NEWS
Promoters: We're not 'pulling back' for Carnival, take personal responsibility in covid fight
The TT Promoters Association president Jerome “Rome” Precilla said he agrees with the Prime Minister that covid19 is here and people need to take personal responsibility in the fight against it. Rome spoke to media via Whats App after Dr Rowley spoke to the country about TT’s current covid19 condition. At a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, on Thursday, Rowley said the covid19 cases were increasing but that Carnival would go on. He added that there was no need, at this time, for new restrictions or to reintroduce those used before. Read more here
Autopsy: Kylie, 6, died from bullet to chest
Six-year-old Kylie Maloney died from a single gunshot wound to her chest, a post-mortem conducted at the Forensic Science Centre in St James revealed yesterday. Relatives can now prepare for her funeral after waiting for three days to have the autopsy done. Meanwhile, police also made a breakthrough in the case after they arrested a suspect yesterday. Maloney, of Quash Trace Foster Road, Sangre Grande, was shot dead after gunmen stormed her relatives’ home at Blake Avenue Extension, Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande, on Sunday morning and opened fire. Her mother, Akela Maloney, and two male relatives were also injured during the attack. Read more here
POLITICS
Carnival on despite rising COVID-19 cases
The “Mother of all Carnivals” is on and the Government does not intend to institute any additional restrictions despite rising COVID-19 cases. This was the word from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday, although he still called for greater responsibility among the population with the new XBB.1.5 sub-variant in circulation and daily cases forecasted to reach the “high hundreds” within the next two weeks on the current trajectory. Speaking during a media conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, the Prime Minister justified the decision to continue with the Carnival plan despite the rising infections. “We do not believe the situation warrants us to not have Carnival but we believe that it warrants us taking personal decisions about your exposure to minimise instances for requirement of healthcare delivery to you,” he said. Read more here
BUSINESS
HMB partners with IDB Invest for Social Bond
The Home Mortgage Bank has partnered with IDB Invest to issue a Social Bond. The Bond, which has been issued for $300 million with a tenor of five years, is the first of its kind in T&T and the Caribbean Region. It also represents the second local currency transaction completed between HMB and IDB Invest with a cumulative value of $550 million. HMB said in a media release. HMB added the Social Bond is aligned with the Social Bond Principles (SBP) published by the secretariat of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). This it stated had received an “Aligned” rating for its methodical framework from Standard and Poor’s, an external consultant specialising in Thematic Bond issuances. Read more here
Business owners breathe sigh of relief
A collective sigh of relief from business owners yesterday as the Prime Minister said he would not be implementing any restrictions or strict measures to curb the number of rising Covid-19 cases in the country. Ryan Chin, director at Dachin Group of Companies, which includes Texas de Brazil, Rizzoni’s Ristorante Italiano and Jaxx International Grill, told the Express yesterday that he was pleased stricter measures were not implemented. Chin said his restaurants never stopped providing hand sanitisers for guests, so that pattern will continue. Read more here
REGIONAL
President Ali proposes new global food system to combat hunger
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in his address at the Voice of Global South Summit in India, on Thursday proposed a new global food initiative that incorporates a tax and financial system to directly combat hunger. President Ali acknowledged India’s strengths in technology, research and development, agro-processing, and human and technical capacity, and called for the formation of a team of experts to assist in food production in low-lying and small-island developing states. According to him, sustainable development is unachievable without food security, and therefore, the global south must act collectively to guarantee its full security. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine defence minister: We are a de facto member of Nato alliance
Ukraine has become a de facto member of the Nato alliance, the Ukrainian defence minister says, as Western countries, once concerned that military assistance could be seen as an escalation by Russia, change their "thinking approach". In an interview with the BBC, Oleksii Reznikov said he was sure Ukraine would receive long-sought weapons, including tanks and fighter jets, as both Ukraine and Russia seemed to be preparing for new offensives in the spring. "This concern about the next level of escalation, for me, is some kind of protocol," Mr Reznikov said. "Ukraine as a country, and the armed forces of Ukraine, became [a] member of Nato. De facto, not de jure (by law). Because we have weaponry, and the understanding of how to use it." Read more here
13th January 2023