Daily Brief - Wednesday 17th February, 2021

NEWS

Docs, nurses to get covid19 vaccines from Wednesday

Doctors and nurses in Trinidad and Tobago will begin receiving covid19 vaccinations from Wednesday. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the North-Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) in a statement by way of an invitation to the media to witness the rollout of the first batch. This will be done at the Couva Multi-Training Hospital Facility and targets, in the first instance, health workers at covid19 facilities including the Arima, Caura and Couva hospitals, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, and the Ministry of Health’s step-down facilities. Read more here

Prisons now COVID-free

After a massive outbreak of the COVID-19 virus at the Maximum Security Prison late last year, acting Prison Commissioner Dennis Pulchan says the prison system is now COVID-free. Pulchan was speaking to Guardian Media at the passing out ceremony for 236 recruits at the Prison Service’s Arouca compound yesterday. “Let me go on record at this time to say we have no COVID cases in the prison service, none, absolutely none,” Pulchan said. Read more here

 

POLITICS

UNC responds to Griffith: We don't want a police state

The United National Congress (UNC) has responded to a media release from Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and maintained that it will continue to stand by the law and due process for the sake of TT. On Tuesday, Griffith issued a release criticising opposition senator David Nakhid for accusations over a lack of transparency in the deaths of two suspects, Andrew Morris and Joel Balcon, who died in police custody. Read more here

AG: Govt not opposed to death penalty

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi has made it clear that the Government will uphold the law when it comes to the death penalty, but said due process must be followed. Trinidad and Tobago is one of several countries like China, India, the United States, Iran and Saudi Arabia, which still retains the death penalty for anyone convicted of murder. However, following the disappearance and murder of Andrea Bharatt, calls from citizens have intensified for the state to apply the law. “I really welcome the public’s advocacy but I want to assure them that there is no reluctance on the path of the Government to see the law applied,” Al-Rawi affirmed. Read more here

 

BUSINESS

CAL records $738m loss

State carrier Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) has recorded an operating loss of $738 million (US$109.2 million) for year ended December, 2020. The airline announced it unaudited financial results yesterday, attributing the loss to the impact of the global pandemic. Read more here

 

REGIONAL

Boat with decomposed bodies slipped out of sight

Unfavourable weather conditions at sea caused the boat with several decomposed bodies to drift further offshore Monday evening, as the search continues today for the vessel. However, there has been no report of missing Guyanese registered vessels or crew and authorities are not ruling out that the bodies on the 20X25 feet boat without engine are from another country. On Tuesday night, Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, and Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, briefed the media on the matter at the Maritime Boat House at Stabroek Stelling. Minister Edghill expressed Government’s concern, distress and sadness about the entire ordeal. Read more here

Gov’t won’t designate fired attendant persona non grata

Disgraced former flight attendant Kalina Collier is not likely to be banned from ever visiting Jamaica, as Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett urges the closing of that chapter in the country’s history. Collier brought Jamaica’s name.. Read more here

 

INTERNATIONAL

'Terrified' UN envoy issues warning on Myanmar as protesters face down military

Concerns are growing over the potential for violence in Myanmar as anti-coup protesters urge supporters to take to the streets en masse, in defiance of the military generals who have deployed troops in major cities. Protests and civil disobedience movements against the military coup on February 1 have been the biggest in decades, with thousands calling for ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be released from detention and power be handed back to civilian control. Read more here

Trump attacks "dour" leader Mitch McConnell

Former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing personal attack on fellow Republican Mitch McConnell. "Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack," said Mr Trump, "and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again." His statement came after Mr McConnell said the former president was "morally responsible" for the US Capitol riots. The exchange exposed an apparent rift between the two over the future of the Republican Party. The majority of Republican senators backed Mr Trump in his impeachment trial last week, including Mr McConnell who voted to acquit. Read more here

17th February 2021

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