NEWS
Venezuelans expect more repatriation trips
The 96 Venezuelans who went home on Friday on a repatriation flight could be joined by more in the coming weeks. Officials from the Venezuelan embassy in Trinidad and Tobago told Newsday this trip could be the first of several. "This is the first repatriation flight from TT. A door is open for future air or sea travel. We hope to continue counting on the support of the authorities, because there are still many Venezuelans who want to return home," said an embassy officials. Read more here
Nurse: COVID eliminated human touch from healthcare
Nurse Keisha Prevatt-Gomez, the first recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine in this country, says the virus has taken away the human touch in nursing. While saying she was honoured to be the first person to receive the vaccine locally, Prevatt-Gomez said this aspect of the virus’ impact has been troubling her and was one of the main reasons said decided to get vaccinated. “I have seen so many people suffer and I personally would not want that on myself, my co-worker, or anybody out there,” she expressed. Read more here
POLITICS
Ministers slam Persad-Bissessar’s letter to Indian PM
Both Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Amery Browne have chastised Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her letter to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. During the Ministry of Health virtual press conference on Monday, Deyalsingh said he was disappointed that Persad-Bissessar, as a former prime minister, would seek to characterise TT as "reeling" from the effects of covid19. Read more here
Duke threatens to shut down Piarco Airport
Public Service Association president Watson Duke is threatening to shut down the Immigration Division’s operations at the Piarco International Airport, as he says the Government has failed the officers by not providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Duke’s statements come following news that 13 immigration officers have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and 84 more are in quarantine. During a press conference at the PSA headquarters in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Duke gave statistics on the number of face masks, hand sanitisers and hazmat suits the officers were given over a 51-day period. He said during this period, 5,000 people had travelled in and out of the country. Read more here
BUSINESS
UWI to issue US$60m bond for T&T offshore med school
The University of the West Indies plans to issue a US$60 million bond to raise capital to set up an offshore medical school at the St Augustine Campus. Read more here
REGIONAL
Several to be bestowed with Order of Democracy
President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has announced the introduction of a national award, the Order of Democracy, in recognition of the contributions of the individuals and organisations which defended democracy during the brazen attempts by elements to rig the March 2, Regional and General Elections. In a statement to mark one year since the dark period in Guyana’s history, the President said the names of those to be invested with the Order of Democracy will be announced later this year. Read more here
Burial rush - Operators warn of chaos as funeral deadline looms
A three-week ban on funerals and burials has drawn the ire of stakeholders in the industry, with warnings of mayhem as bereaved families rush to bring forward the final rites to beat the deadline. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
All our recent progress with Covid-19 could be wiped out by variants, CDC director says. 'Please stay strong'
The US is at risk of losing all its recent gains in the battle against Covid-19 as highly contagious variants take advantage of Americans getting lax with safety measures. "Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After weeks of tumbling case numbers, new infections are on the rise again -- about 2% more this past week compared to the previous week, Walensky said Monday. Read more here
Nigeria school abduction: Hundreds of girls released by gunmen
A group of nearly 300 girls who were kidnapped from a school in north-western Nigeria last week have been released, a local official says. The girls were abducted by unidentified gunmen from their boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara state, on Friday and taken to a forest, police said. The state's governor said on Tuesday that the group had been freed and the girls were now safe. Such kidnappings are carried out for ransom and are common in the north. Dozens of the girls were seen gathered at a government building in Zamfara after they were taken there in a fleet of mini-buses. Read more here
2nd March 2021