NEWS
CMO: Trinidad and Tobago ready for covid19 vaccines
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram said plans are on track for the storage and distribution of potential covid19 vaccines, once they arrive in Trinidad and Tobago. He spoke during the Health Ministry's virtual news conference on Monday. The vaccines are the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162, Moderna’s mRNA-1273 and Oxford University/AstraZeneca’s AZD1222. Read more here
COVID-19 cases appear on the rise
Local COVID-19 cases appear to be rising and health officials are hoping it does not signal the start of a third phase of infections. “We’re now beginning to see slightly larger numbers of cases per day than we’d seen throughout the early part of the year- the first seven days or so,” Director of the ministry’s Epidemiology Division Dr Avery Hinds said yesterday during a virtual press conference. Read more here
POLITICS
Melville-Jack plans to revitalise Scarborough
People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Scarborough/Calder Hall Marslyn Melville-Jack has called on businessmen to play their part in developing the island’s capital city. “At this point in time, Scarborough leaves a lot to be desired,” She said on Sunday during a political meeting at the Eric Hovel Recreation Ground, Calder Hall. Read more here
PM on the mend after hospital discharge
Despite being the target of the Opposition’s attacks last night, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was said to be continuing on the mend after his angioplasty at the West Shore Hospital last weekend. Rowley and National Security Minister Stuart Young were the targets of accusations by Opposition Member of Parliament Rodney Charles at last night’s UNC meeting. Charles, saying T&T’s foreign police don’t serve the national interest, slammed policies including on migrant/refugee issues, Venezuela and other matters. Read more here
BUSINESS
Contractor challenges EMBD’s ‘cartel claim’
The Court of Appeal yesterday heard arguments challenging the decision of Justice James Aboud not to strike out the multi-million-dollar “cartel claim”, which was brought by the Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBD) against five companies and several individuals, including Opposition. Read more here
REGIONAL
Venezuela’s decree strongly condemned
Venezuela’s recent claims to the seas and seabed adjacent to the coast west of the Essequibo River, which belong to Guyana, continue to receive strong condemnation from local and foreign stakeholders, with the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations, and Canada being the latest to add their voice to this matter. The parliamentary committee, according to a statement on Monday, unanimously condemned in the strongest terms the implementation of any law by Venezuela with extra-territorial application in contravention of international law and the rights of Guyana. Read more here
‘Shame On You’ - Medical Director Chastises Colleagues Involved In Black Market COVID Testing
Former president of the western chapter of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), Dr Jacqueline Chambers says medical practitioners involved in the unauthorised administration of antigen (rapid) tests on the black market has brought shame to the profession. “Unethical doctors make me ashamed to be a part of this profession and I have to speak up where I see these behaviours,” Chambers told The Gleaner yesterday. “So far I have kept the discussion among colleagues, but this has gotten out of hand and threatens to stain the entire medical profession in the public eye, and I am firmly standing on the side of the Hippocratic oath – first, do no harm.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Indonesian search team finds black box at Sriwijaya plane crash site
An Indonesian search team has recovered one of the two black boxes that belonged to the Sriwijaya Air plane that crashed in the Java Sea with 62 people on board three days ago. It was not immediately clear whether the box found was the the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder, CNN Indonesia reported. An Indonesian Navy team recovered the box on Tuesday evening. Indonesian Navy divers found the wreckage from flight SJ 182 on Sunday after locating a signal from the Boeing jet's fuselage. A team has recovered human remains and parts of the plane from the site. Read more here
Trump supporters planning armed protests ahead of Biden inauguration, FBI warns
The FBI has warned of possible armed protests being held across the US as Trump supporters and far-right groups call for demonstrations before Joe Biden is sworn in as president. There are reports of armed groups planning to gather at all 50 state capitols and in Washington DC in the run-up to his 20 January inauguration. Security will be tight for the event after a pro-Trump mob stormed Congress. House Democrats say a vote to impeach the president will happen on Wednesday. They accuse President Trump of "incitement of insurrection" and say the vote will be held unless Vice-President Mike Pence invokes constitutional powers to remove Mr Trump from office. There is no sign Mr Pence is prepared to do so. Read more here
12th January 2021