<p>Trinidad and Tobago has announced a state of "national emergency" after a large oil spill last week. The government has vowed that it will spare no expense to rehabilitate the island's beaches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Clean Gulf Associates response vessel is&nbsp;skimming crude oil approximately four&nbsp;miles southeast of South Pass Louisiana.</p>

<h2><strong>Trinidad and Tobago Oil spill: The impact</strong></h2>

<p>The spill has reportedly coated numerous beaches on Tobago's southwest coast. The government has not yet identified the owner of the vessel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Keith Rowley said it was not immediately clear how much oil had spilled. It is not clear how much remains on the largely submerged vessel.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Oil spill in Trinidad &amp; Tobago; 10 miles of coastline affected due to oil spillage</strong></p>

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<p>"An unknown vessel has apparently drifted upside down into Tobago. That vessel, we don’t know who it belongs to. We have no idea where it came from and we also don’t know all that it contains," the prime minister said at a press conference as reported by the Trinidad &amp; Tobago Newsday.</p>

<p>"What we do know is that it appears to be broken and is leaking some kind of hydrocarbon that is fouling the water and the coastline," Rowley added. "That vessel could have come to us from any kind of operation, especially if the operation is illicit."</p>

<p>The Guardian quoted the chief secretary of Tobago's House of Assembly Farley Augustine as saying&nbsp;that divers had not been able to contain the leak. They were reportedly trying to determine how to remove the remaining oil.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-coast-guard-relevant-agencies-re-validate-plan-to-combat-oil-spills-662217">India: Coast Guard, relevant agencies re-validate plan to combat oil spills</a></strong></p>

<p>Rowley said that the costs of the cleanup were likely to be high.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is a national emergency and therefore it will have to be funded as an extraordinary expense … You have to find the money and prioritise. So this is priority and we have to respond,” he said, adding that “some not-so-insignificant costs are being incurred just to respond to this incident".</p>

<p>But he warned that "cleaning and restoration can only seriously begin after we have brought the situation under control. Right now, the situation is not under control. But it appears to be under sufficient control that we think we can manage."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Trinidad and Tobago has announced a state of "national emergency" after a large oil spill last week. The government has vowed that it will spare no expense to rehabilitate the island's beaches.

Trinidad and Tobago has announced a state of "national emergency" after a large oil spill last week. The government has vowed that it will spare no expense to rehabilitate the island's beaches. A Clean Gulf Associates response vessel is skimming crude oil approximately four miles southeast of South Pass Louisiana. Trinidad and Tobago Oil spill: The impact The spill has reportedly coated numerous beaches on Tobago's southwest coast. The government has not yet identified the owner of the vessel. Prime Minister Keith Rowley said it was not immediately clear how much oil had spilled. It is not clear how much remains on the largely submerged vessel. Also watch | Oil spill in Trinidad & Tobago; 10 miles of coastline affected due to oil spillage × "An unknown vessel has apparently drifted upside down into Tobago. That vessel, we don’t know who it belongs to. We have no idea where it came from and we also don’t know all that it contains," the prime minister said at a press conference as reported by the Trinidad & Tobago Newsday. "What we do know is that it appears to be broken and is leaking some kind of hydrocarbon that is fouling the water and the coastline," Rowley added. "That vessel could have come to us from any kind of operation, especially if the operation is illicit." The Guardian quoted the chief secretary of Tobago's House of Assembly Farley Augustine as saying that divers had not been able to contain the leak. They were reportedly trying to determine how to remove the remaining oil. Also read | India: Coast Guard, relevant agencies re-validate plan to combat oil spills Rowley said that the costs of the cleanup were likely to be high. "This is a national emergency and therefore it will have to be funded as an extraordinary expense … You have to find the money and prioritise. So this is priority and we have to respond,” he said, adding that “some not-so-insignificant costs are being incurred just to respond to this incident". But he warned that "cleaning and restoration can only seriously begin after we have brought the situation under control. Right now, the situation is not under control. But it appears to be under sufficient control that we think we can manage." (With inputs from agencies)

Trinidad and Tobago under 'national emergency' after mysterious oil spill

<p>Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice-president banned for life by the governing body, was ordered to repay more than $220,000 to a businessman by the Trinidadian justice system on Monday. "The Board... orders the defendants (Warner and two associates) to repay to the claimant the sum of TT$1,505,493 ($222,000) together with interest on that amount... from 2018 until repayment," according to decision of the Privy Council of Trinidad and Tobago.</p>

<p>In 2007, Trinidadian businessman Krishna Lalla loaned TT$1.5 million to Warner for his Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, a football academy named in honour of the Brazilian former president of FIFA and located in Trinidad. Warner promised to repay the amount using a TT$10 million subvention that he expected to receive from FIFA, according to Lalla's testimony.</p>

