NEWS
‘Attack on press freedom’
AN attack on press freedom. This is how media associations around the world have described the police raid on the Express newsroom. Read more here
First T&T case confirmed
At 2.45 pm yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago joined the list of over 150 countries across the world with a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). “This case, it should be noted, is an imported case, it’s a 52-year-old male who flew into the country from Switzerland on Monday 9th of March. That is this Monday. It is worthwhile to note that since Monday, this person has been in self-isolation,” Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said during a press conference at the ministry’s Park Street, Port-of-Spain headquarters yesterday. “The person would have contacted his health care professional on Wednesday 11th, which is yesterday. The necessary swabs were taken and CARPHA today at 2.45 pm contacted me and said we have our first confirmed case of COVID-19.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Scotia records $156m profit in Q1
Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Ltd has realised a first-quarter adjusted net income after taxation of $156 million for the quarter ended January 31. This profit registers an increase of $8 million or six per cent over the adjusted prior year comparative. According to a release, the bank said there were two significant one-off items impacting profitability. The first was a $22 million adjustment to increase allowance for credit losses arising from a change in assumptions related to how the group assesses economic scenarios under IFRS 9. Read more here
Cruise ships banned for rest of season
MINISTER in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young has announced all cruise ship arrivals to Trinidad have been cancelled for the rest of the season because of concerns over covid19. He was responding to a question in the Senate on Thursday from Independent Senator Dr Maria Dillon-Remy on behalf of the Prime Minister. Read more here
POLITICS
Smaller TT parties agree on coalition
SOME of TT's smaller parties including the COP, MSJ and NSA have agreed to form a coalition to contest this year's general election. UNC founder Basdeo Panday on March 7 said, there would be a meeting of leaders of these parties to discuss a coalition arrangement for the election. On Thursday, COP political leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan confirmed this meeting took place. She said Panday asked her to co-ordinate the meeting. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘Too much at stake for elections stalemate’…says CARICOM Chair, Mia Mottley
CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados has stated that the judgement of Chief Justice Roxane George was “absolutely clear” and any attempt to stall the process runs against the ruling and will not bode well for the country on the cusp of greater economic development. Read more here
First COVID-19 Patient Attended Funeral Of Gloria Clarke, Ministry Wants To Find Other Mourners
The Health Ministry is now reporting that the first patient who tested positive for COVID-19 attended the funeral of the late Gloria Clarke on Saturday, March 7, 2020. The interment was held at the Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St Catherine. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump administration's efforts outmatched by the virus
Washington (CNN)As America effectively shuts down, failures over coronavirus testing kits and President Donald Trump's disastrous bid to calm the markets are coming to symbolize a federal government that increasingly seems outmatched by the global pandemic. Read more here
Coronavirus: Countries enforce mass closures to stem spread
Schools have been closed, sports events cancelled and cultural institutions shut around the world as countries try to stem the coronavirus outbreak. In the US, six states told schools to close on Monday for at least two weeks. Read more here
13th March 2020