By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Government of Trinidad and Tobago did not request payment for Covid-19 vaccines from the private sector.
This according to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh in responding to a question in the Senate of Tuesday.
He said there was absolutely no contradictory statements by the Government concerning arrangements with private business group ANSA McAL.
Deyalsingh also said Government did not request from the private sector payment for any Covid-19 vaccine and payments referred to were voluntary.
Deyalsingh in answering questions in the Senate sought to clarify public statements made especially by the Opposition concerning discussions with ANSA McAL concerning the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
Opposition Senator Wade Mark asked, “Given the contradictory statements by Government and the ANSA McAL Group as to a proposal for the purchase and or supply of 351,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines, can the Minister indicate whether ANSA McAL requested payment in US dollars and a 2021 tax write-off, for said purchase?”
Deyalsingh read a draft of a letter to him from Anthony Sabga of ANSA McAL. The letter was dated February 19, 2021.
He read, “However, in order to meet our commitment, we kindly request that GORTT (Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) ensures that an adequate supply of US currency is made available through ANSA Merchant Bank to enable us to purchase these doses in a timely matter. That answers the US currency part.”
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The Minister continued, “Further, we also request that for all, not only ANSA but for all private sector companies such as ourselves, which purchase vaccines for the exclusive use by GORTT in vaccinating the public, that contribution be 100% fully credited against taxes payable for the year of income 2021.
“There is no confusion, we are perfectly clear and I read into Hansard the two paragraphs from the letter dated Friday 19th February, 2021.”
Mark also asked if Government was in a financial position to pay the US8.4million for the purchase of the 351,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines to which Deyalsingh replied, “yes.”
He said, “People were reaching out to me personally, chambers of commerce and all of those persons. We facilitated a meeting. They asked us what were our needs and where they could help. They were willing to help with everything from storage of vaccines, to transport to provision of people, to provision of vehicles. They also asked us what were the costs of these vaccines, we gave them the cost.
“We were always prepared to fund these ourselves but the private sector wanted to be a part of it and we simply indicated to them what the cost of these vaccines would have been. At no time, did we go to them to ask them to pay, they volunteered.”
No specific arrangements have made to date, Deyalsingh said as he answered a similar question from Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial concerning agreements to procure the vaccines.
He said dialogue will continue with both ANSA McAL and the Supermarkets Association of Trinidad and Tobago until a programme was in place based on World Health Organization (WHO) vaccines that is safe for the public.
“Once we have a product coming out of those discussions that is fully baked, fully cooked and palatable to the public, we will make a joint announcement,” Deyalsingh said.
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