NEWS
Some say no, but others call on Govt: Too many murders, bring back SoE
Several hurting, grieving relatives of people murdered recently have called on Government to bring back the state of emergency (SoE) and curfew as a tangible action aimed at curbing the bloodshed caused by criminals. The call was made on Monday outside the Forensic Science Centre, where people gathered waiting to positively identify loved ones killed on the weekend where TT saw at least ten murders. However, others said they did not think an SoE would lead to a reduction in crime especially murders, with one woman saying her son was gunned down in broad daylight. Read more here
Minister: T&T in ‘grips of third wave’ of COVID pandemic
Trinidad and Tobago is in the midst of a third wave of COVID-19 infections, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said yesterday. Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 media briefing Deyalsingh explained that epidemiologists have deemed the rising COVID infections and deaths as a third wave of the pandemic since the rolling seven-day average of cases is now over 500-plus. T&T experienced its first wave of COVID-19 infections in August/September 2020, followed by a second wave in June/July 2021. Yesterday, the country recorded ten additional deaths and 404 new COVID cases. This took the active cases to 8,695, with hospitalisations at a record high of 539 patients seeking care. Read more here
POLITICS
Ministry: Child labour cases on increase in pandemic
Universal Children’s Day was observed on November 20. It is a day established by the United Nations in 1954 geared towards improving the life of children. Subsequently, international legally binding agreements such as the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Rights of the Child were introduced, in which 194 countries have signed. Trinidad and Tobago is also signatory to these international legally binding agreements, of which several ministries and organisations have developed policies to ensure that children’s best well-being are looked after. Read more here
BUSINESS
Chocolate production for export coming soon
Trinidad and Tobago may soon have its own chocolate factory as the TT Fine Cocoa Company announced its investment in a new production plant for the manufacturing of quality chocolate products for the export market. With an initial investment of $2.5 million dollars, the production facility is said to be a wider investment in a new, state-of-the-art cocoa-processing facility planned for next year. “This investment is really about the export market,” said Ashley Parasram at the launch held at the Chocolate Box, Trinidad Hilton on Monday. Read more here
Jamaica’s BARITA hails successful year
Barita Investments has announced profits of $4.1billion Jamaican dollars or USD$26.3 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. In the Jamaican company’s financial report for the period, Barita’s Chairman Mark Myers hailed the performance of the company given the continued challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Despite the difficult operating environment the group produced, net profits for the financial year of $4.1 billion. The outturn for the year was the collective result of the tireless efforts of the teams at Barita and Cornerstone with critical and unwavering support provided by the boards of directors and shareholders of both companies,” said Myers. Read more here
REGIONAL
J&J booster shot possibly opens US travel for Sputnik-V recipients
Persons who received the Russia-produced Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine and are interested in traveling to the United States (US) could find themselves in conflict with that country’s policy of not admitting international travellers without vaccines approved by their recognized health regulators. Specifically, while the Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccine has been administered in Guyana, the vaccine has not yet received emergency use authorization from neither the World Health Organization (WHO) nor the US-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Bulgaria bus crash: Children among at least 46 killed
At least 46 people, including 12 children, have died after a bus crashed and caught fire in western Bulgaria, officials say. The incident happened on a motorway south-west of the capital Sofia at about 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT). The bus was registered in North Macedonia and was mainly carrying tourists from the country, who were returning from Turkey. Seven people escaped from the bus and were taken to hospital with burns. Speaking at the accident site, Bulgarian Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov said the victims had been badly burned, describing it as a "terrifying scene". Read more here
The West's leaders agree that democracy is under attack. How they can defend it is less obvious
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's willful manipulation of migrants, enabling their easy passage to and through his country toward the border of the European Union, is a classic assault on democracy by an autocrat who knows that any attempt to fight back risks undermining the bloc's sacred values. Lukashenko denies the condemnation made by the G7 group of the world's wealthiest democracies that he is orchestrating "irregular migration" in an "aggressive and exploitative" campaign -- just as he rejects the European Union's accusation that his re-election as president last year, his sixth consecutive five-year term, was a sham. Read more here
23rd November 2021