<p>The property in question was inaugurated in 1999 and contains pitches, function rooms, a hotel, conference centre, swimming pool and gym. Warner's lawyers said that it was a gift intended to fund the electoral campaign of the United National Congress, a political party for whom Warner was an MP (2007-2015) and Minister of National Security (2010-2013).</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-andre-onana-howler-costs-manchester-united-two-points-vs-galatasaray-in-champions-league-664516">WATCH | Andre Onana howler costs Manchester United two points vs Galatasaray in Champions League</a></strong></p>

<p>The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), formerly presided over by Warner, has sued the latter, claiming to be the rightful owner of the property. Warner was banned for life from football by FIFA following the corruption scandal which embroiled the game's world governing body in 2015.</p>

<p>Earlier that year, the Trinidadian was indicted on corruption charges by US authorities, who requested his extradition. As a member of FIFA's executive committee, Warner voted in favour of attributing the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.</p>

<p>FIFA led its own investigation into the bidding processes for these two tournaments, prior to ruling in favour of banning Warner who quit the federation in 2011.</p>


Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice-president banned for life by the governing body, was ordered to repay more than $220,000 to a businessman by the Trinidadian justice system on Monday.

Jack Warner, a former FIFA vice-president banned for life by the governing body, was ordered to repay more than $220,000 to a businessman by the Trinidadian justice system on Monday. "The Board... orders the defendants (Warner and two associates) to repay to the claimant the sum of TT$1,505,493 ($222,000) together with interest on that amount... from 2018 until repayment," according to decision of the Privy Council of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2007, Trinidadian businessman Krishna Lalla loaned TT$1.5 million to Warner for his Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, a football academy named in honour of the Brazilian former president of FIFA and located in Trinidad. Warner promised to repay the amount using a TT$10 million subvention that he expected to receive from FIFA, according to Lalla's testimony. The property in question was inaugurated in 1999 and contains pitches, function rooms, a hotel, conference centre, swimming pool and gym. Warner's lawyers said that it was a gift intended to fund the electoral campaign of the United National Congress, a political party for whom Warner was an MP (2007-2015) and Minister of National Security (2010-2013). Also Read: WATCH | Andre Onana howler costs Manchester United two points vs Galatasaray in Champions League The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), formerly presided over by Warner, has sued the latter, claiming to be the rightful owner of the property. Warner was banned for life from football by FIFA following the corruption scandal which embroiled the game's world governing body in 2015. Earlier that year, the Trinidadian was indicted on corruption charges by US authorities, who requested his extradition. As a member of FIFA's executive committee, Warner voted in favour of attributing the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. FIFA led its own investigation into the bidding processes for these two tournaments, prior to ruling in favour of banning Warner who quit the federation in 2011.

Trinidad court orders ex-FIFA president Jack Warner to repay more than $220,000 to businessman

<p>Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday criticized as "false" the claim by American rapper Nicki Minaj that a person on the Caribbean island suffered swollen testicles after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.<br />
<br />
Trinidad-born&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nicki-minaj-draws-flak-for-justifying-why-she-had-not-taken-covid-19-vaccine-so-far-413203">Minaj sparked an international furore</a> when she alleged on Twitter that her cousin in Trinidad refuses to get a vaccine because his friend become impotent after being vaccinated.<br />
<br />
"His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding," Minaj, who has 22.6 million Twitter followers, said on Monday.<br />
<br />
The comments triggered an international backlash, with senior U.S. and British coronavirus officials condemning the claims.<br />
<br />
Deyalsingh also denounced the statement by the Grammy-nominated artist as a waste of time.<br />
<br />
"One of the reasons why we could not respond yesterday in real-time to Miss Minaj is that we had to check and make sure that what she was claiming was either true or false. Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim," Deyalsingh said.<br />
<br />
When asked about Minaj`s tweets, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said there was a lot of misinformation on social media.<br />
<br />
"I`m not blaming her for anything - but she should be thinking twice about propagating information that really has no basis as except a one-off anecdote, and that`s not what science is all about."<br />
<br />
Minaj said in a separate tweet that she had not been able to complete enough research of her own on the COVID-19 vaccines to get one in time for the Met Gala, a star-studded fundraiser for New York`s Metropolitan Museum of Art.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Later, Minaj added that she will get vaccinated to be able to tour.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Reporting by Linda Hutchinson-Jafar in Port of Spain; Writing by Jake Kincaid; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Bill Berkrot)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday criticized as "false" the claim by American rapper Nicki Minaj that a person on the Caribbean island suffered swollen testicles after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Trinidad and Tobago Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh on Wednesday criticized as "false" the claim by American rapper Nicki Minaj that a person on the Caribbean island suffered swollen testicles after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Trinidad-born Minaj sparked an international furore when she alleged on Twitter that her cousin in Trinidad refuses to get a vaccine because his friend become impotent after being vaccinated. "His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding," Minaj, who has 22.6 million Twitter followers, said on Monday. The comments triggered an international backlash, with senior U.S. and British coronavirus officials condemning the claims. Deyalsingh also denounced the statement by the Grammy-nominated artist as a waste of time. "One of the reasons why we could not respond yesterday in real-time to Miss Minaj is that we had to check and make sure that what she was claiming was either true or false. Unfortunately, we wasted so much time yesterday running down this false claim," Deyalsingh said. When asked about Minaj`s tweets, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said there was a lot of misinformation on social media. "I`m not blaming her for anything - but she should be thinking twice about propagating information that really has no basis as except a one-off anecdote, and that`s not what science is all about." Minaj said in a separate tweet that she had not been able to complete enough research of her own on the COVID-19 vaccines to get one in time for the Met Gala, a star-studded fundraiser for New York`s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Later, Minaj added that she will get vaccinated to be able to tour. (Reporting by Linda Hutchinson-Jafar in Port of Spain; Writing by Jake Kincaid; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Bill Berkrot)

