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The Re-Energize TnT launch held at the Hyatt Regency conference room, Port of Spain on Wednesday. – Photo by Roger Jacob

SENIOR vice president and country chairman of Shell TT Eugene Okpere says within the next few weeks, there will be “good news” related to renewable energy in TT.

He was speaking at the launch of the Re-Energize TnT programme at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on Wednesday morning.

He said renewable energy is important and that, in keeping with government’s target of renewable energy accounting for “ten per cent of the energy mix here,” Shell has been working with the National Gas Company (NGC), and soon BP, on sanctions.

He said discussions are leading to “the largest solar programme in the Caribbean,” adding that installing solar panels at schools is being considered.

Solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the NP service station in Preysal, Couva. – File photo/Lincoln Holder

Energy Minister Stuart Young agreed, saying, “Very, very soon you will hear big announcements on the solar side.

“You can be proud that Trinidad and Tobago will have the largest solar farms in the whole Caribbean.

“So we not just talking, and that’s for your generation.”

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Karen Nunez-Tesheira – AYANNA KINSALE

PNM political leader contender Karen Nunez-Tesheira has been unsuccessful in her attempt to stall the party’s internal election until her lawsuit over the changes to the electoral process is determined.

On Wednesday, Justice Devindra Rampersad dismissed an injunction application by Nunez-Tesheira and two members of her slate.

He said he was not minded to grant the interim relief sought, as the greater risk of prejudice in doing so lay with the party.

Rampersad also held the application was devoid of evidence, saying an election should not be stopped or altered on the basis “only on fears without cogent evidence.”

The judge added, “Whereas the defendant has indicated facts which the court has to consider and to take into account, the claimants have not.

“Of course, the upshot of any unfair election could be that officers are elected for four years, thereby depriving the unsuccessful candidates of the chance to have so been elected. During that next four-year period, the court can also take judicial notice of the fact that there would be national general elections so that the impact of the appointment of persons to any of these relevant offices would have an even greater lasting effect.”

Rampersad said there was no actual evidence of the potential for an unfair election.

In their breach of contract lawsuit, Nunez-Tesheira, Dr Kenneth Butcher, who is vying for the post of chairman, and Bishop Victor Phillip, who is contesting the post of election officer, claim the party’s central executive breached the party’s constitution by deciding the election should be contested on three separate days over a nine-day period – November 26, 27, and December 4 – instead of on one day. Their lawsuit said the party’s central executive does not have the power to make this decision.

They also raised concerns about the security of the ballot boxes.

The PNM’s election committee chairman Anthony Roberts, in his evidence, said the ballot boxes on the days of the election would be secured and transported by the police to a “secure secret location” and an independent accounting firm, Pannell Kerr Forster, will secure the boxes.

The judge said, “Should these things be shown to be otherwise later on when there has been comprehensive disclosure and discovery, then the claimants may have other recourse should the process be found, in fact, to be tainted. Even though it is a more onerous task to correct an election after the fact, evidence of actual illegality and unfairness would be grounds to set it aside.”

Rampersad also agreed with the PNM’s complaint, advanced by its lead attorney Russell Martineau, SC, of a delay in filing the injunction application until mere days before the party’s membership goes to the polls, particularly when the announcement by the party’s central executive, which was ratified by the general council, was made on August 10.

However, Rampersad held he was not able, at this stage, to come to a definitive finding on how to interpret article 18.1 of the PNM’s constitution.

“The case, therefore, turns on the construction to be found applicable to Article 18 (1),” he said.

The claimants say the only body that can change the party’s constitution is the annual convention, which was not done here. They say article 18.1 referred only to an election day and not multiple days, even if special voting is factored in.

In finding there was an issue to be tried on this interpretation and construction, the judge said, “If it applies, then it seems it may require amendment at an annual convention. If it does not apply, then the argument in relation to an established course of practice of the election spanning just one day would not be sufficient having regard to the power invested in the general council.”

He said the court would have to look at the constitution and background factors to reach a decision on what the article means.

“In those circumstances, the court is of the respectful view that there is an issue to be tried – an issue which is more than just fanciful but which is a real one for determination.”

He also dismissed a complaint that Foster Cummings, the party’s general secretary, was the wrong person to be named as the defendant by the three.

He said there was no allegation that Cummings was not a member of the PNM when the decision on the voting was made and in the absence of named trustees, the matter could proceed as is and an application to make a change can be made at a later stage.

In their injunction application, the Team Karen challengers had asked for orders for the election to be held on one day or postponed until their lawsuit is determined.

They were represented by attorneys Egon Embrack and Peter Taylor. The PNM was also represented by Michael Quamina, Anthony Bullock and Adana Bain-Bertrand.

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced that as of November 22, 2022, one more person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 1,284.

SEX                
AGE
REGION
DATE OF DEATH
VACCINATION STATUS
Primary Doses
Booster
 

Female

40

East Berbice- Corentyne

November 12, 2022

Unknown

Unknown

The MOH has expressed sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased and has committed to making every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time.

The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and her family and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.

All Guyanese are being encouraged to continue to observe the public health measures set out by the Ministry of Health.The public health measure encourages the:

the need for everyone five (5) years and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19;
the need for everyone to get a COVID-19 booster dose after completing the primary vaccination series;
the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home;
the importance of maintaining a safe distance of six feet from others and;
the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 IMMEDIATELY or visit us at www.health.gov.gy.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Latoya Scott has always loved to walk for fun, but when her mum died in 2015 that put even more pep in her step to keep on her fitness path.

Loop spotted Latoya’s big smile first and her infectious personality made the interview a breeze as she stood on the sidelines waiting for the first-ever Diabetes Awareness Walk by the Lions Club of St Michael to move off from the YMPC grounds in Beckles Road.

Asked why she chose to walk, Latoya said, “I’m here walking in respective to my mom…she passed away.”

The mother of one 20-year-old daughter said that her mother’s death was very sudden. She was a diabetic and “it went from one little scrape on her foot to an amputation and gone”. She said it felt surreal at the time. Her mum was 65 years old when she passed on March 25, 2015.

Since her mum’s untimely death and seeing the impact of Diabetes first-hand, Latoya said that catapulted her to get tested and she found out that she is pre-diabetic. Despite being active and signing up for any and every 5K walk over the years, she didn’t know her status until 2015.

Now, Latoya is encouraging everyone to know their status and their blood sugar numbers as it pertains to Diabetes. She said, “I lost my mum to it” and she insisted that she wants anyone who could avoid being in her same situation or similar, to take care of themselves and loved ones. She told adults, especially parents and guardians, to get themselves and their children tested. “Go and get checked on a rapid to see where the blood glucose is at, the level it’s at, if it’s there [diabetic], on the border or if it’s going there, cause it’s real important.”

Latoya also walked to support her walking partner and friend Lion Deidre Wood, whose Lions Club of St Michael orchestrated the 2022 Walk on November 13.

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