NEWS
Student disappears days after being followed
Days after she told her parents that she was being followed by a group of men on her way home from classes, a form five student of the Marabella North Secondary School, is now missing. Princess Phillips,18, of Marabella was last seen on Friday by her mother when she left the family home to visit a friend in the area. The teen has not been seen or heard from since and her parents Anari Barkley and Anthony Phillips are now fearing the worst. Read more here
CMO forecasts another COVID-19 spike
Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram yesterday predicted a spike in COVID-19 cases due to the public’s refusal to fully cooperate with the public health guidelines aimed at preventing its spread. “In light of the recent movement of individuals and somewhat non-adherence to the public health guidelines, we expect to see an increase in the number of cases in the next few days to weeks,” Parasram said during yesterday’s Ministry of Health update on the virus, even as the country recorded another 26 positive cases to take the overall number of cases to 326. Read more here
POLITICS
State needs more time in case against Ramlogan, Ramdeen
The prosecution is still not ready to proceed in the corruption case against former attorney general Anand Ramlogan and former UNC senator Gerald Ramdeen who are alleged to have conspired to financially reward themselves with fees from legal briefs from the State. Prosecutors on Wednesday asked for additional time to file statements in the matters. Presiding over the matters is Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle. They indicated they have 18 more statements to submit but they were not yet sworn or filed and would be able to do so in 14 days. Read more here
Keith, Kamla, candidates' votes drop in 2020
Both the People's National Movement and United National Congress’ votes in safe seats dropped in Monday’s General Election – including in the seats held by PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley and UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. This is revealed in a comparison of the 2015 General Election results and the preliminary results given by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) on Monday's General Election. Read more here
BUSINESS
TT a key partner with EU
While the European Union’s new ambassador has not been named yet, outgoing EU ambassador Aad Biesebroek suggests his replacement look at areas the EU has identified where it thinks it can contribute, thereby furthering relationship between EU and TT. Biesebroek said in his four-year tenure as ambassador, his office identified a few areas where the EU and TT could work together. Among those areas are managing TT’s water shortage and flooding. Read more here
PLIPDECO’s profit falls drastically
The Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Limited’s (PLIPDECO) profits for the three month period ending 30 June, 2020 was close to $70 million less than the figure they posted for the same period last year, according to the latest financial statements. For the three month period ended June 30, 2020 PLIPDECO recorded a profit of $9.7 million. And for the three month period ended June 30,2 019 PLIPDECO recorded a profit of $79.6 million. Read more here
REGIONAL
Ministers to work remotely
President Irfaan Ali has advised members of his Cabinet to work remotely, after Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Guyana, like many countries around the world, has been challenged by both the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but President Ali had committed to keeping Guyanese informed about the fight against this scourge.
“We are dealing with a global pandemic and I assured all Guyanese that there will be transparency, accountability and openness in the way your government works for you,” said President Ali during a virtual message, on Wednesday. Read more here
Restaurant, vehicle parts shop destroyed in massive Highgate fire
Fire fighters are now battling a massive blaze in the St Mary town of Highgate. According to one eyewitness, a restaurant and a vehicle parts shop have been engulfed. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Chinese officials say chicken wings imported from Brazil tested positive for Covid-19
sample of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil has tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, authorities said Thursday, the latest in a series of reports of contaminated imported food products. The coronavirus was detected Wednesday on a surface sample taken from a batch of chicken wings during screening of imported frozen food in Longgang district of Shenzhen, the municipal government said in a statement. Officials did not name the brand. Read more here
Belarus election: Women form ‘solidarity chains’ to condemn crackdown
Women have formed human chains in Belarus to condemn a crackdown on protests over the disputed election. Many dressed in white and carried flowers as they called for an end to police brutality, in demonstrations that began on Wednesday. Unrest erupted after long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko was declared winner of Sunday's vote, sparking allegations of vote rigging. Thousands of people have been arrested and at least two have died. Read more here
13th August 2020