President Weekes took a PCR Test at King’s County, New York
Aug 25, 2021
At a press conference held at President’s House at 2:30pm on Wednesday August 25, 2021, Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes O.R.T.T., President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago put paid to the idea that she received a Covid-19 vaccine while on vacation in New York. Her Excellency in fact got a PCR test which is required for entry into Trinidad and Tobago by every traveler including the President.
The misunderstanding came about when King’s County Hospital in New York issued a tweet stating that the President of Trinidad and Tobago had visited their establishment to get a Covid-19 vaccine. This tweet was completely inaccurate and King’s County has since apologised for their error and tweeted a correction.
Ms. Cheryl Hall, Executive Director, Caribbean Women’s Health Association who organised Her Excellency’s PCR test and who also accompanied President Weekes to King’s County, attended this afternoon’s press conference via Zoom and reiterated Her Excellency’s statement that the President in fact took a PCR test and not a Covid-19 vaccine.
Her Excellency thanks the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago for their vigilance and concern and assures them that she has already received both her first and second doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine right here in Trinidad and Tobago – the first at the Diego Martin Regional Health Facility and the second at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2023, Maya Kirti Nanan, recently paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Ms Nanan received the prestigious Commonwealth Award for her altruistic work as the Founder of the Autism Siblings and Friends Network. With a grant received from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, Youth Venture Programme in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, Maya established Rahul's Clubhouse.At Rahul's Clubhouse, Maya, whose brother Rahul is on the autism spectrum, trains over 300 youth volunteers and other professionals to engage in activities with autistic people, and advocate for inclusion.Ms Nanan, who is only 20 years old, impressed Her Excellency with her passion and vision to continue her work for and on behalf of the autistic. ... See MoreSee Less
Message from Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on the Occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr 2024—10 April 2024Eid-ul-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” is commemorated today by Muslims across the country and around the world. Eid signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a consecrated period of fasting and prayer. Having successfully completed their sawm - one of the five pillars of Islam - Muslims experience a range of emotions: sadness - that this significant period has come to an end; gratitude - to Allah for having sustained them during their fast; and satisfaction - at having had the opportunity to experience meaningful spiritual strengthening and rejuvenation. Muslims find tremendous comfort in the knowledge that the personal sacrifices made during Ramadan, pale in comparison to the spiritual rewards promised by Allah to those who fast. They are sustained during Ramadan by the certainty that embracing sacrifice and restraint, brings about spiritual renewal and restoration. There is so much to be learned from our Muslim brothers and sisters and the observance of Ramadan. One of the major lessons we learn is that of the essential paradox of our existence - that it is often and only when we let go of our wants and desires, that we invite greater abundance into our lives. We learn that when we give up fleeting pleasures and temporary gratifications, we often gain enduring peace and lasting happiness. We learn that when we pay less attention to and pour less energy into our human wishes and longings, we often create the space for divinity to be at work in us. We learn the importance of reverential sacrifice and of prayerful discipline, and of the rewards that practising them often bring.The call of Ramadan is a universal call – it is a call to learn to find fulfilment in the spiritual, and not only in the temporal and material. Just as the discipline of Ramadan precedes the joy of Eid, we are called to understand that restraint and self-sacrifice are often the precursors of deep fulfilment and of true happiness. This is a call that applies to all of us. Often, when we are called to higher duty and service, the human and understandable concern is for the disruption that such duty and service can cause to our personal lives. Ramadan and Eid are an invitation to rise above the constraints of our minds and to embrace the joy and fulfilment that are to be realised in giving of ourselves to the service of that which is larger than we are. Ramadan and Eid are therefore an invitation to all of us to pursue joy and fulfilment by living lives of self-sacrifice and of discipline. These are the values which underpin a strong and resilient society. As we join in celebrating Eid this year, let us be inspired by the devotion to faith, and by the attitude of temperance and commitment to self-betterment exemplified by our Muslim brothers and sisters during this holy period. And let us vow to apply their wonderful example to every area of our lives. May Almighty Allah bestow upon us all, blessings of peace and prosperity and may He accept and reward our efforts. Eid Mubarak! ... See MoreSee Less
Dr. Ronald Ramkissoon has been re-appointed as Commissioner and Chairman of the Fair Trading Commission. He took his Oath of Office and received his Instrument of Appointment from Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT at President's House last Friday. Also appointed as a Commissioner of the Fair Trading Commission was Mr. Navin Dookeran, Chief Executive Officer of the Export Import Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.After a BA in Economics and a BSc in Life Sciences from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Mr. Dookeran in 1998 achieved a Certificate in International Business and Law and completed the Canadian Securities Course in 2000. This was followed by an MBA in Finance from McGill University and participation in 2012 in the Asian International Executive programme in Singapore and in the Business Innovation Programme at the University of Toronto in 2014.Mr. Dookeran’s professional career began in 1998 at Development Finance Limited, moving on in 2003 to RBC Financial Group first in London to 2006 and then Toronto until 2008. In the following year, Mr. Dookeran became the Assistant Vice- President at the Crisis Risk Management Head Office of Manulife Bank and Trust in Waterloo, Ontario.In 2014 Mr. Dookeran returned to Trinidad and Tobago to work as a Lecturer and Programme Director at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business where he was responsible for the administration of the Executive MBA programme while contributing in various multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Caribbean Trade Initiative, the National Secondary School Entrepreneurship Competition and the ranking of corporate governance for all publicly listed entities in Trinidad and Tobago. From May 2019, Mr. Dookeran has held his present position of CEO at the Export Import Bank, the country’s only export credit agency which plays a major role in generating increased international trade in Trinidad and Tobago.This is Mr. Dookeran’s first appointment to the Fair Trading Commission. ... See MoreSee Less
Colonel (Retired) Lyle E. Alexander was recently re-appointed as Commissioner and Chairman of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago.Colonel Alexander took his oath of office before Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago who then presented him with his Instrument of re-appointment.Colonel (Retired) Lyle E. Alexander will serve for another three years. ... See MoreSee Less
