NEWS
BYisrael: Roxborough hospital underutilised because of poor planning
Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) deputy leader Dr Faith BYisrael has criticised the PNM-led Tobago House of Assembly for the "lack of planning" that went into the new $98 million Roxborough hospital. Her comments came after Secretary of Health Tracy Davidson-Celestine revealed on Thursday that finding specialists for the hospital has been challenging. Read more here
Epidemiologist predicts 1,000 COVID-19 cases per day by month’s end
COVID-19 cases continue to climb in T&T and the Ministry of Health is projecting that it could near 1,000 cases per day by the month’s end if the spread continues at its current rate. The warning came from the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Division’s technical director Dr Avery Hinds at Monday’s virtual press conference. “Looking at the end of this month, if we continue at the rate we were going for the first few couple of weeks in November, the possibility of getting to 1,000 cases a day is actually quite real,” Hinds said. Read more here
POLITICS
Nadine: All I need is the confidence of the people
PNM candidate for Roxborough/Argyle Nadine Stewart-Phillips said she is unfazed by the fact that Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke is her main contender in the December 6 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election. “All I need is the confidence of the people of Roxborough/Argyle and the trust of the people (to win the seat),” she told reporters on Monday after filing her nomination papers at the Pembroke Community Centre. Read more here
Cuffie warns Tobagonians not to trust Duke
There are more calls for Public Services Association president Watson Duke to account for the finances at the trade union. This time, the call comes from head of the Concerned Public Officers Curtis Cuffie, who wants Duke to adhere to the PSA’s constitution. He has also warned Tobagonians not to trust Duke. Allegations surrounding Duke, who is also the Progressive Democratic Patriots leader, come as his party is set to contest the December 6 Tobago House of Assembly elections. Yesterday, Cuffie said, “There are ten years of financials of the union unaccounted for and over these years, it is over $130 million are unaccounted for and this money had passed through the union.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Sagicor net income jumps 380%
Sagicor Financial Company yesterday reported net income of US$91.2 million for the first nine months of its 2021 financial year, a 380 per cent improvement over the loss of US$32.6 million for the same period in 2020. The Barbados-headquartered financial services company, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, registered a 44 per cent rise in its total net revenue, which increased to US$1.72 billion for the period January to September 2021, up from US$1.20 billion for the same period in 2020. Read more here
REGIONAL
Winches stolen from critical sluices in Region Three
Region Three’s regional officials have reported that last Saturday, sometime in the evening, the winch that is used to open and close one of the sluices in the Nismes, West Bank Demerara area, has been stolen. According to a release, sometime between Sunday night and early Monday morning, it was also discovered that another winch was stolen from another sluice located in the La Grange/Nismes area. Given the location of the structures and the size and weight of the winches, officials have said that it is most likely that the person or persons carrying out these heinous acts gained access to the structures by means of the Demerara River when the tide is high. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Biden-Xi talks: China warns US about 'playing with fire' on Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping has used a virtual summit with US counterpart Joe Biden to warn that encouraging Taiwanese independence would be "playing with fire". The talks are the most substantial since Mr Biden took office in January. Both sides emphasised the two men's personal relationship and the summit was an attempt to ease tensions. But they could not escape one of the most sensitive topics: the self-ruled island of Taiwan. Read more here
16th November 2021