NEWS
PAHO: 75% of Latin America, Caribbean not vaccinated
The Pan-American Health Organisation said 75 per cent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have yet to be fully vaccinated against covid19. Director Dr Carissa Etienne said 540 million doses of vaccine needed to be delivered to the region to cover 60 per cent of the population. Speaking at PAHO’s weekly media briefing on Wednesday, she said the organisation is focusing on strengthening manufacturing capacity for medicines and vaccines in the region and is accelerating its drive to expand vaccine access. Read more here
UK experts say herd immunity may be unachievable
Tuesday’s word from some international experts on the global COVID-19 challenge - including that herd immunity isn’t a possibility or achievable - is a sobering message. That’s Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh’s view on reports by experts headed by Britain’s Dr John Campell’s in an August 31 COVID 19 video log headlined “Important Announcement.” Campbell, an emergency nurse and tutor/lecturer, has a global following with health care and science-related vlogs on principles concerning COVID issues. The vlog suggested herd immunity may not be a reachable goal. Yesterday, Deyalsingh noted Campbell’s vlog and the information in it. Before yesterday’s Cabinet retreat, Deyalsingh was asked by the T&T Guardian his view on it. He replied briefly, “Yes, it is very sobering.” Read more here
POLITICS
Abdool-Richards: Government decides on reopening sectors
The Government has the final say on the reopening of any particular sector of the economy. Principal Medical Officer Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards made this point in response to questions from the media during the virtual health news conference on Wednesday. In a letter dated August 26 to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, cinema stakeholders appealed for Government to reopen the sector. Read more here
BUSINESS
Construction stalwart gets honorary doctorate: Sieunarine Coosal's success after sacrifice
On receiving his honorary doctorate from UWI, Sieunarine Coosal said the loyalty and support of his family and employees played a big part in his success. Coosal, an entrepreneur, is the executive chairman of the Coosal’s Group of Companies and a philanthropist. He received the award of honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) as one of 14 people across the region to receive the award for UWI’s 2021 graduating year. He said his primary motivating factor and assuredly greatest joy and ultimate success was the ability to provide employment to thousands of people who brought a wide array of skill sets to the group’s operations. Read more here
Car dealers prepare for the drive to electric cars
Stephan Semurath, salesman at Lifestyle Motors, stepped on the accelerator of the company’s fully electric Porsche Taycan and the Solomon Hochoy highway instantly turned into a blur. All 408 horses of the Porsche’s AC synchronous electric motors went straight to its tyres – since it was not an internal combustion engine, it needed no RPM to rev the engine and needed no time to accelerate, thereby giving the car instant power. Although there was a manufactured engine sound, the car’s actual engine was whisper quiet. The car’s four-wheel drive and its adaptive air suspension management system made the ride smooth as silk – even on this nation’s roads. It also had a futuristic dashboard which did everything from controlling the air conditioning to controlling the height of the car to making hands-free calls. Read more here
REGIONAL
Over 50 per cent of teachers vaccinated
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has said that over 50 per cent of the teachers in the public school system have been vaccinated. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Ministry of Education’s Education Sector Plan (ESP) and Education Month 2021, on Wednesday, Minister Manickchand said that aside from the advice of the Ministry of Health, the decision to reopen schools on September 6 was taken based on appeals from teachers and parents across the country, who lamented the impact of physical school closure. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Storm Ida: Flash flooding in New York and New Jersey kills nine
At least nine people have died after flash flooding and tornadoes hit the north-eastern US, local media report. Some people were trapped in flooded basements of their homes, while one body was found in a vehicle that was swept away. The governors of New York and New Jersey declared a state of emergency, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called it a "historic weather event". At least 3in (8cm) of rain fell in just one hour in New York's Central Park. Almost all New York City subway lines have been closed, and non-emergency vehicles banned from roads. Many flights and trains out of New York and New Jersey have been suspended. Read more here
2nd September 2021