News
Sinopharm approved for use by breastfeeding mothers
Breastfeeding women can now be vaccinated against covid19, after the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group approved the Sinopharm vaccine for use by new mothers.
The announcement came from director of women's health for the Ministry of Health Dr Adesh Sirjusingh during the ministry's covid19 media conference on Monday. Read more here…
TTALPA open to salary cuts for pilots over retrenchment
The Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA) says it is prepared to save the jobs of pilots, even if a further cut in salaries may be necessary.
Last week, a letter sent to the association by Caribbean Airlines’ (CAL) vice-president of Human Resources, Roger Berkeley, revealed that the company, as part of its restructuring exercise, aims to send home between 95 and 115 pilots out of the 252 currently employed.
The letter noted that the final number has not yet been determined but a reduction of the fleet would potentially lead to a reduction in the pilot body, given that the company had suffered a $172 million loss in the first quarter of 2021. Read more here…
Politics
Energy Minister: Ministry to offer shallow/deep-water bid rounds
As a predominantly oil and gas economy T&T must and will accelerate the exploration and development of its hydrocarbon resources or run the risk of the resources becoming stranded.
To this end, the Energy Ministry will be offering a shallow water bid round, an onshore bid round and a deep water bid round over the next 12 months, said Energy Minister Stuart Young.
He explained that the Deep Water Competitive Bid Round is scheduled to be launched in Q3 2021, where possibly as many as 11 deep-water blocks will be available for bidding. Read more here…
PDP on autonomy bills: Not the will of Tobago
PROGRESSIVE Democratic Patriots (PDP) deputy political leader Farley Augustine has made it clear the party is not in favour of the joint select committee’s (JSC’s) final report to the Parliament on the Tobago “autonomy” bills.
Debate on a motion to adopt the JSC’s report on the Constitution (Amendment) Tobago Self-Government Bill 2020 and the Tobago Island Administration Bill 2021 began in the House of Representatives on Monday. Read more here…
Business
During Bank of Baroda’s winding down...ANSA Bank records $1.5 million loss
ANSA Bank Ltd, formerly called Bank of Baroda T&T (Ltd), recorded a loss of $1.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2021. For the same period in 2020, the bank recorded a profit of $872,000. Bank of Baroda (T&T) was incorporated in this country on March 13, 2006.
It commenced operations on October 17, 2007. On February 26 this year, the Bank of Baroda (T&T) was acquired by ANSA Merchant Bank Ltd. And on March 24 its name was officially changed to ANSA Bank. Read more here…
Young: Govt committed to overall reduction in cumulative emissions
As Government remains committed to meeting the demands of the Paris Agreement, Energy Minister Stuart Young says the estimated cost of implementation of the mitigation action is US$ $2 billion, with the major cost of US$945 million in respect of power generation, US$735 million for transportation and US$320 million in respect of industry.
Young added that Government remains committed to an overall reduction in cumulative emissions from three main emitting sectors; power generation, transport and industry, by 15 per cent by 2030. Read more here
Regional
Floodwaters recede significantly in Region Seven
CIVIL Defence Commission (CDC) Director-General Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig, along with members from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), on Saturday visited a number of communities in the Lower and Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven, where a significant decline of the floodwaters was observed. Read more here…
International
Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: Street celebrations as rebels seize capital
Rebel forces in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region have retaken its capital, Mekelle, sparking street celebrations and forcing officials to flee. Residents reported scenes of joy, with fireworks and thousands waving flags.
The government, which took Mekelle in November after Tigrayan rebels rejected political reforms and captured army bases, has now called a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the region. The fighting has left thousands dead and has pushed 350,000 towards famine.
More than two million people have been displaced. Read more here…
Inside India's deadly mucormycosis fungus epidemic
After India’s devastating second Covid wave, the country is now grappling with tens of thousands of cases of a rare fungal infection called mucormycosis. The disease has been declared an epidemic in the nation. Thousands have died of it. Doctors say Covid, and the treatment being given for it, has led to this surge. From a public hospital in Pune, one of the worst affected districts, the BBC’s Yogita Limaye reports. Read more here…
29th June 2021