NEWS
Trinidad and Tobago seeking covid19 vaccines from EU
Trinidad and Tobago is seeking covid19 vaccines from the European Union (EU). Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis made this announcement in the House of Representatives on Monday. Responding to a question from the Opposition on behalf of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne, Robinson-Regis said Government is following up on an announcement by EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou on May 21 that the EU is developing a mechanism to share surplus vaccines with developing countries. Read more here
Doma wants consultation with business community
Businesses are continuing to take a financial hit as COVID-19 infections and deaths continue to climb. So said the president of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (Doma) Gregory Aboud, who yesterday again called on the Government to discuss solutions and strategies with the business community as it relates to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew yesterday, Aboud expressed disappointment that the Government had failed to consult with the business community. Read more here
POLITICS
PM: UNC promoted vigils which spread covid19
The Prime Minister on Monday alleged that the UNC had promoted public vigils causing the spread of covid19. He was wrapping up debate on his motion that the House of Representatives notes the President of the Republic's declaration of a state of emergency (SoE). Dr Rowley began by rejecting the Opposition's claim that Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan had said 50,000 people had travelled from Trinidad to Tobago for Easter. Read more here
PM: Do what has to be done against COVID
Better to be inconvenienced for a short while towards a permanent solution and do what has to be done, to get to a place of better defence against the COVID -19 virus as soon as possible. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley gave this advice yesterday, as he piloted a motion in Parliament to extend the State of Emergency for three months. It was announced two weeks ago and will run to August. Debate followed the President’s recent proclamation for the SoE. Read more here
BUSINESS
Lisa Agard appointed CEO of TSTT
Telecommunications veteran Lisa Agard was yesterday confirmed as the chief executive officer of majority State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (TSTT) by the company’s board of directors. Read more here
REGIONAL
GPL’s 46.5-megawatt power generation plant to be ready by mid-August
PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Monday, conducted an on-site inspection of the 46.5-megawatt power generation plant being constructed by Wärtsilä, at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Garden of Eden Power Station. It is expected that the plant will begin its testing phase in early June and will become fully operational a few months after. The Prime Minister said that although there was extensive work done since his last visit in October 2020, the government understands that the project’s original projected date for completion would not be met. He pointed out that the main objective is to give Guyanese a quality product and indicated that efficiency will not be sacrificed for expediency. Read more here
Probe into fondling claims as girl in suicidal spiral alleges double assault
A 15-year-old girl who was allegedly molested at a western Jamaica hospital by a nursing assistant last Friday was reportedly being overwhelmed by demons she was silently battling due to sexual assault by a relative in 2017, driving her to the brink of suicide last week. The teen, who was at home with a friend, reportedly disclosed that she could no longer fight as she took an overdose of pills last Wednesday. The friend then alerted her mother, who was away at work, and was rushed to seek emergency medical attention at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, The Gleaner has learnt. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
A vaccine marvel is bringing America back
America has never been closer to the end of this pandemic, which has inflicted the most universally experienced crisis and assault on national morale since World War II. The near-miraculous vaccines have the virus -- which has ravaged the nation -- in retreat. Deserted cities that once echoed at night to the wail of ambulance sirens are stirring. Travelers are taking to skies and once again filling un-mothballed jets. Life, nervously for many -- and unbelievably for almost all -- is being restored. Americans are getting used to seeing each other inside, unmasked, and learning how to hug and smile again. Grandparents are reuniting with far-flung family. Vaccinated older teens joyfully skip off to sleepovers. Sports arenas are filling for NBA and NHL playoffs. Read more here
Belarus flights redirected after Roman Protasevich's arrest
Several European airlines have said that they will not fly over Belarus, days after a dissident journalist was arrested on a flight diverted to Minsk. Air France is the latest major carrier to ban overflights. Neighbouring Ukraine and Poland are stopping all flights to and from Belarus. Western countries accuse Belarus of hijacking the Ryanair plane carrying journalist Roman Protasevich on Sunday. The Greece-Lithuania flight was rerouted over a supposed bomb threat. Belarus authorities on Monday released video of Mr Protasevich that appears to have been recorded under duress since his arrest. He faces charges related to his reporting of last August's disputed election and subsequent crackdown on mass opposition protests, and has said he fears the death penalty after being placed on a terrorism list. Read more here
25th May 2021