COVID-19 vaccination for people with disabilities to start on September 11

President of the Tunisian organisation for the defence of people with disabilities Yosri Mezati announced that the vaccination of people with disabilities will start on September 11 as part of the mass COVID-19 vaccination day.

The mass vaccination day scheduled for September 11 includes people with disabilities and their parents, he told TAP.

It will be overseen by the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs in collaboration with the Tunisian organisation for the defence of people with disabilities and the Tunisian association of sign language interpreters.

Similar vaccination days will be organised later, he added.

People with disabilities will be registered on the evax platform and vaccinated voluntarily.

Corridors will be put in place to ease access to vaccination centres, and transportation will be provided from their homes to vaccination centres.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

COVID-19: update on measures for fully vaccinated Canada-bound passengers (TUNISAIR)

The Government of Canada will allow fully vaccinated foreign nationals meeting specific conditions to enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) purposes starting on September 7, Tunisair said on Monday.

 

Foreign travellers eligible to enter Canada for discretionary travel must meet the following requirements:

 

– be fully vaccinated: travellers must have received the full series of a vaccine or combination of vaccines accepted by Canada at least fourteen days before entering the country (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson).

 

– have a valid pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or their arrival at the land border crossing, or a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before departure to Canada.  Antigen tests, or rapid tests, are not accepted.

 

-be asymptomatic

 

– submit their mandatory information via ArriveCAN (App or website), including proof of vaccination in English or French.  A printed copy will be useful.

 

– be admissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

– take a test on arrival, if selected

 

There are no changes to testing and quarantine requirements for travellers who are not fully vaccinated but eligible to enter Canada such as those entering by right – Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act. They are still subject to quarantine, all testing requirements (pre-arrival, upon arrival/day 1 and on day 8) and the mandatory submission of travel, contact and quarantine information via ArriveCAN.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Customs revenues reached 4700 million dinars in late July 2021

Customs revenues reached 4700 million dinars at the end of July 2021, recording an increase of 19% compared to the same period of 2020, a record figure, according to the Directorate General of Customs.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Customs said that the rate of recovery of customs violations increased by 199% to 85.4 million dinars, during the first seven months of 2021.

The value of smuggled goods seized by units of the customs guard has reached 180 million dinars, the customs said, adding that nearly 13 million dinars and foreign currency smuggled have been seized, until the end of July 2021.

According to the same source, large quantities of narcotics were also seized during the first 7 months of 2021.

These include 383 thousand tablets of narcotics, 27 kilos of cannabis and marijuana and 18.2 kilos of cocaine.

On another aspect, the customs stressed that the value of the goods seized and auctioned during the last three years has reached nearly 228 million dinars, stating that this amount has been returned to the treasury.

On the other hand, part of the goods estimated at 24 million dinars has been transferred to public agencies.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Ennahdha warns against consequences of state of uncertainty

Ennahdha executive bureau warned Monday against fallouts from the “state of uncertainty in the country” following the announcement last July 25 of “a set of unconstitutional exceptional measures.”

The current state of affairs will only deepen the political, economic, financial and social crisis and tarnish the country’s image, the executive bureau said in a press release following its weekend meeting.

The exceptional measures impede the legislative branch from discharging its oversight role and drive the country into an institutional vaccum following “the forced closure” of parliament and government offices, the executive bureau further said.

Ennahdha said it supports the fight against corruption provided it is in line with legal procedures and in full respect of the independence of the judiciary. Emphasis was likwise laid on the principles of the separation of powers and the neutrality of the military and police.

Ennahdha expressed indignation about violations of freedoms reported recently, including civilians appearing before military courts, house arrest orders, travel bans and attacks on some journalists while on duty.

The party also condemned the real and symbolic violence against State institutions and constitutional authorities, including the Aational Anti-corruption Authority.

The party reiterated the call to put and end to the exceptional situation, lift the freeze on parliament and form a government in a bid to focus on the priorities of the Tunisian people.

It also called for holding a national dialogue which involves all stakeholders to discuss issues of contention, including the political system and the election law.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

G7 Ambassadors in Tunisia urge swift return to constitutional order

The G7 Ambassadors in Tunisia Monday stressed the need for «a swift return to a constitutional order, in which an elected parliament plays a significant role».

They also underline «the urgent need to appoint a new head of government to form a capable Government able to address the immediate economic and health crises facing Tunisia, creating space for an inclusive dialogue about proposed constitutional and electoral reforms.»

In their statement, the G7 Ambassadors in Tunisia reaffirmed their commitment to and respect for all Tunisians’ civil, political, social and economic rights, and to the rule of law.»

They added, « the sooner that President Kais Saied can convey a clear sense of the way forward that responds to the needs of the Tunisian people, the sooner Tunisia can focus on tackling the economic, health and social challenges facing the country.»

«The Group of Seven remains committed to ensuring that shared democratic values remain central to our ongoing relationships», they concluded in a statement published on social media pages of the embassies of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Japan and the United States in Tunisia.

On July 25, President Kaïs Saïed decided, on the basis of Article 80 of the Constitution, to dismiss Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, to suspend parliament for 30 days and to lift the immunity of all members of parliament.

Even before the expiry of this deadline, Kaïs Saïed issued a presidential decree on the evening of August 23 extending the exceptional measures concerning the freezing of parliamentary activities and the lifting of the immunity of all deputies “until further notice.

The G7 is a discussion and economic partnership group of the world’s seven advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

FM meets with French Ambassador

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Othman Jerandi, on Monday, met with French Ambassador to Tunisia, André Parant, who reiterated France’s readiness to stand by Tunisia to help meet the economic and health challenges it is facing.

France hopes that Tunisia will uphold its democratic experience and meet the expectations of Tunisians, says a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Parant said France «understands» perfectly the measures decided on July 25 by President Kais Saied.

For his part, Jerandi commended the level of bilateral cooperation, hailing France’s support to Tunisia in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which, «lives up to the solidity and maturity of the links between the two countries.»

He referred to the current stage that Tunisia is going through, which was «dictated by the general situation of the country.»

The Minister indicated that consultations between President Saied and the various national actors are continuing, with the aim of putting an end to political tensions and relaunching the development process in Tunisia.

The meeting also tackled the preparations for the 18th Summit of the Francophonie, which will be held in November in Djerba.

It addressed regional political issues, such as the Libyan political process.

Both parties stressed the importance of helping Libyans implement the roadmap proposed by the United Nations, to restore peace and stability in the country.

 

Source: TAP News Agency