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Point Fortin taxi drivers want numbers rule relaxed
Yvonne Webb
Point Fortin taxi drivers are calling for a relaxation of the rules which now restrict the number of passengers they can carry during a trip.
They are also asking that they be considered eligible for food cards and the loss-of-income grant.
As one of the measures to prevent the spread of the covid19 virus, government has mandated that public transport vehicles operate with no more than 50 per cent of their licensed capacity.
President of the Point Fortin Taxi Drivers Association, John David, is now appealing to the Minister of Works and Transport to increase the number to five passengers instead of three in a seven-seater vehicle.
He said the association met to discuss the financial strain this new arrangement will have on the drivers who operate between Point Fortin and San Fernando in mainly seven-seater vehicles. David said there was consensus that the members approach the minister. He explained that passengers can be spaced out to maintain social distancing.
“Instead of the three, we want to carry five – two in the back, two in the middle and one in the front. We understand the situation the country is going through and we want to do our part to help, but with three passengers, we can’t make at all.”
Commenting on a message circulating on social media over the weekend that fares had been raised from $15 to $30, David said the association never sanctioned any increase in fares and they are resisting any such move because “everybody in the same predicament.
“Some drivers want to do what they want to do, and some who want to do what they want to do are not members of the association. That message circulating about a raise in fare is false information.”
He said the drivers are also in a bind because one of the service stations which offers CNG at Mon Repos, San Fernando has been closed. He said one of the gas stations in Point Fortin is also closed adding further pressure on drivers.
David said they are trying their best to provide a necessary service, but in light of the restrictions and fewer passengers travelling, asked for food cards for his members.
He said given that government has granted concessions for people who have lost their jobs as the country goes on a two-week stay-at-home restriction, he pleaded with government to consider taxi drivers for the $1,500 loss-of-income grant.
pugboy wrote:I feel carpha unable to handle high test loads, they said they only have one PCR machine and the tests take several hours or so to get a result due to the process. Plus they are testing for other caribbean countries.
they would not want to come out and say they dont have capacity to handle all the tests given their responsibilties to the various countries.
Barry left the day the borders closed
Carolyn Kissoon
Just hours before the Trinidad and Tobago borders were officially closed at midnight last week Sunday, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath boarded a flight out of the country.
He was among hundreds of people, mainly non-nationals, attempting to leave T&T as the Government enforced the announcement of locking down its air and sea ports.
The Express reached out to Padarath last week Tuesday, asking why he opted to leave the country during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “I am a parent before a politician.” Padarath explained he wanted to be with his infant daughter, who is a citizen of the United States.
Padarath said: “My infant daughter is an American citizen who does not hold dual citizenship.
‘Self-quarantine’
“I didn’t apply for citizenship because of the vicious political attacks, knowing that she would be used by my political opponents as a pawn in the political arena.”
Padarath said his daughter was required to leave Trinidad and Tobago in January. The child returned to the United States for that reason, as well as her medical check-ups, he said.
“Since then, she has been in the US with my family while I have been back and forth. However, in light of the global pandemic and the announcement of the closure of borders, I could not risk that my infant daughter would be in the land of her birth while I am stuck in Trinidad unable to get to her in the event of an emergency,” he said.
He has been in self-quarantine since arriving in the United States.
Last week Monday, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she had recommitted herself and the United National Congress to working with the Government where “legally possible” in the fight against COVID-19.
She said: “...Through our roles as MPs and local government councillors, and in accordance to our constitutional mandate and oath of office, to ensure that all decisions taken by the Government to utilise State resources to serve and protect our population at this time of crisis is actively and duly supported by my party.”
‘Constituents’ needs addressed’
Padarath said, however, his constituency office continues to function and, through technology, he has been able to stay in touch with staff and colleagues. He said the needs of his constituents were being addressed.
“I think every reasonable person would understand that as a parent, my child is my priority,” he said.
Country_Bookie wrote:The lack of social distancing being displayed by trinis is atrocious. All these ppl in lines outside banks and groceries almost jamming up on one another. Since last week Thursday it start and still going on. Community spread from panic buying.Dohplaydat wrote:rexsmith wrote:based on is going on across the world and the lockdown taken. what is your estimate for things to normalize here and business as usual?
I have been looking at the stats and it seems we're 3-4 weeks away from our peak. Cases should start increasing in frequency later this week I imagine.
However, as of now, people with mild symptoms are being told not to come in for testing unless it starts getting serious.
With the mad rush and lack of social distancing last week, expect a surge of cases to develop in the next 2 weeks.
From the looks of it though we now start and far from normalized just yet. Peaks tend to last 2 weeks as well.
So maybe ~6 weeks we'll be back to some normality I hope.
We like to look down on our brothers from the small islands but they're handling this much better than us. Curfews, SOE, groceries only partially opened, banks closed etc. With all the smart phones in Trinidad, why do ppl need to line up to go in the bank ? Can't they use smart phones or ATMs? And is not old ppl, it's ppl under 60. Apparently literacy is a problem too, they didn't read all the notices from the banks about the 1st hour being reserved for the elderly..... so these ppl lining up from 7 in the morning until after 9. We're doomed if we have to rely on these ppl being responsible to stop the spread.
