WITH the retail sector closed, the Opposition is urging the Government to open it as thousands may lose their jobs.
In a press release on Friday Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said, “I call on the Prime Minister to take urgent steps to re-open this vital sector, as close to 80,000 jobs are at stake. We must act now to preserve jobs and the economic stability of Trinidad and Tobago.”
At least one business group has indicated that retail businesses were fully prepared to restart, given that approximately 60% of workers in the sector have been vaccinated, and they have already implemented health protocols she said. She described the continued lockdown as tyrannical.
Persad-Bissessar said while lockdown measures were necessary at the onset of the Covid -19 pandemic to contain the infection, flatten the curve and prevent the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed, more than a year later, and after much financial hardships endured by citizens, the current lockdown has not had the desired effect. Covid infections have not slowed, and the harsh restrictions have led to thousands of businesses closing their doors permanently.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said he was attempting to balance lives and livelihoods, but lives and livelihoods were one and the same, the Opposition Leader said.
She said Dr Rowley seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises make up 85% of all registered businesses and account for more than a quarter of the country’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
Persad-Bissessar said, “ Let me be clear if our economy sinks, everyone, regardless of political affiliation, class or race is going to sink with it.”
