It took just one week and a small army of private sector companies, according to Robert Hadad, to get the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s Home of Football ready for use. Or rather, as the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) re-christened the facility, the ‘Home of Football-Wellness Centre’. The controversial …
Read More »Dear editor: I don’t for one second believe they listened to ‘WE’! Give us truth on security contracts
“This is the same government who, when in opposition, criticised the then UNC-led People’s Partnership Government in 2014 for introducing a similar initiative called Community Comfort Patrol—saying that untrained, unknown people were driving through neighbourhoods in strange vehicles pretending to be police. “[…] The initiative has now been cancelled but …
Read More »Deyalsingh prepares for ‘second and third wave’ of virus, Young still tightlipped on security firms
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the government is preparing for a possible second and third wave of the Covid-19 virus and has secured 838 beds across the five regional health authorities at ‘tremendous cost to the country in this time of low economic activity’. The increased capacity of the RHA’s, …
Read More »‘Apparently T&T feels safe enough…’ Young ends state-funded neighbourhood watch, mum on procurement
National Security Minister Stuart Young’s initiative to put four security firms into residential areas across the country lasted barely 48 hours. At a virtual press conference this morning, Young told the national community that the programme was cancelled due to public feedback. The four firms were: Allied Security Limited, Amalgamated …
Read More »Daly Bread: Siq transit gloria; is govt’s limited Covid-19 testing a ‘calculated risk’?
My headline today is not a typographical error. As suggested below, it is still uncertain whether the government’s policy of Siq, that is separate, isolate and quarantine is a sound enough response to our Covid-19 crisis. We just don’t know yet. Sic transit gloria mundi is the full classic incantation …
Read More »Carnival didn’t bring Covid-19! T&T borders stay closed until 30 April—along with bars, churches and doubles vendors
National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed today that Trinidad and Tobago’s borders as well as bars, clubs, theatres, betting houses, churches and dining-in areas at restaurants will remain closed until 30 April 2020. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh made the amendment to the Public Health [2019 Novel Coronavirus] Regulations yesterday. The …
Read More »Nakhid: One day, we will despise our sheepish silence during Covid-19 crisis
‘I have never understood Nakhid and I still don’t, but a truth teller if ever there was one, no sycophant eat ah food mentality like so many of our commentators” — Mt D’or resident and Santos legend, Big Red, in his critique of Wired868 article, ‘Fire next time’. ‘If people …
Read More »Five-a-side! Gov’t reduces public groups but no relief from price-gouging taxi drivers
The Trinidad and Tobago government will amend its public health ordinance today to reduce congregations from 10 to five. National Security Minister Stuart Young made the announcement at this morning’s virtual press conference. The adjustment will be signed off by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh today. “Persons shall not without reasonable …
Read More »Dear Editor: Not all misinformation is politically motivated
“A time of crisis is not the time to paint the spread of misinformation as political. Concern about the spread of misinformation, though, is valid. This is more so during a time of crisis, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, as it can seriously undermine efforts to contain the threat. …
Read More »Daly Bread: Lingering credibility questions; gov’t ‘trying to control media narrative’
When is an exemption to closed borders not an exemption after the borders are closed? I will return to this riddle, but let me first note that the limited testing for Covid-19 has been expanded in obvious response to queries about its previous deficiencies. There was room to acknowledge that the …
Read More »Journalists in danger of contact spread, Young drops Alleyne hint as T&T’s Covid-19 cases climb to 60
“[The threat of] contact spread is real and amongst you all,” said National Security Minister Stuart Young, in response to a question about flamboyant Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne. Yesterday, Alleyne shared two emotional videos—one filmed by an unidentified person and the other by his young son—which claimed that he …
Read More »Young slams media, ‘washes hands’ of Trinbagonians stranded abroad; Dr Hinds offers ‘community spread’ info
Minister of National Security Stuart Young continued his criticism of the media today at a press conference to update the public on the country’s battle with Covid-19, as he suggested local journalists were being irresponsible by interviewing citizens stranded abroad who are desperate to return home. The government shut the …
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