Nicki Minaj's COVID-19 vaccine 'swollen testicles' claim is false, says Trinidad health minister

<p>While the people of Trinidad and Tobago (T&amp;T) welcomed the arrival of a batch of 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by China's Sinopharm on Monday, the US Embassy faced a barrage of criticism and mockery after announcing the donation of 80 vials of vaccine to the nation of 1.4 million people.</p>

<p>The US embassy in Port of Spain, the country's capital, announced the contribution in a tweet sent late Sunday local time, stating that "every vaccine matters."</p>

<p>"The government of the United States of America has made a donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the government of Trinidad and Tobago. The donation includes 80 vials of Pfizer vaccines. The United States is committed to assisting the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with its vaccination efforts. We believe that every vaccine counts," the tweet read.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">USA Donates Vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago <a href="https://t.co/5S0OTQfJU5">pic.twitter.com/5S0OTQfJU5</a></p>
— U.S. Embassy POS (@USinTT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USinTT/status/1404227576789454849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>A single vial of the Pfizer vaccine generates five doses, which are given in two injections 21 days apart. As a result, America's vaccine gift is anticipated to yield 400 shots, enough to inoculate 200 people.<br />
<br />
Social media users mocked the gift by sharing memes about the donation.<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Imagine bragging about sending 80 vaccines to a country with a population of 1,267,145 <a href="https://t.co/HmtRxGcZxJ">https://t.co/HmtRxGcZxJ</a></p>
— Left Flank Veterans (@LeftFlankVets) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeftFlankVets/status/1404468226944167939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I really really hope they just forgot some zeroes <a href="https://t.co/CzhERkfjyH">https://t.co/CzhERkfjyH</a></p>
— shahenshah🌞pilsudski (सामाजिक फासीवाद युग) (@misandrogynist) <a href="https://twitter.com/misandrogynist/status/1404343151897112578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">USA Donates Vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago <a href="https://t.co/5S0OTQfJU5">pic.twitter.com/5S0OTQfJU5</a></p>
— U.S. Embassy POS (@USinTT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USinTT/status/1404227576789454849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


While the people of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) welcomed the arrival of a batch of 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by China's Sinopharm on Monday, the US Embassy faced a barrage of criticism and mockery after announcing the donation of 80 vials of vaccine to the nation of 1.

While the people of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) welcomed the arrival of a batch of 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by China's Sinopharm on Monday, the US Embassy faced a barrage of criticism and mockery after announcing the donation of 80 vials of vaccine to the nation of 1.4 million people. The US embassy in Port of Spain, the country's capital, announced the contribution in a tweet sent late Sunday local time, stating that "every vaccine matters." "The government of the United States of America has made a donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the government of Trinidad and Tobago. The donation includes 80 vials of Pfizer vaccines. The United States is committed to assisting the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with its vaccination efforts. We believe that every vaccine counts," the tweet read. USA Donates Vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago pic.twitter.com/5S0OTQfJU5 — U.S. Embassy POS (@USinTT) June 14, 2021 × A single vial of the Pfizer vaccine generates five doses, which are given in two injections 21 days apart. As a result, America's vaccine gift is anticipated to yield 400 shots, enough to inoculate 200 people. Social media users mocked the gift by sharing memes about the donation. Imagine bragging about sending 80 vaccines to a country with a population of 1,267,145 https://t.co/HmtRxGcZxJ — Left Flank Veterans (@LeftFlankVets) June 14, 2021 × I really really hope they just forgot some zeroes https://t.co/CzhERkfjyH — shahenshah🌞pilsudski (सामाजिक फासीवाद युग) (@misandrogynist) June 14, 2021 × USA Donates Vaccines to Trinidad and Tobago pic.twitter.com/5S0OTQfJU5 — U.S. Embassy POS (@USinTT) June 14, 2021 ×

