Daily Brief - Wednesday 12th January, 2022

NEWS

18th omicron case found in Trinidad and Tobago

Another person has been found with the omicron strain of covid19 bringing the total number of people detected with this variant to 18, the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday. "The case had no history of recent travel but was in contact with recently-returned travellers, approximately one week before the onset of symptoms. "As a result of the positive covid19 result, the patient has been isolated and will remain in isolation until the enhanced discharge criteria for persons with covid19 variants of concern are met." Read more here

COVID antigen test kits selling for just $200

For just $200, someone can purchase a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test kit at a pharmacy. At least that was the experience of one woman who visited a Port-of-Spain drugstore yesterday. “I saw on TikTok that you guys are selling Rapid Antigen Test…I’d like to get one, please,” the woman asked. Without hesitation, the saleswoman behind the counter pulled out the test with the brand name Hightop and sold it to the customer, who asked if there were specific instructions to use the test that was made in China. Read more here

 

POLITICS

Indarsingh asks Hinds, police for help

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh asked whether his constituency or other parts of Central Trinidad are under siege from criminals. In a video clip on Tuesday, Indarsingh said he was asking the question after an incident on Monday when police officers intercepted two carjackers on the northbound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Couva Medical and Multi-Training Facility. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

IDB: Closing T&T’s digital gap could create 20,000 new jobs

The cost of closing T&T’s digital infrastructure gap has been estimated at US$85 million, the Inter American Development Bank has stated in its latest Caribbean Quarterly Economic Bulletin. “It is estimated that closing the gap would yield a significant increase in GDP estimated at 9.3 per cent, a 5.5 per cent increase in productivity, and 20,189 new jobs,” the IDB stated. According to the IDB T&T faces a challenging growth and development outlook derived from longstanding structural issues that have been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here

From TV show to online SME platform

Stephanie Pemberton has a mission—to nurture the next generation of the middle class. And not just in T&T. But in the Caribbean. The way to do that, she reasons, is through the development of entrepreneurs. So she established an entrepreneurship development company, Planting Seeds, which focuses on growing/promoting small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). Read more here

 

REGIONAL

World Bank predicts massive economic growth for Guyana

At a time when the global economy is plagued with myriad uncertainties, Guyana remains one of the fastest growing nations in the world, with an economy that is projected to expand by a massive 49.7 per cent this year, according to the latest edition of the World Bank’s “Global Economic Prospects”. The report, issued on Tuesday, indicates a significant improvement from the one released in June 2021, which estimated Guyana’s growth at a mere 23.7 per cent. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

Downing Street party: Tory MPs demand answers from Boris Johnson

Conservative and opposition MPs are demanding answers from Boris Johnson over claims he attended a drinks event in the No 10 garden during lockdown. Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said that if he was there, and he lied about it, his position is "untenable". And Tory MPs have been expressing their anger and concern over the reports. Mr Johnson will appear at Prime Minister's Questions later - his first public appearance since details of the May 2020 event emerged. The prime minister has so far declined to say whether he attended the gathering, but witnesses have told the BBC both he and his wife were among 30 people at the drinks held on the 20 May 2020. Read more here

 

12th January 2022

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