Caption: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, left, with Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh
By Faith Edwards
HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said a People’s National Movement (PNM) government was the reason Trinidad and Tobago survived during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deyalsingh, PNM candidate for Aranguez/St Joseph was speaking in support of his PNM colleague Pennelope Beckles at her campaign launch to contest the constituency of Arima in the general election on Friday night.
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He said no payments were missed to key organisations such as Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and public servants.
“During COVID we did everything to keep mind, body and soul of Trinidad and Tobago together… I am so glad that the PNM was in office for COVID because the UNC will never have taken the hard decisions that you all took.
We understand leadership. We understand our commitment to country. We are patriotic. We will not tell you what you want to hear. We will tell you what you need to hear and you need to hear the truth!” Deyalsingh declared.
The handling of the Covid-19 pandemic especially the lockdown of the borders to both citizens and foreigners has been heavily criticised by the Opposition and is a main topic on the election platforms.
According to Deyalsingh, that truth was that the only party that had the country’s best long-term interests at heart was the PNM.
He emphasised the word “long-term.”
Deyalsingh said governance was not about winning an election but about getting into office to serve the people.
“Governance is not getting into office to thief,” he said.
Referring People’s Partnership government led by the United National Congress (UNC) from 2010-2015, Deyalsingh said, “That coalition in 2010 to 2015 was the most corrupt government in the history of the Commonwealth.”
Deyalsingh urged supporters to vote for a party that was not only red, ready but also responsible.
