TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA ready to go digital for 2021 trade and investment conference
As much as it hopes to host a hybrid physical and virtual event for this year’s Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), the TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) is prepared to go completely digital if necessary. The association launched its 22nd annual flagship business networking convention on Friday; the actual event will be in August. Last year, because of covid19 restrictions, the event was forced to be online – but it was still deemed a success. The event had over 50 virtual exhibitors, 4,000 registered users and 30,000 platform hits, TTMA president Franka Costelloe announced, with 90 virtual booths and exhibitor pavilions. Read more here
NEWS
No new covid19 cases in last two days
The Ministry of Health’s 4 pm update on Sunday said there were no new covid19 cases reported from February 10 to 12. It said the total number of active cases is now 158, taking the cumulative total to 7,642 since mid-March last year. Deaths remain at 138. Read more here
NCC launches digital ‘gift of love’ to T&T Carnival
On the eve of Carnival Monday, also Valentine’s Day, the National Carnival Commission (NCC), virtually launched yesterday the website: www.tntcarnivalworld.com—a virtual interactive platform of all things T&T Carnival. Of the historic digital venture, in delivering his address, NCC chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters said the website was NCC’s “gift of love” to T&T and the world. “We love Carnival so much that we are each committed to not sit idly by as a golden opportunity awaited. That opportunity, ladies and gentleman is tntcarnivalworld.com. It’s our gift to the nation and to the world. It is our gift of love,” Peters said. Read more here
POLITICS
Abdulah: Don't turn Bharatt's murder into political pappyshow
Political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah says he applauds the recent social justice movements, walks, vigils held by citizens pleading for better laws and policies to reduce gender-based violence. But he is urging the two major political parties and their supporters not to politicise the issue and turn it into a pappyshow. He was speaking at a press conference at the MSJ's head office at Lord Street, San Fernando on Sunday. Read more here
BUSINESS
Rapidly changing and volatile environment
The start of 2021 ushered in a number of changes for the US with the swearing in of a new US President and a number of policy changes by this new administration. Read more here
REGIONAL
Vaccinated health workers ‘all good’ so far
SOME 668 frontline health workers received the first dose of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday and Friday last week, and while many of them reported feeling some side effects, there have been no adverse reactions reported. Head of Medical Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and Cardiologist, Dr. Mahendra Carpen, was one of the 318 health workers who took the vaccine on Thursday, the very first day it was made available in Guyana. Read more here
Outrage at kidnap hoax
While the world was convinced JetBlue Airways stewardess Kalina Collier and her mom Candice Walker had gone missing in Jamaica, Walker was recorded leaving and entering the Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny daily, driving a...Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
WHO Wuhan mission finds possible signs of wider original outbreak in 2019
Investigators from the World Health Organization (WHO) looking into the origins of coronavirus in China have discovered signs the outbreak was much wider in Wuhan in December 2019 than previously thought, and are urgently seeking access to hundreds of thousands of blood samples from the city that China has not so far let them examine. The lead investigator for the WHO mission, Peter Ben Embarek, told CNN in a wide-ranging interview that the mission had found several signs of the more wide-ranging 2019 spread, including establishing for the first time there were over a dozen strains of the virus in Wuhan already in December. Read more here
Myanmar coup: Protesters face up to 20 years in prison under new law
Myanmar's military has warned anti-coup protesters across the country that they could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces. Long sentences and fines will also apply to those found to incite "hatred or contempt" towards the coup leaders, the military said. The legal changes were announced as armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of several cities. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests in recent days. The demonstrators are demanding the release from detention of their elected leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, also known as Burma. Read more here
15th February 2021