By Chantalé Fletcher
TRINIDAD and Tobago did not order 1.5 million Sinopharm vaccines.
This according to Minister of Health Terrence in answer to an Urgent Question by Pointe-a-Pierre MP in the Lower House on Wednesday.
Deyalsingh said, “At no time did the Government said we ordered 1.5 (million). What was said, is that we have the capacity to pay for 1.5 (million vaccines).”
Deyalsingh stated that the bilateral negotiations with Sinopharn started on September 1, 2020.
He said, “We signed a non-disclosure agreement with Sinopharn on March 16. That prevents us from discussing any matters on the issue of Sinopharn vaccines whether it’s their patent rights, their formulation, their pricing and quantities.”
Minister Deyalsingh said, “We are now in the 11th hour, 55th minute of consecrating this bilateral purchase and there must be nothing in the public domain that is prevented from being said with the non-disclosure agreement to scuttle that.
“As soon as we have the signoff from Sinopharn to discuss matters; we will do so with shipping, arrival dates, and so on as we have always done when vaccines are brought into the country.” Deyalsingh said.
However, speaking at a press conference on May 10, Finance Minister Colm Imbert said that T&T received a price of US$15 per shot for Sinopharm vaccines and he had asked for further negotiations to get a lower price.
Imbert said, “One point five million vaccines, $15million dollars, we will find that money and we will spend it.”
The finance minister said that the T&T Government has obtained a €170 million loan from China and 15% of this figure must be spent on Chinese goods and services. Imbert said, “They did indicate at the time that vaccines qualified being Chinese elements.”
See related story:
Part of €170 Million China Loan to Pay for Sinopharm Vaccines
