By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley is creating international diplomatic disturbance by having direct talks with China’s President Xi Jinping about Covid-19 vaccines.
This is according to the United National Congress (UNC) who stated in a press release on Wednesday that Dr Rowley “subtly” insulted India’s Government by not approaching the other Asian country about vaccines.
The UNC is asking which vaccines from China are World Health Organisation (WHO) approved.
The UNC stated that on February 12, Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal was able to have Dr Rowley admit in Parliament that Trinidad and Tobago was in discussion with China about procuring vaccines since October 2020, but Trinidad and Tobago did not approach the Government of India, even as vaccine shipments from India had already reached the Caribbean, a request that was made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
UNC’s public relations officer Dr Kirk Meighoo said, “To excuse their failure which has placed our country near the bottom of the global heap, Rowley, Deyalsingh and the others made up nancy stories about using only WHO -approved vaccines and “putting safety first”. This unnecessary, subtle insult to the Government of India all to distract from Rowley’s misgovernance has caused some international diplomatic disturbance.”
He continued, “The gift of 2,000 vaccines from our smaller neighbour, Barbados out of its own supply from India was not WHO approved at the time it was secured. So why was it accepted, then?”