US donates 80 vials of COVID-19 vaccine to a nation of 1.4 million, trolled for online post

<p>The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board have launched an investigation after the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India lasted just 22 overs due to a waterlogged outfield.</p>

<p>No play was possible at the Queen&#39;s Park Oval on Monday&#39;s scheduled last day of the match, the fourth consecutive day on which there was no play because of saturated areas around the playing square.</p>

<p>The farcical abandonment came despite long periods of sunshine and desperate efforts of groundstaff to make the surface playable with shovels, pitchforks and leaf blowers.</p>

<p>With the match abandoned as a draw, India won the series 2-0, the first time they have won more than one Test in a series in the Caribbean.</p>

<p>However the Indians surrendered the position of number one Test team in the ICC rankings to Pakistan as they had needed to complete a 3-0 series triumph to stay top.</p>

<p>India had been number one for less than a week after displacing Australia at the top on August 17.</p>

<p>&quot;As hosts, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and QPCC (Queen&#39;s Park Cricket Club) regret that limited play was possible in the 4th Test Match between WI and India at the Queen&#39;s Park Oval,&quot; Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath said in a statement.</p>

<p>&quot;We have jointly launched an investigation to determine what occurred with a view to remedying the situation so that this does not occur in the future,&quot; the statement continued.</p>

<p>&quot;Once this has been done it will be presented to the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board).&quot;</p>

<p>Bassarath gave no indication of a time-frame for the conclusion of the investigation.<br />
<br />
It is understood that prominent officials of QPCC, who celebrated the 125th anniversary of the club&#39;s founding over the Test match weekend, are concerned that the farcical abandonment could jeopardise the venue hosting major international matches in the future</p>

<p>Pakistan are scheduled to tour the Caribbean in 2017.</p>

<p>The shambolic finale will be of major concern to the WICB, given that the agreement of the Indians to play four Tests in the Caribbean was seen as a major diplomatic triumph after the abandonment of a tour of India by the West Indies in October 2014.</p>

<p>India subsequently dropped their multi-million dollar compensation claim against the WICB after the tour was cut short amid a players&#39; pay dispute.</p>

<p>West Indies and India will play two Twenty20 Internationals in Lauderhill, Florida, on August 27 and 28 as both teams seek to tap into the huge expatriate Indian population in the United States.<br />
<br />
(AFP)</p>


The match lasted only 22 overs due to a waterlogged outfield, despite long spells of sunshine

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board have launched an investigation after the fourth and final Test between the West Indies and India lasted just 22 overs due to a waterlogged outfield. No play was possible at the Queen's Park Oval on Monday's scheduled last day of the match, the fourth consecutive day on which there was no play because of saturated areas around the playing square. The farcical abandonment came despite long periods of sunshine and desperate efforts of groundstaff to make the surface playable with shovels, pitchforks and leaf blowers. With the match abandoned as a draw, India won the series 2-0, the first time they have won more than one Test in a series in the Caribbean. However the Indians surrendered the position of number one Test team in the ICC rankings to Pakistan as they had needed to complete a 3-0 series triumph to stay top. India had been number one for less than a week after displacing Australia at the top on August 17. "As hosts, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and QPCC (Queen's Park Cricket Club) regret that limited play was possible in the 4th Test Match between WI and India at the Queen's Park Oval," Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath said in a statement. "We have jointly launched an investigation to determine what occurred with a view to remedying the situation so that this does not occur in the future," the statement continued. "Once this has been done it will be presented to the WICB (West Indies Cricket Board)." Bassarath gave no indication of a time-frame for the conclusion of the investigation. It is understood that prominent officials of QPCC, who celebrated the 125th anniversary of the club's founding over the Test match weekend, are concerned that the farcical abandonment could jeopardise the venue hosting major international matches in the future Pakistan are scheduled to tour the Caribbean in 2017. The shambolic finale will be of major concern to the WICB, given that the agreement of the Indians to play four Tests in the Caribbean was seen as a major diplomatic triumph after the abandonment of a tour of India by the West Indies in October 2014. India subsequently dropped their multi-million dollar compensation claim against the WICB after the tour was cut short amid a players' pay dispute. West Indies and India will play two Twenty20 Internationals in Lauderhill, Florida, on August 27 and 28 as both teams seek to tap into the huge expatriate Indian population in the United States. (AFP)

Washout India, West Indies Test in Trinidad to be investigated