The following is a clinical update as at 4pm on 21st June, 2022. The population is reminded to rely solely on information from official sources, such as the Ministry of Health.

The following is a clinical update as at 4pm on 22nd June, 2022. The population is reminded to rely solely on information from official sources, such as the Ministry of Health.

The following is a clinical update as at 4pm on 23rd June, 2022. The population is reminded to rely solely on information from official sources, such as the Ministry of Health.

In my capacity as Minister of Housing and Urban Development and indeed as a citizen of this country I have noted with concern the facts that have been revealed from the recent judgement of Mr. Justice Frank Seepersad regarding a ‘money for assistance to get houses’ scheme. Disgracefully this is not the first occurrence, but perhaps it is one of the worst, involving such large sums of money and one that has gone to trial and the scammer(s) found guilty.

As Minister of Housing and Urban Development I know that citizens have a concern that their dream of attaining a home is taking longer than expected and they become anxious, but I must admonish persons that paying scammers will only lead to grief. Members of the public need to be mindful that there are unscrupulous individuals, who, recognizing the vulnerability of some persons to acquire a home of their own will try to illegally solicit funds from them with the false promise of receiving a house in exchange for their hard-earned cash. By resorting to alternate solutions, without being fully cognizant of the legal and financial ramifications of ‘bypassing the process’, persons should be aware that any attempt to breach the established protocol will lead to less than desirable outcomes. 

I therefore wish to encourage persons to follow the process for the allocation of housing units. The process for the allocation of a housing unit from the HDC remains the same, as follows:

• An application must first be registered with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.  This can be done via an Application Form from the Ministry of the HDC or persons can register online at www.housing.gov.tt;
• Once registered the applicant will receive a reference number, username and password;
• An applicant’s status remains unchanged until the application is selected in a supervised, computerised random draw, conducted by the Ministry.
• Selected applicants will be contacted by the HDC to attend an assessment interview
• Eligible applicants will then be referred to the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company Ltd. (TTMF) for mortgage assessment
• Once qualified and a unit is ready for allocation, the applicant will then be advised accordingly.
• Only after the offer of allocation and acceptance is completed, the HDC will enter into contractual arrangements with the beneficiary.
• Beneficiaries are then advised of payment arrangements and such payments MUST ONLY be made to the Cashiers at the HDC’s Head Office, 44-46 South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and its agency, the Housing Development Corporation, continues to provide affordable housing units to applicants through the Public Housing Programme.

I again, therefore, encourage members of the public to adhere to the process as the Ministry and the HDC work at providing housing solutions for citizens who have applied and who meet the programme’s criteria. Don’t be Scammed!

Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis

Minister of Housing and Urban Development

June 23, 2022: The Consumer Affairs Division (CAD) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry has noted with grave concern that the price of some brands of flour have already increased in several business establishments  throughout the country despite the local private producer announcing its decision to increase its prices effective Monday June 27, 2022.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is pleading with all retailers of flour to be fair and reasonable in their mark-ups and keep the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago in mind as we all navigate these trying times.

The CAD will continue to closely monitor the cost of flour and will publish the relevant prices in various supermarkets throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Port-of-Spain, 23 June, 2022: The Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has approved with immediate effect the recommendation of the Honourable Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, to proclaim the Monkeypox Virus a dangerous infectious disease, in accordance with Section 103 of the Public Health Ordinance, Chap. 12 No. 4.

The Cabinet has further approved the making of an Order by the Quarantine Authority to allow special measures to be taken in light of the emergency of the spread of the Monkeypox Virus and in particular, to allow for surveillance of the crew and passengers on board a ship of aircraft, for twenty-one (21) days from the last date of possible exposure to infection, in accordance with Section 6 (1) of the Quarantine Act, Chapter 28:05.

The Attorney General is to prepare the necessary Orders to give effect to the above.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals or human to human) with symptoms very similar but usually clinically less severe than those seen in smallpox patients.

The public is further advised that the main symptoms of Monkeypox are fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal or contaminated material such as bedding. The virus may also be transferred from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids and respiratory droplets.

Additionally, if you or anyone close to you have had a recent travel history from any country where cases have been detected and are symptomatic, as described above, please visit your nearest health care provider. For a full list of these countries, please visit the WHO website at www.who.int/emergencies/emergency-events/item/monkeypox.

The public should note that no case(s) of the Monkeypox Virus have been confirmed in Trinidad and Tobago at this time.

As more information becomes available, the Ministry of Health will keep the public abreast of any new developments regarding this emerging public health threat via the MoH website at www.health.gov.tt and social media channels.

