Finance Minister Colm Imbert has issued a statement on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on the establishment of an independent expert committee to investigate the cause of, and national response to, the nationwide power outage on Wednesday 16th February 2022.
Minister Imbert is Acting as Prime Minister in the absence of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who is in Doha, Qatar for a Summit. The statement said it is to be noted that, over the last twelve (12) years, there have been a number of major electricity power outages in Trinidad and Tobago, as follows:
Wednesday's nationwide outage resulted in loss of power to several areas in North Trinidad for up to twelve (12) hours. Several areas in the South got their supply back within five (5) hours, according to the statement. However, Tobago, which has its own supply, was not affected. The statement added that Government considers the outage to be “a very serious matter which requires immediate independent and expert investigation. The Office of the Prime Minister has appointed a three-man Specialist Team to thoroughly investigate, determine the cause of, and the national response to the nationwide electricity power outage that occurred on Wednesday 16th February 2022.” The Team will be headed by retired Professor of Electrical Engineering, Chandrabhan Sharma, PhD. The second Team member is Mr. Keith Sirju, a distinguished Structural Engineer and retired UWI Lecturer. The third member is acting Superintendent Allister Guevarro, a senior Police Officer, currently assigned to the Special Branch, with twenty-five (25) years' experience in policing. The statement concluded by saying, “The Team will be empowered to co-opt any other expertise and resources that it requires and is expected to report within one (1) month.”
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UPDATE (2:10pm): We are standing by for the start of the Press Conference.
Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, will be hosting a Press Conference at 2pm this afternoon (Wednesday 23rd February 2022) to update the public on national security issues in Trinidad and Tobago.
Minister Hinds last hosted a Press Conference on 17th February 2022 to discuss the island-wide blackout that took place the previous day. Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 2:30pm, courtesy of TTT.
This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.
UPDATE: You can watch the live stream of the Press Conference here. Minister of National Security the Honourable Fitzgerald Hinds M.P., has invited all media houses to attend a Press Conference this afternoon (Wednesday 23rd February 2022) at 2pm for an update on national security issues.
Minister Hinds last hosted a Press Conference on 17th February 2022 to discuss the island-wide blackout that took place the previous day. Today’s Press Conference is scheduled to take place at the Regency Ballroom IV, HYATT Regency Trinidad, 1 Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain. The Ministry notes that due to the need for social distancing, media houses are kindly asked to send only two (2) representatives to this Press Conference [one (1) reporter and one (1) videographer or photographer] and are reminded that all existing COVID-19 protocols must be observed. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. A group of armed bandits, estimated to be around eight (8) to ten (10) in total, stormed four (4) businesses at Boundary Road, San Juan, on Tuesday afternoon (22nd February 2022) in what is being described as an “invasion.” Employees of Reliable Appliances and Parts, Samaroo’s Material General Limited, Carpet World and Scaffolding Supply were robbed of personal items including cellphones, money and jewellery after the bandits pulled up in three (3) vehicles. Police Officers of the North Eastern Division, however, acted quickly after being notified of the robbery in progress and intervened, shooting and killing one of the bandits. The dead bandit has been identified as 25-year-old Denille Robinson, of D’abadie. According to reports, Officers were called to Reliable Appliances and Parts on Boundary Road at around 12:55pm on Tuesday afternoon. Upon arrival, the Officers noticed several workers tied up on the floor of the warehouse. One of the workers signalled to the Officers that the bandits were still upstairs. They then ventured upstairs the building and saw the bandits — calling on them to surrender. However, Police reported that Robinson pointed a gun at them and they shot him. He was later taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt. Hope where he died. Clarence Fitzroy Phillip, who is employed with Reliable Appliances and Parts, was beaten by bandits with cutlasses and a gun about his body. He was later treated for his injuries. Speaking with Guardian Media, Phillip explained what happened, saying, “We collected some goods from a company and while checking it, I walked outside because I heard a vehicle coming in and when the truck came in he was blocking the driveway and I told him to pull at the side and he started to move the truck and it still remained in the centre of the driveway. So I walked back into the warehouse and when I turned back I saw two men coming in my direction from another vehicle and before I could get back into the warehouse, I saw another four men all armed with guns. They started to run directly to me and then they told me to lie down.” The traumatized employee added, “Then I started to see other bandits with cutlasses coming towards me while on the ground, they started to kick me up and said not to watch them, so I turned my face and another bandit used tie straps to bound my hands.” Having relieved the employees of their personal items, Phillip said, “The bandits started to load the goods we just received, some stoves, small refrigerators and ring stove burners, they tried to take a big refrigerator but it was too heavy for them to lift onto their truck. This is a traumatic situation and life has to go on, the best thing is that nobody’s life was taken.” Police are on the hunt for the remaining bandits who fled the scene. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: CNC3]
The Ministry of Health will be hosting a virtual Press Conference at 11am this morning (Wednesday 23rd February 2022) to update the public about the latest developments with COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Ministry reported 412 new cases yesterday along with eight (8) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has reached 3,582. There have been 12,939 new cases and 178 deaths so far in the month of February. Watch the live stream of the Press Conference below when it begins at 11am, courtesy of TTT.
