NEWS
Abdool-Richards: Six delta variant cases unvaccinated
Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said all six identified delta variant cases in Trinidad and Tobago were all quarantined on arrival, according to the national health protocols for unvaccinated people entering the country. Abdool-Richards was speaking at the Ministry of Health’s press conference on Monday. She said, the delta variant cases were contained as they were all quarantined on arrival. Read more here
POLITICS
State challenges CLF liquidator's fees
The Office of the Attorney General is challenging a judge's decision to approve the fees claimed by the joint liquidators of CL Financial (CLF) for their work in 2019. When the State's appeal came up for hearing before Appellate Judges Gregory Smith and James Aboud Monday morning, Senior Counsel Deborah Peake suggested that it be heard expeditiously as the liquidators, Hugh Dickson and David Holukoff, of international accounting firm Grant Thornton, are still performing their roles. "The principal creditor is very concerned," Peake said, as she noted that the issue dealt with accountability. Read more here
Ministry yet to decide on extending moratorium for expiring permits
The Ministry of Works and Transport is yet to make a decision on whether it will extend the moratorium for expiring driver’s licenses, certificates and other documents issued by the Licensing Division. The moratorium expires on October 1, 2021. It was implemented as a result of lockdown measures in 2019 and has seen numerous extensions due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the Transport Division’s Licensing Offices. Read more here
BUSINESS
NGC Scandal: Board must not be given a ‘bligh’ says Abdulah
Leader of the Movement for Social Justice David Abdulah has said the Board of National Gas Company can not be given a ‘bligh’ for the hundreds of millions of dollars likely lost due to an ill-fated attempt to restart operations at LNG Train One. Abdulah discussed the matter during a virtual press conference on Sunday and noted that millions of dollars had been lost through mismanagement and misuse of money at the state-owned company by both this administration and the previous UNC government which could have been prevented. But he said this did not absolve the current Board from the current situation. Read more here
Massy sells insurer for US$90.5m
MASSY Holdings Ltd announced yesterday that it is selling the group’s 100 per cent interest in Massy United Insurance Ltd to the Coralisle Group for US$90.5 million (TT$606 million). In a regulatory notice, Massy said, at its meeting on August 30, 2021, its board of directors took the decision to sell its 100 per cent stake. On September 2, Massy Barbados entered into a share purchase agreement with the Coralisle Group. Read more here
REGIONAL
APNU’s Dr Cummings maintains COVID-19 vaccines a ‘powerful,’ ‘effective’ public health tool
Even as her colleague A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Parliamentarian, Jermaine Figueira, makes a case for herbal medication as a remedy for the dreaded effects of COVID-19, Dr. Karen Cummings, who served as junior minister of the former Public Health Ministry, now Ministry of Health, has maintained that COVID-19 vaccines are a powerful and effective public health tool. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Justin Trudeau hit by stones on campaign trail
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been hit by gravel thrown by protesters during a campaign stop. He was returning to his bus after visiting a brewery when he was struck by small stones. He was not injured. Mr Trudeau called a snap election in mid-August, in the hope of gaining a majority government for his left-of-centre Liberal party. But his campaign has been disrupted by demonstrations against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions. Just over a week ago, the prime minister was forced to cancel an election rally after a crowd of angry protesters ambushed the event. Read more here
Delta variant outbreak threatens Singapore's 'living with Covid' model
Singapore has warned it may need to reimpose Covid-19 restrictions if a new outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant is not contained, putting at risk the city's shift towards living with the virus. The number of new Covid-19 infections in Singapore doubled in the past week, according to the country's Ministry of Health, rising to more than 1,200 cases for the week ending September 5. To date, Singapore has recorded a total of 68,901 Covid-19 infections and 55 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. On Monday, Lawrence Wong, head of Singapore's Covid-19 task force, said it isn't just the total number of daily cases which is concerning the Singaporean government, but also "the rate at which the virus is spreading." Read more here
7th September 2021