TTMA IN THE NEWS
TTMA reaches 20,000 vaccination milestone
The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) has successfully administered over 20,000 vaccines in seven mass vaccination sites to-date. TTMA stands proud to have positively contributed to the Government’s ‘Vaccinate to Operate’ for the safe reopening of the business community. President of the TTMA, Tricia Coosal stated, “We are thrilled that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Trade & Industry has continued to partner with the TTMA in vaccination drives for the business community. TTMA is also pleased to have extended today’s second dose vaccination drive to all members of the public who were vaccinated at the Divali Nagar site before 27th June 2021. This is to ensure the public receives their second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine in a timely manner. We thank the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Trade & Industry for the confidence placed in TTMA to give us the first opportunity in June to be the first private organisation under public-private partnership to execute large vaccination sites.” Read more here
NEWS
Panama, Dominican Republic, Caricom left to get US vaccines
With Argentina receiving 3.5 million doses of the Moderna covid19 vaccine, this means the only countries left in Latin America and the Caribbean to get US-donated vaccines are Panama, Dominican Republic and, "other Caricom countries." White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz confirmed the donation to Argentina on Twitter on Friday. Last Wednesday, Haiti got 500,000 doses of Moderna from the US. In June, the US government listed the countries which will benefit from its global donation of 80 million doses. Read more here
POLITICS
Health Minister: Private hospitals to give covid19 jabs
Private hospitals have got involved in the vaccination process, working with the Ministry of Health to deliver vaccines at no charge to TT’s population. At a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s on Saturday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said, “We have also taken the decision, now that we have 800,000 doses of vaccines, to make vaccines now available to private hospitals who have agreed to administer these vaccines to their staff, their patients, their clients, their database, their communities, free of charge.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Big Energy fights over Atlantic
No definitive decision has as yet been taken to mothball Atlantic Train I, industry insiders have said. According to these insiders, reports of the plant being mothballed should be seen as part of the ongoing fight between BP and Royal Dutch Shell, two of the world’s largest energy companies, for control of the still lucrative liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex at Point Fortin. The well-placed industry insiders say the proposal by Shell to have one single ownership structure for all four LNG producing trains at Atlantic—instead of the current situation in which each of the four LNG-producing facilities have different shareholdings and shareholders—would strengthen Shell’s control over Atlantic and reduce BP’s. Read more here
REGIONAL
Discredited, backward and dangerous
“Unbelievable,” said prominent Attorney, Ralph Ramkarran, S.C., as he reacted to People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), Aubrey C. Norton, who contended that the ‘Because We Care’ grant is “both inadequate and ill-conceived”. Writing in his weekly column ‘The Conversation Tree’ on July 18, 2021, Ramkarran describes Norton’s comments expressed in a Letter to the Editor as “fallacious nonsense”, “largely discredited”, “backward” and “dangerous”. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
19 July: England Covid restrictions ease as PM urges caution
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged caution as most legal restrictions on social contact are lifted in England. There are now no limits on how many people can meet or attend events; nightclubs reopened at midnight; and table service will not be necessary in pubs and restaurants. Face coverings will be recommended in some spaces, but not required by law. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said government experts had recommended that only some under-18s be vaccinated. The PM, chancellor and the health secretary are self-isolating, and there are warnings cases of Covid will surge. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Zahawi defended the U-turn which saw the prime minister and chancellor self-isolating, after initially saying they would take part in a pilot programme to take daily tests instead. Read more here
19th July 2021