This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates.
The North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) is advising members of the public that its COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru service at the Hasely Crawford Stadium will end at 4pm on Friday 25th February 2022.
Members of the public are encouraged to visit the NWRHA's mass vaccination site at the Paddock, Queen's Park Savannah, Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm to access the Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines. The NWRHA states that, “Together, we can reduce the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” In a Media Release on Tuesday (22nd February 2022), the Bankers Association of Trinidad & Tobago (BATT) said it wishes to advise the public that all banks will operate under normal banking hours on Monday 28th February and Tuesday 1st March 2022. “There will be no Carnival activities or street parades on these two (2) days, as they are deemed normal working days. Therefore, there will be no disruption to the banks' normal operating hours.”
BATT said it continues to encourage customers to use the banks' digital and online solutions to conduct transactions. Customers who may not have online or mobile banking services, should use the opportunity to sign up for these services by calling their bank's contact centre. “We hope that you take advantage of these easy and convenient services and invite you to visit your bank's website for further details.” The Media Release concluded by saying, “Let's all work together to continue to act responsibly and keep ourselves, our communities and our country safe.” The Bankers Association of Trinidad & Tobago (BATT) was formed in 1997. The eight (8) member banks of BATT include the Citibank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, First Caribbean International Bank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, First Citizens Bank Limited, JMMB Bank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, Republic Bank Limited, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited and RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited and ANSA Bank. The Association brings together these member banks under a common platform to address issues facing the commercial banking sector. The Ministry of Health revealed in its daily COVID-19 update this afternoon (Tuesday 22nd February 2022) that there are 412 new COVID-19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago plus eight (8) additional deaths. T&T’s total active positive cases is currently at 20,830. The number of new cases represents a 16.06% increase in reported cases from yesterday.
There have been 12,939 new cases and 178 deaths so far in the month of February. The Ministry reported 355 new cases yesterday plus seven (7) more unfortunate deaths. The country’s death toll has increased to 3,582. As of 16th February 2022, 230 deaths were fully vaccinated persons while 2,924 deaths were not fully vaccinated. 390 deaths were recorded prior to 24th May 2021 (date at which the first group of vaccinated persons became fully vaccinated). A total of 700,838 persons have been fully vaccinated, representing 50.1% of the population. Meanwhile, 699,162 persons are not fully vaccinated (only received a first dose or no doses), representing 49.9% of the population. 130,844 persons in total have taken a booster shot. Based on data from 22nd July 2021 - 2nd February 2022, 2,543 patients in the parallel healthcare system (Hospitals and step-down facilities) are fully vaccinated, representing 16.5%, while 12,860 are not fully vaccinated, representing 83.5%. The Ministry states that the number of positive cases reported reflects the samples taken during a 5-day period between 17th - 21st February 2022 and not the last twenty-four (24) hours. The Ministry also notes that there are currently 332 COVID-19 positive patients in total being treated at Hospitals and step-down facilities. Eleven (11) are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and nine (9) are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. UPDATE: The Barrackpore housewife has been identified as Vashti Seuraj-Sookram. She suffered wounds to her right wrist, left arm and back, and is warded at the San Fernando General Hospital. The 38-year-old man allegedly chopped her several times with a cutlass, causing her to collapse on the ground. He then grabbed a bottle believed to contain a poisonous substance and drank it. After which, he ran to the back of the house where he died. PC Sulliman of the Barrackpore Police Station is investigating. A 31-year-old woman is in critical condition at Hospital this morning (Tuesday 22nd February 2022) after she was chopped about the body by a close male relative last night. The man then drank a "white liquid" and later died. According to Police, the Barrackpore couple had an argument around 10pm on Monday night, during which the man was seen with a cutlass. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh]
A Media Release from the Ministry of Education on Monday (21st February 2022) states that, “Carnival Monday and Tuesday are not Official Public Holidays of Trinidad and Tobago, but were granted as Official School Holidays in the past due to the street parade.”
The Ministry states that current Public Health Ordinance (Legal Notice No.14 Public Health) limits gathering, and therefore “negates the need to render schools closed on these two (2) days.” As such, the Ministry has advised that schools are to conduct normal operations on Monday 28th February and Tuesday 1st March 2022. Principals are reminded that should there be the need to deviate from the approved timetable, approval must be sought and granted by the Chief Education Officer. The Ministry is reassuring all that, “the health and safety of our students remain paramount.” |
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