In my capacity as Minister of Housing and Urban Development and indeed as a citizen of this country I have noted with concern the facts that have been revealed from the recent judgement of Mr. Justice Frank Seepersad regarding a ‘money for assistance to get houses’ scheme. Disgracefully this is not the first occurrence, but perhaps it is one of the worst, involving such large sums of money and one that has gone to trial and the scammer(s) found guilty.

As Minister of Housing and Urban Development I know that citizens have a concern that their dream of attaining a home is taking longer than expected and they become anxious, but I must admonish persons that paying scammers will only lead to grief. Members of the public need to be mindful that there are unscrupulous individuals, who, recognizing the vulnerability of some persons to acquire a home of their own will try to illegally solicit funds from them with the false promise of receiving a house in exchange for their hard-earned cash. By resorting to alternate solutions, without being fully cognizant of the legal and financial ramifications of ‘bypassing the process’, persons should be aware that any attempt to breach the established protocol will lead to less than desirable outcomes.

I therefore wish to encourage persons to follow the process for the allocation of housing units. The process for the allocation of a housing unit from the HDC remains the same, as follows:

• An application must first be registered with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. This can be done via an Application Form from the Ministry of the HDC or persons can register online at www.housing.gov.tt;

• Once registered the applicant will receive a reference number, username and password;

• An applicant’s status remains unchanged until the application is selected in a supervised, computerised random draw, conducted by the Ministry.

• Selected applicants will be contacted by the HDC to attend an assessment interview

• Eligible applicants will then be referred to the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Finance Company Ltd. (TTMF) for mortgage assessment

• Once qualified and a unit is ready for allocation, the applicant will then be advised accordingly.

• Only after the offer of allocation and acceptance is completed, the HDC will enter into contractual arrangements with the beneficiary.

• Beneficiaries are then advised of payment arrangements and such payments MUST ONLY be made to the Cashiers at the HDC’s Head Office, 44-46 South Quay, Port-of-Spain.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and its agency, the Housing Development Corporation, continues to provide affordable housing units to applicants through the Public Housing Programme.

I again, therefore, encourage members of the public to adhere to the process as the Ministry and the HDC work at providing housing solutions for citizens who have applied and who meet the programme’s criteria. Don’t be Scammed!

The following is a clinical update as at 4pm on 24th June, 2022. The population is reminded to rely solely on information from official sources, such as the Ministry of Health.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley co-chaired the first meeting of the US/Caribbean Energy Security Action Committee today (Tuesday 12 July, 2022).

The Committee was established following the high-level meeting between CARICOM/CARIFORUM leaders, US President Joseph Biden and Vice-President, Kamala Harris in June at the IX Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California.

The Prime Minister will lead efforts to develop a joint action plan to address identified energy security issues impacting the Caribbean. The US has indicated that it is committed to working with the region to confront these challenges and towards creating a work programme aimed at sustainable energy security.

Dr Rowley was nominated by fellow regional heads as co-chair of the Committee. Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon Stuart Young also participated in today’s meeting and will continue to assist in the Committee’s ongoing work.

Amos Hochstein, State Department Senior Advisor for Energy Security is the designated US lead on the Committee.

July 13, 2022: Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry held a work meeting with Ambassador of Mexico, Victor Hugo Morales, on Wednesday 13 July, 2022 to define a roadmap to increase trade and investment between both countries. Minister Gopee-Scoon and Ambassador Morales agreed to arrange a Mexican Trade Mission to Trinidad and Tobago in early September 2022, as a concrete action to strengthen the business ties between both nations. 

In relation to investment, they agreed to schedule a meeting between InvestTT Limited and Global Economic Impulse of Mexico, to identify areas to increase the presence of capital between both countries and share good practices for the promotion of investments, based on the Agreement of Investment Promotion and Reciprocal Protection APPRI signed between both nations in 2007.

The Ambassador of Mexico indicated that 21 Trinidadian products can be exported to Mexico free of tariffs, an exemption that will be in force until May 2023, for which he urged Trinidadian businessmen to take advantage of this offer.

Mexico is Trinidad and Tobago's 8th trading partner and aspires to be among the top five partners in the short term and hence will enhance the advantage of its proximity to being a Caribbean country. Both countries agree that agricultural products and manufactured goods, as well as industrial services have the potential to increase current trade. Ambassador Morales also highlighted that he is promoting the Pacific Alliance (Chile-Colombia-Mexico-Peru) as a relevant partner of Trinidad and Tobago.