NEWS
23 new cases detected, 240 active
Amid appeals for citizens to continue to be careful and observe covid19 precautions, the number of new cases continue to be in double figures. The Health Ministry’s Sunday update said 23 new cases had been reported from samples taken between March 25 and 27. The number of active cases now stands at 240. The death toll remains at 142. Since March 2020, there have been 7,977 positive cases, of which 7,595 have recovered. Read more here
Two teen escapees killed during Laventille ambush
Two of the five teenage boys who escaped from the Children's Authority Child Support Centre last weekend were ambushed and shot dead by two men dressed in police uniform in Port-of-Spain, last night. According to a police report, at about 7.30 pm Semion Daniel, 15 and Antonio Francois, 16, were liming with other teens at an abandoned house at Desperlie Crescent, Laventille, when two men dressed in police uniforms walked up to them, pulled out guns and opened fire. Daniel and Francois were killed on the scene. Read more here
POLITICS
Gopeesingh agrees with PM on crowds, urges public: Be responsible
Former Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh is calling on the public to be responsible and obey the public health measures when venturing outside as he joined with the Prime Minister in urging people to do their part in reducing the spread of the coronavirus. On Saturday at a covid19 media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Dr Rowley noted the increase in covid19 infections last week and warned that a full lockdown on activities was possible if people continued to congregate. But he again warned that the country would not be able to finance another relief programme such as the one last year in which people were given grants. Read more here
Al-Rawi apologises for not wearing mask at charity event
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has apologised and admitted that he should have worn a mask to protect himself and others against COVID-19 when he appeared on Vibes With Voicey last Thursday. However, the AG stressed yesterday that he did not break the law by appearing without one while on the show. “Even though no law was broken, I should have acted better and unreservedly apologise,” Al-Rawi said in a post to his social media page yesterday. Read more here
BUSINESS
Central Bank: Covid19 vaccinations key to growth in Trinidad and Tobago, region
The Central Bank on Friday expressed confidence that the implementation of covid19 vaccination programmes throughout Caricom, including Trinidad and Tobago, " is expected to have a strong influence on growth rates in individual territories." The bank made this observation in its latest monetary policy announcement. The bank also observed that the global economy is on a recovery path this year as the deep shocks caused by the pandemic gradually subside. Read more here
Optimising a company’s cybersecurity investment
Advancements in technology have created unprecedented business opportunities for generating revenue, providing innovative products and services to customers, promoting distance learning, as well as fostering collaboration among friends, families, co-workers and other business associates. Read more here
REGIONAL
US$5B ‘agri’ company sets sights on Guyana
United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), a US$5 billion Indian multinational company that manufactures and markets agrochemicals, other chemicals and crop protection solutions, has set its sights on Guyana’s growing agricultural sector, according to Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa. “They (UPL) are now interested in entering into Guyana because they are offering fertilisers, pesticides, etcetera and they believe that Guyana’s agricultural story will go higher and higher,” the High Commissioner told this newspaper during a recent interview. Read more here
Missing 13-y-o had reunited with biological mother weeks ago
The parents of 13-year-old Camperdown High student Lamekia Lamont, who has been missing since Friday, are fearful that her disappearance might have been orchestrated. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
What the Covid-19 war was really like in Trump's White House
No longer working under the Trump administration, six leading US health officials now reveal to CNN the real challenges they faced during the nation's fight against Covid-19 over the past year: death threats, mixed messages and in some cases, being kept from sharing information with national audiences. The nation's doctors -- Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Brett Giroir, Dr. Stephen Hahn, Dr. Robert Kadlec and Dr. Robert Redfield -- were fighting a pandemic that would claim more than 500,000 American lives, all while navigating a White House fraught with strained relationships and very little mask-wearing. Read more here
Suez Canal: Ever Given container ship shifted from shoreline
The stern of a huge container ship that has been wedged across the Suez Canal for almost a week has been freed from the shoreline, officials say. The course of the 400m-long (1,300ft) Ever Given has been corrected by 80%, according to the Suez Canal Authority. It added that further efforts to move the boat would resume later on Monday. But the head of a company involved in the rescue efforts urged caution, warning that completing the operation would not be "a piece of cake". The Ever Given has been blocking one of the world's busiest trade routes, forcing companies to reroute ships and causing long tailbacks of hundreds of vessels. The reports that the ship had been partially freed raised hopes that traffic along the canal could resume within hours, clearing the way for an estimated $9.6bn (£7bn) of goods being held up each day. Read more here
29th March 2021