NOW that Trinidad and Tobago is at a tipping point with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling for humility on the Government’s part in order to collectively battle the virus.
In a press release on Friday after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced further lockdown measures, Persad-Bissessar continued to blame Dr Rowley and his administration for the crucial state the country was now in.
She also continues to maintain that vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic and one of the ways in which he failed was not procuring the vaccines early.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Our citizens would not be dying today and our hospitals would not be running out of space had Government put the people first and bought the vaccines. It is unconscionable that millions are spent on rent and contracts for families but there is a Scrooge mentality when it comes to buying vaccines for our people.
“Over a year into the pandemic the Prime Minister is now looking to gift the people banana, sweet potatoes, dasheen and squash when action should have been taken early to procure vaccines. The greatest gift is one of a vaccine.”
She also again criticised the border closure to nationals and claimed that yet the Brazilian variant entered because of porous, unmanned borders.
Persad-Bissessar said, “The Government members and all medical personnel present in the press conference today have been in charge of the country’s Covid-19 response since February 2020 and we are no better off today. It is time they accept help from the wider society and stop blaming citizens for their failure to manage this crisis.
“We cannot continue with the same persons who have made no progress since February 2020.
“This is a time for humility and not a time for arrogance. The UNC and many stakeholders have been trying to assist since the beginning of this crisis, but the Government has pursued its own way. At this point, we call on the Government to engage all stakeholders and the Opposition UNC to form a united front to fight Covid-19.”
Related stories:
