Trinidad & Tobago
Indo-Trinis hardest hit by flu - Deyalsingh
Port-of-Spain – Most deaths from influenza in Trinidad and Tobago are of Indo-Trinidadians living in central and south Trinidad, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said last week.
Said Deyalsingh: “This is not based on science, but we know for a fact that most East Indians live in Central and South. We know for a fact that the incidents of diabetes are highest amongst East Indians. Where do most Indians with diabetes live? Central and South. What the data is showing is that most of the deaths are among the East Indian population living in central and south, and the majority of them were shown to be unvaccinated.”
However, Deyalsingh was quick to stress there was no epidemic despite the relatively high number of deaths due to influenza in Trinidad and Tobago this flu season. As of December 6, 32 persons have died, with two people from Tobago. He added there were seven confirmed deaths in 2018 and none in 2017 and 2016. No records of deaths were kept before 2016.
Deyalsingh was also expressed concern the flu virus has mutated, and is now stronger than medical scientists expected.
According to Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram, at the start of the influenza season in October there were three confirmed deaths.
Said Parasram: “There was a quick rise in confirmed deaths after that. That’s when we triggered our epidemiology unit to actually look at all the cases individually. So they looked at it in terms of geographic spread, the normal patterns, whether it’s related to risk factors, which we found”.
He said the deaths were related to diabetes, obesity, chronic disease of the lungs and, to some extent, adults over 60. The unit did not find many fatal cases in other high risk groups, such as in children aged six months to five years, and pregnant women.
Prakash Ramadhar
Prakash Ramadhar MP
Port-of-Spain – Police will have unlimited opportunities to enter premises under the Government’s bill to eliminate preliminary inquiries and this will be a licence to terrorise people, Opposition MP Prakash Ramadhar has said.
“I’m warning the Government. Clause 5 (1B) which allows police unlimited time to enter premises and unlimited locations—anywhere for multiple times—is an open license to terrorise. It creates a police state. How can we create law for police to become Tonton Macoutes, a Mongoose Gang or another Flying Squad?” Ramadhar asked in Parliament yesterday.
He was contributing to debate on the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill designed to abolish preliminary inquiries and expedite trials. He said the bill might seem like powderpuff legislation, but the clause was gunpowder since nobody would be protected by the law.
Ramadhar asked Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi who piloted the Bill if the PNM Government believed in freedom. Al Rawi said yes. But Ramadhar asked how the Government dared present a Bill that sought to invade people’s privacy. Saying it was an attack on democracy, he said even media houses and their workers can be intimidated by its provisions.
“This bills allows police to break down your door, arrest people and kill your dog. Imprecision is unnecessary,” he said, adding that he had done a case where police had gone to a person’s home and shot the dogs. Their bullets missed the dogs and hit a policeman’s leg instead.
“This isn’t creeping dictatorship, it’s reaching there,” he said, adding that the trajectory was the same as Nazi Germany.
“I’m warning the Government. Clause 5 (1B) which allows police unlimited time to enter premises and unlimited locations—anywhere for multiple times—is an open license to terrorise. It creates a police state. How can we create law for police to become Tonton Macoutes, a Mongoose Gang or another Flying Squad?” Ramadhar asked in Parliament yesterday.
He was contributing to debate on the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill designed to abolish preliminary inquiries and expedite trials. He said the bill might seem like powderpuff legislation, but the clause was gunpowder since nobody would be protected by the law.
Ramadhar asked Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi who piloted the Bill if the PNM Government believed in freedom. Al Rawi said yes. But Ramadhar asked how the Government dared present a Bill that sought to invade people’s privacy. Saying it was an attack on democracy, he said even media houses and their workers can be intimidated by its provisions.
“This bills allows police to break down your door, arrest people and kill your dog. Imprecision is unnecessary,” he said, adding that he had done a case where police had gone to a person’s home and shot the dogs. Their bullets missed the dogs and hit a policeman’s leg instead.
“This isn’t creeping dictatorship, it’s reaching there,” he said, adding that the trajectory was the same as Nazi Germany.
Port-of-Spain – Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein has sought to bring a definite matter of urgent public importance to have Penal/Debe and other areas severely affected by recent catastrophic flooding as disaster zones.
She brought the motion at Monday's sitting of the House and included the need for Government to expeditiously implement disaster relief and compensation to those affected.
"The matter is definite as thousands of residents have been marooned for days including the elderly and the infirm as well as pregnant women. The matter is urgent as citizens' homes have suffered water and flood damage and business owners and farmers have suffered irreplaceable damage to their livestock and property. The matter is of public importance given the size of the affected area and the thousands of citizens who are now of severe risk of the public health and environmental hazards in the immediate aftermath of this disaster."
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George said she was not satisfied the matter qualified under the standing order.
St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar in his contribution to the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill said as the bill had flooded the House with amendments "while my friends from the South were flooded out."
He added: "But I didn't believe it for a time because I didn't hear anything from the Government to accept even the acknowledgement of flooding in South."
He congratulated Newallo-Hosein for raising the matter.
"Of course not urgent enough. But we move forward."
She brought the motion at Monday's sitting of the House and included the need for Government to expeditiously implement disaster relief and compensation to those affected.
"The matter is definite as thousands of residents have been marooned for days including the elderly and the infirm as well as pregnant women. The matter is urgent as citizens' homes have suffered water and flood damage and business owners and farmers have suffered irreplaceable damage to their livestock and property. The matter is of public importance given the size of the affected area and the thousands of citizens who are now of severe risk of the public health and environmental hazards in the immediate aftermath of this disaster."
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George said she was not satisfied the matter qualified under the standing order.
St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar in his contribution to the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill said as the bill had flooded the House with amendments "while my friends from the South were flooded out."
He added: "But I didn't believe it for a time because I didn't hear anything from the Government to accept even the acknowledgement of flooding in South."
He congratulated Newallo-Hosein for raising the matter.
"Of course not urgent enough. But we move forward."
Port-of-Spain – Late last week criminals were already producing counterfeit $100 paper bills, copying the new polymer notes less than one week after commercial banks started putting it into circulation.
On Sunday a video began circulating on social media advising the public to be alert and cautious when receiving the new money. It showed fake copies of the new $100 bill.
The video identifies the counterfeit bill by its non-polymer feel, and when held to the light the 100 number did not appear in blue in the clear window. Upon examination, both bills appeared similar in design, and had the same shade of blue.
In response to the video, National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed counterfeit bills of the new $100 bills were picked up.
“The surfacing of a video on social media is not surprising, but the counterfeit attempt is easily identifiable. The counterfeit would not be on polymer, which is easily identifiable by touch, and it also doesn’t include the various security features of our new $100 note – for example, the transparent window.”
Young said criminals attempt to counterfeit “every major currency in the world,” including the US’.
“The new $100 polymer note has much-improved security features and is a great improvement on our old cotton notes,” Young insisted.
On Sunday a video began circulating on social media advising the public to be alert and cautious when receiving the new money. It showed fake copies of the new $100 bill.
The video identifies the counterfeit bill by its non-polymer feel, and when held to the light the 100 number did not appear in blue in the clear window. Upon examination, both bills appeared similar in design, and had the same shade of blue.
In response to the video, National Security Minister Stuart Young confirmed counterfeit bills of the new $100 bills were picked up.
“The surfacing of a video on social media is not surprising, but the counterfeit attempt is easily identifiable. The counterfeit would not be on polymer, which is easily identifiable by touch, and it also doesn’t include the various security features of our new $100 note – for example, the transparent window.”
Young said criminals attempt to counterfeit “every major currency in the world,” including the US’.
“The new $100 polymer note has much-improved security features and is a great improvement on our old cotton notes,” Young insisted.
Port-of-Spain – Canadian energy company Touchstone Exploration on Monday announced a “significant crude oil discovery” in its onshore Cascadura field in Ortoire, south Trinidad. The results far exceeded any pre-drill expectations, Touchstone CEO Paul Baay said.
Said Baay: “This well is not only a significant discovery and milestone for Touchstone, but we believe it also establishes a new development stage for onshore drilling in Trinidad. In the new year, we expect to test each zone independently in order to better understand the economic potential of the prospective oil sands, and if the findings are positive, it will set up an expansive development drilling program in the area.”
Cascadura is a joint project of Touchstone, which has an 80 percent working interest and Heritage Petroleum, which has 20 percent. It was first drilled on Oct 4. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 6,350 feet on December 9.
The company said Cascadura’s logs indicated significant prospective oil pay (a reservoir or portion of a reservoir that contains economically producible hydrocarbons) totalling 1,037 feet from 1,374 feet of gross sand. Eighty net feet of oil pay was encountered in the regional lower cruse sands at measured depths between 1,030 and 2,134 feet, and 180 net feet of oil pay was encountered in an Upper Herrera Gr7c thrust sheet at measured depths between 4,198 and 4,994 feet. These sands were not previously encountered in any offset wells (existing well bore that serves as a drilling guide) in the area.
Six hundred net feet of oil pay was encountered in a Middle Herrera Gr7c thrust sheet at measured depths between 5,516 and 6,162 feet. These sands were also not reported in any offset wells previously drilled in the area. Also, 177 net feet of oil pay was encountered in a Lower Herrera Gr7a thrust sheet at measured depths between 6,162 and 6,350 feet, which were one of the Company's targeted sands as identified in the offsetting well.
The Company expects to complete and test the Cascadura-1ST1 well in the first quarter of 2020. Cascadura is the second prospect of four on the Ortoire block, with initial test results at COHO-1 previously released by the Company on November 18.
Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine congratulated Touchstone on the discovery. The company, a marginal producer whose exploration holdings are all in Trinidad, was awarded its Ortoire licence in October 2014 during Ramnarine’s tenure.
“It was always expected that these three land blocks had the potential to resuscitate land-based oil production in Trinidad and Tobago and stimulate economic activity in the south eastern part of the island,” Ramnarine said.
Said Baay: “This well is not only a significant discovery and milestone for Touchstone, but we believe it also establishes a new development stage for onshore drilling in Trinidad. In the new year, we expect to test each zone independently in order to better understand the economic potential of the prospective oil sands, and if the findings are positive, it will set up an expansive development drilling program in the area.”
Cascadura is a joint project of Touchstone, which has an 80 percent working interest and Heritage Petroleum, which has 20 percent. It was first drilled on Oct 4. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 6,350 feet on December 9.
The company said Cascadura’s logs indicated significant prospective oil pay (a reservoir or portion of a reservoir that contains economically producible hydrocarbons) totalling 1,037 feet from 1,374 feet of gross sand. Eighty net feet of oil pay was encountered in the regional lower cruse sands at measured depths between 1,030 and 2,134 feet, and 180 net feet of oil pay was encountered in an Upper Herrera Gr7c thrust sheet at measured depths between 4,198 and 4,994 feet. These sands were not previously encountered in any offset wells (existing well bore that serves as a drilling guide) in the area.
Six hundred net feet of oil pay was encountered in a Middle Herrera Gr7c thrust sheet at measured depths between 5,516 and 6,162 feet. These sands were also not reported in any offset wells previously drilled in the area. Also, 177 net feet of oil pay was encountered in a Lower Herrera Gr7a thrust sheet at measured depths between 6,162 and 6,350 feet, which were one of the Company's targeted sands as identified in the offsetting well.
The Company expects to complete and test the Cascadura-1ST1 well in the first quarter of 2020. Cascadura is the second prospect of four on the Ortoire block, with initial test results at COHO-1 previously released by the Company on November 18.
Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine congratulated Touchstone on the discovery. The company, a marginal producer whose exploration holdings are all in Trinidad, was awarded its Ortoire licence in October 2014 during Ramnarine’s tenure.
“It was always expected that these three land blocks had the potential to resuscitate land-based oil production in Trinidad and Tobago and stimulate economic activity in the south eastern part of the island,” Ramnarine said.
Port-of-Spain – A call has been made to the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Chairman of the Integrity Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the settlement of the sexual harassment lawsuit brought against fired Sports Minister Darryl Smith.
It came from Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week, who said there are “strong grounds for suspecting that several criminal offences may have been committed as well as the possible breach of several provisions of the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Code of Conduct”.
Persad-Bissessar said she has written to the Police Commissioner, the DPP, and the Integrity Commission, asking each head to look into the matter.
She said when the contents of the report were leaked by the media, the Prime Minister reacted by “attacking his own committee’s Report by making public pronouncements that impugned the integrity of the process which was utilised”.
Earlier this month, one of the women tasked by the Prime Minister to compile a report about the incident broke her silence. Former temporary Senator Folade Mutota issued a two-page letter to the media in which she stated it was the “boys club” mentality which kept women silent in the face of inappropriate and unwanted sexual conduct.
Mutota’s comment prompted Persad-Bissessar to question whether or not there was a deliberate attempt by the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, Darryl Smith, the Permanent Secretary of the Sport Ministry, and Attorney at Law, Michael Quamina, to use public funds to “purchase the silence of the victim”.
Following Mutota’s accusation, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said he was unaware any of his Cabinet members to be misogynistic. He was responding to a question in the House of Representatives put to him by Naparima MP Rodney Charles.
Rowley said the status report had been done, and legal advice obtained by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Attorney General that by virtue of the nature and process of the report it could not be used in the public domain. He added the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, head of the public service, had received the report, but that office was also restrained by the legal impediment.
On the misogyny accusation, Rowley replied: “I know of nobody in the Cabinet who is guilty of misogyny.”
Charles also wondered asking whether the police service was not the appropriate body to do the investigation. Rowley’s reply was if Charles could indicate what law had been broken, then the matter could be filed with the police.
It came from Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week, who said there are “strong grounds for suspecting that several criminal offences may have been committed as well as the possible breach of several provisions of the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Code of Conduct”.
Persad-Bissessar said she has written to the Police Commissioner, the DPP, and the Integrity Commission, asking each head to look into the matter.
She said when the contents of the report were leaked by the media, the Prime Minister reacted by “attacking his own committee’s Report by making public pronouncements that impugned the integrity of the process which was utilised”.
Earlier this month, one of the women tasked by the Prime Minister to compile a report about the incident broke her silence. Former temporary Senator Folade Mutota issued a two-page letter to the media in which she stated it was the “boys club” mentality which kept women silent in the face of inappropriate and unwanted sexual conduct.
Mutota’s comment prompted Persad-Bissessar to question whether or not there was a deliberate attempt by the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, Darryl Smith, the Permanent Secretary of the Sport Ministry, and Attorney at Law, Michael Quamina, to use public funds to “purchase the silence of the victim”.
Following Mutota’s accusation, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said he was unaware any of his Cabinet members to be misogynistic. He was responding to a question in the House of Representatives put to him by Naparima MP Rodney Charles.
Rowley said the status report had been done, and legal advice obtained by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the Attorney General that by virtue of the nature and process of the report it could not be used in the public domain. He added the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, head of the public service, had received the report, but that office was also restrained by the legal impediment.
On the misogyny accusation, Rowley replied: “I know of nobody in the Cabinet who is guilty of misogyny.”
Charles also wondered asking whether the police service was not the appropriate body to do the investigation. Rowley’s reply was if Charles could indicate what law had been broken, then the matter could be filed with the police.
Port-of-Spain – The people of Trinidad and Tobago are vexed until they are blue in the face, frustrated, and are suffering due to the government’s heartless and incompetent approach in transitioning to the new (TT) $100 polymer note, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last week.
She called for immediate steps to be taken to bring relief to the countless thousands, who have been enduring long lines in the sun and rain to deposit or exchange the old $100 notes.
“They have no care for the small and the suffering people of this country. Look at the lines, an elderly woman collapsed waiting in a long line; what kind of heartless government is this?” said Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition supported The Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime and Central Bank) Bill, 2019, which amended the law to allow the demonetisation process to take in a 14-day minimum period as opposed to three months.
“The Opposition supported this move because we are against corruption. We supported the government in principle and when we did that, we said we hope the government has a smooth transition process in place for the implementation. It is clear that the government is totally incompetent and has created chaos and madness,” she said.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Today, I call on the government to step in immediately and ensure there are mechanisms in place to ensure there is a smooth transition process. Whatever weaknesses there are, deal with them now! Everyone is suffering, from the big to the small.”
Last week the long lines continued outside banks as torrential rain poured down, enough to cause flooding in south Trinidad. Nationals vented voluminously in social media.
One online poster was moved by the suffering being endured by the elderly, posting, “Broke my heart today to see this elderly lady burst into tears upon being unable to complete her transaction after she waited in line for over 1.5 hrs to deposit some money.... I later learned, as she gave the story to some concerned customers, in between her bouts of tears, and sobbing, that the cash was her savings for over five years, and the bank asked her for supporting documents in addition to the [Source of Funds Document] which she filled out.
“She said all she could show them is her coarse hands and swollen knuckles from over 25 years of cleaning people’s homes... She said she stopped putting it in the bank because they were only taking her ‘little pittance’ and started keeping it at home...
“The woman was terrified! I am sure she is not the only elderly person experiencing this... It’s so sad she kept repeating a mantra: ‘What I going to do now?’ SMH. Who's looking after the elderly through all of this?”
Another person related the problem faced by a farmer.
“So my father went to the bank to change his $100 and the bank refusing it because he have no proof that he is a farmer... His farmer's card expired and he never renewed it because coffee and cocoa sales was slow in Moruga... How then do you have proof you're a farmer?” the poster wondered.
Last week economist Vaalmikki Arjoon questioned if the demonetisation was being planned for quite some time, then why were no measures put in place to limit the massive queues and ensuing chaos in the banks?
Said Arjoon: “Why were no measures put in place to limit the economic fallout, especially for the small business sector? Why are no privileges being granted to the elderly and disabled persons, so that they don't have to wait for lengthy periods at the bank?”
Arjoon said over the next few weeks to months will see a fall in overall spending levels as the demonetisation will lower cash in circulation and the money supply. This will be worse for small and microenterprises, especially those that are cash based, he warned.
She called for immediate steps to be taken to bring relief to the countless thousands, who have been enduring long lines in the sun and rain to deposit or exchange the old $100 notes.
“They have no care for the small and the suffering people of this country. Look at the lines, an elderly woman collapsed waiting in a long line; what kind of heartless government is this?” said Persad-Bissessar.
Persad-Bissessar said the Opposition supported The Miscellaneous Provisions (Proceeds of Crime and Central Bank) Bill, 2019, which amended the law to allow the demonetisation process to take in a 14-day minimum period as opposed to three months.
“The Opposition supported this move because we are against corruption. We supported the government in principle and when we did that, we said we hope the government has a smooth transition process in place for the implementation. It is clear that the government is totally incompetent and has created chaos and madness,” she said.
Said Persad-Bissessar: “Today, I call on the government to step in immediately and ensure there are mechanisms in place to ensure there is a smooth transition process. Whatever weaknesses there are, deal with them now! Everyone is suffering, from the big to the small.”
Last week the long lines continued outside banks as torrential rain poured down, enough to cause flooding in south Trinidad. Nationals vented voluminously in social media.
One online poster was moved by the suffering being endured by the elderly, posting, “Broke my heart today to see this elderly lady burst into tears upon being unable to complete her transaction after she waited in line for over 1.5 hrs to deposit some money.... I later learned, as she gave the story to some concerned customers, in between her bouts of tears, and sobbing, that the cash was her savings for over five years, and the bank asked her for supporting documents in addition to the [Source of Funds Document] which she filled out.
“She said all she could show them is her coarse hands and swollen knuckles from over 25 years of cleaning people’s homes... She said she stopped putting it in the bank because they were only taking her ‘little pittance’ and started keeping it at home...
“The woman was terrified! I am sure she is not the only elderly person experiencing this... It’s so sad she kept repeating a mantra: ‘What I going to do now?’ SMH. Who's looking after the elderly through all of this?”
Another person related the problem faced by a farmer.
“So my father went to the bank to change his $100 and the bank refusing it because he have no proof that he is a farmer... His farmer's card expired and he never renewed it because coffee and cocoa sales was slow in Moruga... How then do you have proof you're a farmer?” the poster wondered.
Last week economist Vaalmikki Arjoon questioned if the demonetisation was being planned for quite some time, then why were no measures put in place to limit the massive queues and ensuing chaos in the banks?
Said Arjoon: “Why were no measures put in place to limit the economic fallout, especially for the small business sector? Why are no privileges being granted to the elderly and disabled persons, so that they don't have to wait for lengthy periods at the bank?”
Arjoon said over the next few weeks to months will see a fall in overall spending levels as the demonetisation will lower cash in circulation and the money supply. This will be worse for small and microenterprises, especially those that are cash based, he warned.
for south residents
Port-of-Spain – With Christmas celebrations around the corner, nationals living in flooded areas of South Trinidad were facing a grim festive season with extended bouts of cleanups, accompanied by growing anxiety over being hit with yet another round of deep financial losses.
Last week saw many areas in Penal, Debe, and Barrackpore under water following torrential rains that made roads impassable, with the rising waters flooding houses. The turbid water entered homes, stranding homeowners, spoiling, and in some cases, washing away appliances and furniture. Also, both primary and secondary schools remained closed.
It was last Wednesday when the heavy rains began lashing south Trinidad, causing rivers to overflow and its runoff spreading into the floodplains of the Godineau River in the South Oropouche Lagoon. By Thursday, the Debe Main Road was impassable, as was Suchit Trace, Transfer Village, Digity Village, Clarke Road, Rochard Road, Syne Village, Woodland, and San Francique.
Chairman of the Penal/ Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy estimated 1,030 households were affected. He said efforts were made to alleviate the impact of flooding in the areas, with all units of the corporation activated and sent to the most affected areas. By the end of last week, the Debe Hindu School was cleaned and sanitised, along with other buildings on the Debe Main Road, he said.
Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar toured the constituency last week, and coordinated relief measures along with councillors, religious, and non-governmental organisations. Also, last Wednesday she mandated all local government councillors to respond to reports of flooding in their districts.
According to media reports, one resident was using a kayak to distribute relief supplies to parts of Penal Rock Road. Another report indicated three families were trapped in Wilson Road homes after water rose to seven feet.
One trapped resident, Parbatie Rampersad, said no help came overnight and they were unable to get supplies.
“We called several people, but nobody came. We are on the last of our bottled water, so we hoping someone comes soon,” she said. She added appliances, furniture, and food items, were washed away in the flood. Rampersad said instructions were given to young children to not leave the second floor since the water kept rising.
As happens with each episode of flooding, blame is now being turned to the unchecked development and filling of the swampland for housing and commercial buildings. Blame is also being put on the poor remedial drainage work in the communities.
In 2017, the Barrackpore Breakfast Shed opened its kitchen to victims of mass flooding, and its owner Eddie Surjan distributed free meals to stranded families. However, this time around, the breakfast stop was among several businesses severely affected by rising floodwater, with Surjan revealing some of its appliances had been washed away, with 11 freezers, stoves, and other appliances under water.
Last week saw many areas in Penal, Debe, and Barrackpore under water following torrential rains that made roads impassable, with the rising waters flooding houses. The turbid water entered homes, stranding homeowners, spoiling, and in some cases, washing away appliances and furniture. Also, both primary and secondary schools remained closed.
It was last Wednesday when the heavy rains began lashing south Trinidad, causing rivers to overflow and its runoff spreading into the floodplains of the Godineau River in the South Oropouche Lagoon. By Thursday, the Debe Main Road was impassable, as was Suchit Trace, Transfer Village, Digity Village, Clarke Road, Rochard Road, Syne Village, Woodland, and San Francique.
Chairman of the Penal/ Debe Regional Corporation Dr Allen Sammy estimated 1,030 households were affected. He said efforts were made to alleviate the impact of flooding in the areas, with all units of the corporation activated and sent to the most affected areas. By the end of last week, the Debe Hindu School was cleaned and sanitised, along with other buildings on the Debe Main Road, he said.
Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar toured the constituency last week, and coordinated relief measures along with councillors, religious, and non-governmental organisations. Also, last Wednesday she mandated all local government councillors to respond to reports of flooding in their districts.
According to media reports, one resident was using a kayak to distribute relief supplies to parts of Penal Rock Road. Another report indicated three families were trapped in Wilson Road homes after water rose to seven feet.
One trapped resident, Parbatie Rampersad, said no help came overnight and they were unable to get supplies.
“We called several people, but nobody came. We are on the last of our bottled water, so we hoping someone comes soon,” she said. She added appliances, furniture, and food items, were washed away in the flood. Rampersad said instructions were given to young children to not leave the second floor since the water kept rising.
As happens with each episode of flooding, blame is now being turned to the unchecked development and filling of the swampland for housing and commercial buildings. Blame is also being put on the poor remedial drainage work in the communities.
In 2017, the Barrackpore Breakfast Shed opened its kitchen to victims of mass flooding, and its owner Eddie Surjan distributed free meals to stranded families. However, this time around, the breakfast stop was among several businesses severely affected by rising floodwater, with Surjan revealing some of its appliances had been washed away, with 11 freezers, stoves, and other appliances under water.
nationals abroad
Port-of-Spain – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago last week indicated it would extend the exchange timeline of the former (TT) $100 note to March 2020 for the new, polymer bills in cases where nationals show “good or sufficient reason” for failing to meet the December 31, 2019 deadline.
The bank stated via its website that among the reasons a national could be facilitated “is if they were not in Trinidad and Tobago between December 9 and 31”.
The website publication noted Section 27A (4) of the Central Bank Act Chapter 79:02 allows the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate the exchange of the paper notes for the new polymer notes within the period of three months after December 31, 2019. This facilitation can be done “if the Central Bank is satisfied that the failure to present the notes for redemption prior to the deadline date resulted from circumstances beyond the control of the true owner of the notes, or that there was some other good or sufficient reason for the failure to present the notes”.
The Central Bank added that what constitutes “good and sufficient reason” will be published in due course, and would “include specific situations of persons who provide acceptable evidence of being out of Trinidad and Tobago during the period December 9, 2019 and December 31, 2019”.
A national “unable to be physically present in the country during that period to deposit the paper notes or exchange the paper notes for the new polymer notes”, with evidence, could serve as one of the required “good and sufficient” reasons.
The bank stated via its website that among the reasons a national could be facilitated “is if they were not in Trinidad and Tobago between December 9 and 31”.
The website publication noted Section 27A (4) of the Central Bank Act Chapter 79:02 allows the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate the exchange of the paper notes for the new polymer notes within the period of three months after December 31, 2019. This facilitation can be done “if the Central Bank is satisfied that the failure to present the notes for redemption prior to the deadline date resulted from circumstances beyond the control of the true owner of the notes, or that there was some other good or sufficient reason for the failure to present the notes”.
The Central Bank added that what constitutes “good and sufficient reason” will be published in due course, and would “include specific situations of persons who provide acceptable evidence of being out of Trinidad and Tobago during the period December 9, 2019 and December 31, 2019”.
A national “unable to be physically present in the country during that period to deposit the paper notes or exchange the paper notes for the new polymer notes”, with evidence, could serve as one of the required “good and sufficient” reasons.
