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Caroni East MP Dr Rishad Seecheran addresses monkey pox vaccines at the Opposition’s media briefing on Sunday. – AYANNA KINSALE

OPPOSITION MP Dr Rishad Seecheran says the Health Ministry must not be totally dependent on the efforts of Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) to ensure TT has timely access to the vaccine used to treat the monkey pox virus.

He said Government should have no problem asking developed countries –many of which have already sourced and stored large batches of the vaccine –for donations.

On August 3, Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh said the ministry placed an order with PAHO for 2,000 doses of the monkey pox vaccine. He said there was no firm confirmation of prices or arrival date.

On Sunday, speaking at the Opposition’s media briefing on Sunday, Seecheran said 2,000 doses of the two-dose regime vaccine was not enough to protect the country should there be an outbreak.

“This is not enough Minister Deyalsingh should an outbreak occur in our twin-island republic. We will all be left exposed and every single citizen of Trinidad and Tobago will be at risk. Every effort must be made to get more access to monkey pox vaccines.

“Up to now TT doesn’t have a single monkey pox vaccine. We should not entirely rely upon PAHO and the WHO (World Health Organisation) or vaccine supply to combat monkey pox. The WHO has created a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkey pox and this program is based on countries’ epidemiological needs, very similar to Covax mandate.

“Right now we are open to attack from monkey pox. We must reach out to foreign partners possibly for a donation. The United States has millions of vaccines, many of the European countries have millions of vaccines and they are they are keeping it from their population.

“But we need to reach out to these foreign governments and ask for donations because we do not know when we would get that order of 2,000 vaccines from PAHO.

“As we saw with the Covax initiative, rich countries bought up most of the world’s supply of vaccines.”

The Covax facility was crippled by vaccine-hoarding which created shortages to the detriment of poorer countries.

Covax was founded in April 2020, by the WHO, Gavi; the Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, European Commission and the Government of France after scientists began working on an effective covid19 vaccine.

Covax’s objective was to ensure all countries had equal access, through its facility, to the covid19 vaccines whenever they became available. TT ordered 100,800 covid19 doses through Covax in 2020.

At the opening ceremony of CARPHA’s stakeholder consultation on regional health security, at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, in July, Deyalsingh admitted to having fears of TT having difficulties with accessing monkey pox vaccine.

Seecheran suggested a proper health-care response plan targeting high-risk citizens as the country remains on high alert for the virus’ arrival.

He said the appointment of a director of infectious diseases was required to focus on manoeuvring TT through this impending threat.

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‘Wij staan voor dienstbaar leiderschap’ Tekst en beeld Jason Pinas PARAMARIBO — “We moeten nu niet meer kijken naar populaire

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As the country marks its 60thAnniversary of Independence, Sandals Foundation has drums up its support to help keep an authentic Jamaican sound alive by strengthening and enriching brass music education on the island in partnership with the Alpha School of Music.

The school is one of the most influential music education institutions in Jamaica.

Through two four-day workshops to be held on August 9-12 at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in Montego Bay, St James and on August 16-19 at Alpha School of Music in Kingston, the organisations aim to develop the capacity of 20 music instructors, including private music tutors and instructors at the high school and college levels, to provide best practices in brass music education to young trumpet and trombone players across the island.

Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation, expressed the importance of the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International supporting music education in Jamaica.

“Music is a major part of who we are as Jamaicans. Our undeniable rhythms have transcended geographical boundaries and language barriers, raising global consciousness, leading movements, and inspiring generations.

“As an organisation proudly born in Jamaica,” Gilpin continued, “we are passionate about preserving the unique elements of our culture. Building the capacity of music educators to train the next generation of entertainers in this masterful craft will be key to keeping our unique touch to our musical art even as it evolves to modern day sounds.”

Wind and brass instruments are synonymous with the origins of Jamaican popular music, particularly Ska. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, many wind and brass players migrated from Jamaica, resulting in a brain drain of players and instructors. Many of those brass musicians were past students of Alpha Boys’ School, the music legacy of which is now being preserved and developed by Alpha School of Music.

Gay Magnus, Bandmaster at Alpha School of Music says brass training will be critical in the continued development of brand Jamaica.

“Music education in Jamaica needs quality, consistent support,” said Magnus, “especially brass which is so important to ska, as well as jazz and reggae. Jamaican brass musicians, including musicians trained at Alpha, have been recognised as among the best in the world, and brought a lot of attention to our music and our island. Quality and consistent music education will have a similar impact which will benefit today’s upcoming brass players, our music, our economy and our country,” said Magnus.

Now, with the potential to expand the calibre of brass music educators across the country, Magnus expressed excitement about the impact that these workshops could have on preserving this aspect of Jamaican music.

“The Alpha School of Music is committed to developing music education across the island. Thanks to Sandals Foundation and our community partners, these workshops will provide music educators with specialised brass pedagogy, specifically for trumpet and trombone, which may not have been available during their teacher training. Participants will also benefit from these practices in instruction and the development of fundamental brass techniques,” added Magnus.

The workshops are to see attendees each receiving an instrument for use during the training, and be awarded with a certificate upon completion.

The sessions in Montego Bay are to be directed by Dr Nathaniel Brickens, Professor of Music at the University of Texas, and in Kingston by Dr Jason Sulliman, Assistant Professor of Trombone at Troy University based in Alabama, USA.

Dr Brickens serves as director of the internationally acclaimed UT Trombone Choir, and was the recipient of the 2019 International Trombone Association’s (ITA) Humfeld Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr Sulliman teaches applied trombone, class brass and coaches various chamber brass ensembles at Troy, and currently serves as the trombone tutor for the North American Brass Band Summer School as part of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tatoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The brass training workshops form part of Sandals Foundation’s 40for40 sustainable development projects seeking to preserve the region’s cultural heritage and further develop its iconic sounds. The initiative is made possible with the support of the American Friends of Jamaica, Sandals Resorts International and Serve 360/AC Marriott, which have provided funding for the tutors, instrument rental, materials, accommodation, flights and meals.

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Amid Jamaica recording 183 new COVID-19 cases over 24 hours up to Saturday afternoon, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has reported a positivity rate of 25.3 per cent for the one-day period.

A COVID-19 death that occurred in January was also recorded on Saturday, bringing the overall coronavirus death toll in Jamaica to 3,207.

A 78-year-old woman from St James is the latest recorded COVID fatality nationally.

There were 108 recoveries on the day, bringing that tally to 94,443.

The newly confirmed COVID-19 cases brought the total number on record for the island to 147,189.

Notably, the 25.3 per cent positivity rate was based on the samples that were tested on Saturday.

Of the newly confirmed cases, 102 are females and 81 are males, with ages ranging from 21 days to 107 years.

The case count was made up of Kingston and St Andrew (58), St Catherine (28), St James (23), Clarendon (13), Manchester (10), St Elizabeth (nine), St Ann (eight), Portland (six), St Mary (five), Westmoreland (five), Trelawny (four), Hanover (two), and St Thomas (two).

There are 34 moderately ill patients, eight severely ill patients and five critically ill patients among 1,228 active cases now under observation in Jamaica.

A total of 118 COVID-19 atients are now hospitalised locally

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