TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA: We'll do our part against covid19
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) on Tuesday promised the population it will continue to play its part to assist the national covid19 response, particularly during the current state of emergency (SoE). The SoE took effect from midnight last Saturday. In response to questions from Newsday, the TTMA said in a statement, "The manufacturing sector is focusing on managing its best given the current SoE in the country and the present covid19 regulations." Read more here
NEWS
Oxygen tank customers put on waiting list
Panicky customers rushing to buy oxygen tanks had to be put on waiting lists this week as a spike in demand for medical oxygen caused a shortage which suppliers are scrambling to fill. As covid19 cases rise, suppliers are complaining of hoarding and panic-buying as they said more stock is coming. Stephen Aboud, managing director of pharmaco AA Laquis, told Newsday on Monday more than 150 people were waiting for oxygen tanks, some of whom either have covid19 or have infected relatives. He said Pharmaco was giving priority to them in their next shipment. Read more here
China’s Sinopharm vaccines are here
One hundred thousand (100,000) doses of the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, which were manufactured by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Limited, landed at the Piarco International Airport at 1:09 am this morning, Wednesday 19th May 2021. Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, was on hand to receive the vaccines, which were donated by the Government of the People's Republic of China. The vaccines began their journey to Trinidad and Tobago early on Tuesday morning, when they were shipped from the Beijing airport. Read more here
POLITICS
UNC MP disagrees with Fuad Khan on covid tests
UNC Caroni East MP Dr Rishi Seecheran on Tuesday disagreed with former UNC Barataria/San Juan MP and health minister Dr Fuad Khan about Government calling a state of emergency (SoE) because people were rushing to get tested for covid19. Khan made the claim in a video posted on social media on Monday. Seecheran told Newsday, "The covid19 surge has created considerable uncertainty in the minds of the population, as many of our citizens have now passed away because of the virus. Read more here
Pepper Spray legislation passed in Senate
Two Independent senators yesterday urged Government to allow people to buy pepper spray without permits and remove bureaucratic measures to acquire it. The opinions came from Independent senators Evans Welch and Deoroop Teemul during yesterday’s Senate debate on the Firearms Act amendment to facilitate pepper spray use. The bill was passed with a vote of 22 for, no objections and two abstentions. Calling for a better model, Welch said, “The Attorney General needs to wheel and come again.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Lockdown forces changes in food habits
People scrambled for a quick bite at the delis in groceries, or they brought a sandwich from home after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had announced there would be a total shutdown of roadside vending. Rowley had also said: “In this crisis that is brewing, you could feed yourself at home.” Read more here
REGIONAL
Residents evacuated
AS water continues to rise in communities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is closely monitoring the situation and has started evacuating residents where necessary, the CDC’s Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig has said.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Craig said that the commission is working with the Lethem Town Council to evacuate and provide much-needed assistance to persons who are severely affected by flooding. This seasonal flooding is said to occur when water from the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil travels through the Rio Negro river to the Brancho River and, eventually, makes its way to Region Nine. In speaking about the CDC’s plans amid rising water levels, Craig said: “We are working out other arrangements as it relates to evacuation and provision of any support to persons affected. Read more here
14-y-o hero teacher Converts old bar into classroom to tutor community kids
With penmanship that rivals the calligraphy of his teachers, a 14-year-old student of Ferncourt High School has become a hero of sorts in Queenhythe, St Ann, where he has taken on full-time tutoring of community children while attending online... Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli-Palestinian conflict enters 10th day as pressure builds for ceasefire
Israeli strikes on Gaza continued for the 10th consecutive day Wednesday, as pressure builds for a ceasefire to halt the conflict. Four Palestinians, including a local journalist, were killed and 10 others wounded in a series of raids launched by Israeli warplanes on different areas of Gaza on Wednesday, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. The journalist, Yusef Abu Hussein, was a broadcaster with Gaza radio station Al Aqsa Radio. He was killed in an Israeli strike targeting a house near the Sheikh Radwan cemetery, north of Gaza City, the WAFA report said. Read more here
New York prosecutor says Trump inquiry now criminal
The New York attorney general's office says it is investigating the Trump Organization "in a criminal capacity". A spokesman for the state's top prosecutor, Letitia James, said the inquiry into Mr Trump's property company was "no longer purely civil". Ms James has been scrutinising the ex-Republican president's financial dealings before he took office. The Trumps deny wrongdoing and say the inquiry by a Democratic prosecutor is a political vendetta. Ms James' spokesman, Fabien Levy, told the BBC on Tuesday: "We have informed the Trump Organization that our investigation into the Organization is no longer purely civil in nature. "We are now actively investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal capacity, along with the Manhattan DA. We have no additional comment." Read more here
19th May 2021