NEWS
PM on dead babies at neonatal unit: Let’s get the facts first
The Prime Minister asked the nation for patience as investigators from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) gather a three-man team to investigate the growing number of infantile deaths at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH). “I want to know what are the facts and circumstances. And if there are people to be held accountable, then they are to be held accountable after the facts are determined. There is no short-cutting that,” Dr Rowley said, during a post-Cabinet meeting held at the Diplomatic Centre in Port of Spain on Thursday. Read more here
Parents who lost twin girls at PoSGH struggling to cope
The parents of twin baby girls who died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital have been having an uneasy time navigating the way forward since the tragedy. The twin girls were among several babies who died at the PoSGH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to a suspected bacterial infection. During an interview with Guardian Media yesterday, Travis and Jodie Molino explained that feelings of overwhelming loss and sorrow have been consuming them since the death of their girls. Travis, 32, said their hearts doubled with joy and happiness on news that twin girls were set to fill their lives. “We were both so thrilled, my wife and I come from large families and the idea of my eldest daughter having siblings was very exciting for us. We had started buying stuff, cribs, double walking stroller, we had put in new linen closets and cupboards in our room in anticipation of them coming home,” Travis said. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: Govt in partnership with Mumbai Indians owners - Cricket academy coming to Trinicity
The Prime Minister says a parcel of land in Trincity has been identified for a “high-quality” cricket academy, with significant investment from Indian multi-national conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, local private investors and the Government. Dr Rowley said Reliance Industries and local interests approached the Cabinet with a proposal that could have lasting positive implications for the regional game. “What (Reliance Industries) needed from the government was land. The government has made the land available and we’re now waiting for the investment to progress,” he said at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister in Port of Spain. Read more here
Rowley defends trips I am not a PM who travels for travelling sake
The Prime Minister unapologetically defended the cost of his overseas business travels saying it has added billions of dollars to this country’s purse. In fact, Dr Keith Rowley said he is carded to leave again in May for trips to Africa and India. Speaking during yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, the clearly irritated Prime Minister chastised both the United National Congress and some members of the media for what he described as a manufactured scandal. It was revealed by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal that the State paid $10.6 million of taxpayers’ money on 19 international trips over three years. But the Prime Minister said each trip had a significant purpose to this country. Read more here
BUSINESS
CSO: Inflation rate unchanged
The inflation rate remained steady for the month of March as compared to February, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO’s) index of retail prices released on April 18. The inflation rate, measured by the percentage change in the all items index for the month of March 2024 over March 2023, was 0.8 per cent. It remained unchanged from the same period the month before, but showed a significant decrease from the comparative period, March 2023/March 2022, when it was listed at 7.3 per cent. The all items index, a figure calculated from prices collected for March 2024, was 123.8, a 0.3 point or two per cent decrease from February. Read more here
PM: Geopolitics could change Dragon equation
Following the United States’ decision Wednesday to resume sanctions against Venezuela, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley clarified that as it stands, the Dragon gas arrangement is unaffected. However, he said that given the geopolitical dynamics involved, that could change. “The United States does things to Venezuela or about Venezuela, we can’t guarantee that some of these things will not be detrimental to us. It has already been, but we have some things in place which are not directly affected by that. But that doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t be affected sometime in the future, as the goalposts keep changing,” Rowley said at a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday. He noted that the whole idea of getting Venezuela to export gas to T&T is a positive move. “If it does not happen this year and it happens ten years from now, then that is a good thing. We would love it to happen sooner. The whole idea of us having, out of that agreement, a 30-year arrangement is positive. When it is going to start there are some difficulties there, but it might be influenced by the outcome of the US elections because they are all intertwined. The politics of Florida, the politics of New York,” Rowley explained. Read more here
REGIONAL
US recommits ‘unwavering support’ for Guyana’s sovereignty
The following is the full text of a statement from The White House:
“PRINCIPAL Deputy National Security Advisor, Jon Finer, spoke on the phone today with President Irfaan Ali of Guyana to discuss regional security and stability as well as ways to deepen our bilateral relationship, including our unwavering support for Guyana’s sovereignty. During the call, Mr. Finer welcomed Guyana’s leadership as the current Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). They both reiterated the importance of urgently increasing international support for Haitian-led efforts and the Multinational Security Support mission to help Haitians restore security and pave the way toward free and fair elections in Haiti. They also discussed other shared priorities, including energy security and climate change.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Infected blood scandal: Children were used as 'guinea pigs' in clinical trials
The true scale of the number of medical trials using infected blood products on children in the 1970s and 80s has been revealed by documents seen by BBC News. They reveal a secret world of unsafe clinical testing involving children in the UK, as doctors placed research goals ahead of patients' needs. They continued for more than 15 years, involved hundreds of people, and infected most with hepatitis C and HIV. One surviving patient told the BBC he was treated like a "guinea pig". Read more here
19th April 2024