Joe Biden and kamla

FLASHBACK: Then-United States vice-president Joe Biden, left, accompanied by then-prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, tries out a pan during their meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on May 28, 2013.

:—Photo: AP

AS he congratulated Joe Biden on becoming the 46th president of the United States, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Caribbean people were also filled with pride about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

In a statement on Facebook and Twitter, the Prime Minister said he, on behalf of the Government and the people of Trinidad and Tobago extended “warmest welcome and congratulations to United States President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

“Given the close familial ties of both our countries and our joint economic and security connections, we look forward to the strengthening of those bonds in the months and years ahead.”

Rowley added: “We, as Caribbean people filled with pride, extend a special accolade to (Harris) as we acknowledge her Caribbean roots and wish both office holders a very successful term, not only for the American citizens but for all the people of the world.”

Victory for hope and unity

Biden’s victory in the United States presidential election is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday.

She said she was anti­cipating Trinidad and Tobago forging an even stronger relationship with America.

In an online statement, Persad-Bissessar said Biden “ran a campaign on decency, integrity, compassion and strength”.

She also sent congratulations to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris who, she noted, was the “first woman and person of colour to take that role”.

Persad-Bissessar said: “Their victory is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division. Millions of Americans of all backgrounds and ages came together to vote for a better, more optimistic future. This is also an important moment for the world.”

She added, “It is a chance to reassert America’s place as a force for good on the world stage. A nation that will work with T&T and other allies to defeat this pandemic. I am looking forward to T&T forging an even stronger relationship between T&T and the USA. I offer Presi­dent-elect Biden my best wishes for a successful term for himself as well as for the people of the United States of America.”

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

+2
Hospital Horrors: Fed up of waiting

Hospital Horrors: Fed up of waiting

‘I’M fed up.”

These three short words sum up the emotion of patients seeking outpatient services at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, while their appointments keep getting pushed back over and over again.

While Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has showered praises on the parallel healthcare system established due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the primary healthcare system is suffering.

Vaccine still recommended for elderly

Vaccine still recommended for elderly

Despite reports from Nor­way of a number of elderly people dying after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram says the vaccine is still recommended for the elderly popula­tion as they are the ones most at risk.

Parasram, who was speaking du­ring yesterday’s Covid-19 virtual media briefing, said it is still too early to make any determination regarding the “Norway incident” as investigations are ongoing.

+2
Father and son tied up, executed

Father and son tied up, executed

An elderly man and his 47-year-old son were tied up and executed at their home in Freeport.

Their decomposing bodies were found in separate rooms at the family’s La Jobas Road, Chickland Village, home yesterday.

The men were identified as Mohaid Hosein, 71, and his son, Navie Hosein.

+3
Security firm appeals multi-million-dollar helicopter contract

Security firm appeals multi-million-dollar helicopter contract

A local security company took the State to court in 2019 for breach of a US$21.8 million contract to build a hangar in Cumuto to store five helicopters, but lost and has appealed.

Two sub-contractors are to be compensated, however.

The former government had agreed to buy the helicopters in 2014 but did not make the downpayment and the deal fell through with Bell Helicopter of Texas, USA.

Bell is one of the largest suppliers of military helicopters to the United States Army.

+2
Covid can’t stop unions from defending workers

Covid can’t stop unions from defending workers

Saying Covid-19 restrictions would not prevent them from defending the working class, Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) president Ancel Roget led a motorcade from San Fernando to Port of Spain yesterday morning.

JTUM members are calling for a meeting with Government on allegations that workers are being victimised by employers who are citing a fall in economic activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.