get back their seat, there have been overtures made, the leader reached out to them and some might be returning either via the Senate or other capacities. It’s not that they don’t have a role to play with the UNC Government.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Sagicor’s top execs shared US$24.3m in 2019
Shareholders of Sagicor Financial Company have expressed shock that the insurance company, which is headquartered in Barbados, paid its top five executives total compensation of US$24,315,981 in 2019. Read more here
REGIONAL
Guyanese scholars back Pres. Granger
A Group of Guyanese scholars and professionals on Tuesday urged President David Granger to remain in Office and demonstrate his commitment to lead Guyana on the path to prosperity. The statement comes at a time when there are increasing calls for President Granger to demit office, based on the contention that the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) lost the Elections. The basic tabulation of votes during a 33-day National Recount shows a win for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) by some 15,000 votes, but the recount also unearthed thousands of irregularities and cases of voter impersonation. The Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, in his report on the National Recount, told the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, that the widespread cases of electoral fraud had compromised the electoral process. Read more here
Banking Hiccup - Thousands With Invalid Accounts Yet To Receive COVID Relief, Two-Month Extension For Some Grants
Opposition Spokesman on Finance Mark Golding has asserted that the banking sector has fallen short in facilitating COVID-19 relief payments from the Government, as it was reported yesterday that some beneficiaries faced significant hurdles in accessing the benefit. “The remittance companies, I think, have provided an easier channel than the bank accounts, and we do sympathise with the members of the team who have had to cope with the demands on their time and resources in dealing with the challenges of sorting out a range of issues with the bank accounts that persons have,” Golding said in his critique of the sector. Yesterday, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke informed Parliament that as at July 1, some 396,311 applicants out of 415,888 eligible applicants had received monies under the Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) Programme. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
WHO confirms there's 'emerging evidence' of airborne transmission of coronavirus
The World Health Organization confirmed there is "emerging evidence" of airborne transmission of the coronavirus following the publication of a letter Monday signed by 239 scientists that urged the agency to be more forthcoming about the likelihood that people can catch the virus from droplets floating in the air. Dr. Benedetta Alleganzi, WHO Technical Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, said during a briefing Tuesday, that the agency has discussed and collaborated with many of the scientists who signed the letter. "We acknowledge that there is emerging evidence in this field, as in all other fields regarding the Covid-19 virus and pandemic and therefore we believe that we have to be open to this evidence and understand its implications regarding the modes of transmission and also regarding the precautions that need to be taken," Alleganzi said. Read more here
Coronavirus: Belgrade protesters storm Serb parliament over curfew
8th July 2020