Bodies of COVID-19 victims to be disposed of quickly
Anna-Lisa Paul
The families of patients who die as a result of the COVID-19 virus will not be able to retain possession of their corpses.
Instead, health officials say while they are trying to observe religious protocols and ensure cultural sensitivity is upheld, they have to be mindful of the potential threats posed to the remaining population.
During a press conference yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram explained, “Our process is basically adopted from the World Health Organization. We did have consultations with the various religious groups as well to refine it a little bit and make sure we are culturally sensitive as well.”
He went on, “The basis on which we based our process is that the deceased body can spread COVID-19 and there must be limited if not, little or no contact with another individual unless they are wearing the appropriate PPE so we will limit spread of the virus.”
Parasram stressed, “In terms of the family being allowed custody, the body will usually go in these cases, from the hospital to the funeral home and then directly to the grave site or the crematorium. There is no home visit. There is no church visit. There is no visit to a place of worship in these cases.”
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said officials from the Undertakers Association of T&T met with the CEO of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) to come up with protocols to deal with the disposal of bodies - whether via burial or cremation.
Referring to the devastating effects of the Ebola virus which had decimated world populations, Deyalsingh said, “I want to remind the population that the epidemic spread of Ebola was so bad at that time because people did not understand that handling the body…the virus was still alive and in Africa, you have rituals that demand the family actually wash the body themselves and that caused an explosion in the cases of Ebola.”
He added, “So we must learn from that experience and apply similar protocols to COVID-19 because as the Chief Medical Officer said, it is still possible that when you have a deceased person, you can still have infection.”
pugboy wrote:I feel carpha unable to handle high test loads, they said they only have one PCR machine and the tests take several hours or so to get a result due to the process. Plus they are testing for other caribbean countries.
they would not want to come out and say they dont have capacity to handle all the tests given their responsibilties to the various countries.
Gladiator wrote:The lady from CARPHA said on TV that they only have 4000 test. They bought 2000 more and the Chinese promised 4000.
So 10000 test...
Oh and yeah.... Dais to share for the entire Caribbean Caricom...18 million plus people not jus Trinidad.pugboy wrote:I feel carpha unable to handle high test loads, they said they only have one PCR machine and the tests take several hours or so to get a result due to the process. Plus they are testing for other caribbean countries.
they would not want to come out and say they dont have capacity to handle all the tests given their responsibilities to the various countries.
RedVEVO wrote:" .. Senior Counsel Israel Khan is calling for the declaration of a state of emergency.
In a letter, Khan urged the Prime Minister “to declare a state of emergency for a short period of three months and, if necessary, further three-month periods until the virus is no longer a threat to our lives in TT.” .. "
https://newsday.co.tt/2020/03/31/attorn ... nd-tobago/
EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:^ But what will a SOE do exactly?
EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:^ But what will a SOE do exactly?
MaxPower wrote:EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:^ But what will a SOE do exactly?
Hello ED,
I remember you asking this earlier but i forgot to comment.
And SOE will forcefully keep the irresponsible tribesmen of T&T at home to avoid further community spread.
All this assness with jumbling up like stink sardines all over the country would have never happened.
Can you imagine how much less spread it would have been for the pass few weeks?
So in summary, a SOE flattens the curve for both Covid 19 AND the Trinidadian mentality.
linton wrote:RedVEVO wrote:" .. Senior Counsel Israel Khan is calling for the declaration of a state of emergency.
In a letter, Khan urged the Prime Minister “to declare a state of emergency for a short period of three months and, if necessary, further three-month periods until the virus is no longer a threat to our lives in TT.” .. "
https://newsday.co.tt/2020/03/31/attorn ... nd-tobago/
The article here since Sunday morning.
pugboy wrote:an soe would have curfew times when you could go outside to buy food, might actually cause more panic lineup buying given our mentality.
ru$$ell wrote:A family member of mine went into SFGH Sunday due to non corona issue, when said person got discharged today, the doctor strongly advised that they find somewhere and stay ALONE for the next few weeks and don't return to said place of habitat where other people reside
EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:FINALLY thank god the FDA has come to their senses
This will save us even if it was originally developed for malaria, it works well in most cases for covid
Allyuh ready to take a malaria drug? at worse you not gonna die besides it is safe even if we wiped out malaria in this region a long time ago
EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:FINALLY thank god the FDA has come to their senses
This will save us even if it was originally developed for malaria, it works well in most cases for covid
Allyuh ready to take a malaria drug? at worse you not gonna die besides it is safe even if we wiped out malaria in this region a long time ago
Gladiator wrote:Bro... that have some dread side effects. Had to take it for most of a year while assigned to West Africa... Hallucinations, depression, digestive issues, Blood pressure irregularities, sleeping disorders just to name a few.
Those drugs were blamed for soldiers coming back home and killing their whole family in the US. I prefer to just stay inside....EFFECTIC DESIGNS wrote:FINALLY thank god the FDA has come to their senses
This will save us even if it was originally developed for malaria, it works well in most cases for covid
Allyuh ready to take a malaria drug? at worse you not gonna die besides it is safe even if we wiped out malaria in this region a long time ago
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