By Sue-Ann Wayow
GOVERNMENT continues to be challenged by the Opposition to provide reasonable food pricing for citizens in a challenging economy plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war.
On Sunday, Member of Parliament for St Augustine Khadija Ameen, and Member of Parliament for Chaguanas East Vandana Mohit spoke at a press conference saying the Government is waging a war with the mothers in the land.
The day before, the MPs, dressed in black led a protest out the Penal market with pots and spoons over the same issue.
Basic grocery items were also on display at the conference held at the Opposition head office in Port-of-Spain.
Ameen said it cost an average of $300 for a very limited supply of those food items, clearly not enough to feed an entire family for a prolonged period.
She called the government’s post- Covid-19 plan – the Roadmap to Recovery, “ a failed political stunt”
Ameen called for proof of promises for addressing social protection and food security and proof that the Government was rebuilding the economy using key pillars of economic growth, stimulus packages and managing the health crisis as outlined.
She said, “You have waged war on people of this country. You have waged war on the mothers of this country. You have waged war on farmers long before the war in Ukraine. Rowley has had a continuous war on farmers – the people who can produce the food to feed our nation.”
“Don’t come now and blame the increase in prices (of food and transportation fuel) on the war in Ukraine when it was your own callous decisions, long before the Covid-19, that caused us to be in the economic turmoil we are in now.”
Ameen also called again for the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on all basic food items and books and electronics entering the country.
The MP said it was also distressing that at a time when income-earning power has decreased, there was the discussion over increasing electricity, water and gas rates, again basic essentials.
She said, “This government seems to be very disconnected from the reality-based on their decisions and their decision-making. They do not realise that mothers have lost jobs and they don’t have food to feed their children. Their income has decreased while food prices have sky-rocketed.”
Mohit echoed Ameen’s statements saying that the population, still struggling to meet basic needs, recovering from lockdowns and job loss said government must now take up the social responsibility.
Women in the country were “bawling” when they look at their grocery bills, she said.
Mohit related what a mother of three told her.
She said the mother held a family meeting with her three children informing them of changes that will have to take place including what they eat.
“We now have to choose in the household what we eat, just to sustain the household,” Mohit said.
The MP stated, “People are still trying to recover from the government’s lockdown measures. People are still trying to pay utility bills and now we have the added stress of increase in fuel. We are asking the government again this morning, are you aware that people are living month to month and families have been engaged in borrowing. Is the Prime Minister thinking about what is going on in the lives of our citizens?”
