NEWS
TEMA collects $225k in relief supplies for St Vincent
The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has received an estimated $225,000, so far, towards its relief drive for volcano-hit St Vincent and the Grenadines. The La Soufriere volcano erupted on April 9, some 42 years after its last explosion. More than 16,000 Vincentians have since been evacuated and scientists monitoring the volcano are warning that further seismic activity is likely to continue. Read more here
171 new COVID cases, three more deaths
The number of COVID-19-related deaths and cases continue to climb, as the country recorded 171 positives and three additional fatalities yesterday. The newly-identified infections came from samples collected between April 17 to 19 and represent the highest number of confirmations since November 22 with 126 cases. It’s also the fifth-largest number of people to be confirmed as infected since the outbreak began locally on March 12, 2020. The highest number of cases to be reported was on September 17, 2020, with 217 cases. This is followed by 202 cases on September 18, 197 cases on September 8 and 190 cases on September 4. Read more here
POLITICS
Venezuelans want more contact with new National Security Minister
Venezuelans in TT commented on Monday on social media that they hope the new Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, will have a better approach to the immigrant community here. Hinds is assuming the portfolio of National Security, replacing Stuart Young. Young is the new Minister of Energy and Energy Industries. He will replace Franklin Khan, who died on Saturday morning. Read more here
BUSINESS
Tributes continue to pour in for Franklin Khan
ributes continue to pour in for late Energy Minister Franklin Khan this time from the Minister of Natural Resources in Guyana Vickram Bharrat, who on behalf of the government of Guyana yesterday extended “deepest condolences” to the Trinidad and Tobago government and the family of Franklin Khan on the passing of the late Energy Minister. Bharrat in a release sent to the T&T Guardian yesterday said Khan has been recognised as a “trailblazer and true patriot.” “Among his numerous contributions to his country, he has served as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Works and Transport, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, and most recently Minister of Energy and Energy Industries,” the release stated. Read more here
Voice your views on Monday
Members of the public will get an opportunity to voice their views and suggestions on the enhancement of Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook as the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) will be hosting a public consultation on the issue. Read more here
REGIONAL
Nearly 6,000 vaccinated in 24 hrs
A TOTAL of 5,809 individuals were vaccinated on Monday, taking the number of people vaccinated across Guyana since February to 92,410, according to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony. During his daily COVID-19 update on Tuesday, the minister noted that 92,410 people have been vaccinated with their first dose as of Monday. On Monday, the number of people vaccinated stood at 86,601, and as such, 5,809 people had been vaccinated over the 24-hour period. Read more here
Speaker dangles threat of tell-all on lawmakers
Flagging public outrage over a domestic violence scandal, House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert called out the Opposition on Tuesday, pushing for there to be a definitive statement on whether members of parliament who are involved in criminal proceedings should be suspended. The exchange at Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament came as the Opposition sought to move a motion to have under-fire Westmoreland Central Member of Parliament George Wright suspended. There was a criminal investigation involving Wright, but the police have since closed the case. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
The law delivered justice to George Floyd. America's political leaders are up next
The conviction of Derek Chauvin showed George Floyd's life really did matter to a justice system on trial. Now, millions of Americans wait to see whether a moment of rare hope will spur political leaders to deliver similar justice by reforming policing and eradicating systemic racism. A jury of 12 Minnesotans did more than convict ex-policeman Chauvin Tuesday on all counts of murdering Floyd by squeezing the life out of him with a knee to the neck. In a profound moment of modern American history, they offered a measure of optimism that Americans of all races will one day be treated equally and that malign police officers can be held accountable to the laws they are meant to enforce. Read more here
Russia's Putin warns West and claims Belarus 'coup plot'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West not to cross a "red line" with Russia and condemned what he called a coup plot against Belarus. The warning came in his annual state of the nation address, amid heightened tension with the West over Ukraine and jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny. "The use of unjust sanctions is growing into something more dangerous: a coup attempt in Belarus," he said. He backs Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who faces huge opposition. Read more here
21st April 2021