To Deyalsingh: Stop the theatrics and do your job

Terrence Deyalsingh must stop the ‘ole’ talk and do his job or step down. At a time when this nation needs stable leadership to help us prevail through this crisis, Deyalsingh’s rants are totally irresponsible.

It is unbecoming that the Minister of Health has resorted to divisive political games as opposed to answering the valid questions on the safety of some vaccines which were brought on by the numerous reports in the international media.

For 14 months, Deyalsingh, led by Prime Minister Keith Rowley, bungled the management of the COVID-19 crisis. It is a direct result of his failure to heed the CMO’s warning regarding the spike before Easter, and his leader’s invitation to the population to go to Tobago, as well as their inability to secure our borders, that we are in the dire situation we are in today.

We also remind Deyalsingh that since January of 2020 we were warning the Government about the threat of COVID-19, yet their own PNM Speaker of the House refused to allow the debate saying that it was not urgent.

The United National Congress maintains that the only way to solve this health crisis is the acquisition of enough COVID-19 vaccines and a comprehensive vaccination program for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The Rowley administration failed to act quickly in securing adequate supplies of vaccines and appear to be relying on donations and COVAX only.

The responsibility for acquiring vaccines lies solely on the Government and they must act now.

The Government must accept that they alone cannot get us out of this Pandemic as they have had more than a year to show us their plans. They have failed from the onset by denying the urgency of the Pandemic and they continue to fail by coming every day, at every media conference to blame citizens and the Opposition for their own incompetence.

The Government must work with all stakeholders to overcome this as Deyalsingh admitted today, they do not have all the answers. We urge the Government, end the divisive politics and let us work together as the welfare of our people depend on it.

—END--

As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago I am duty-bound to caution citizens that unrestrained conduct in public and private settings can and will push the rise of COVID-19 cases.

I have observed statements and criticisms from certain quarters which in my opinion unfortunately and with little use for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic seek to nit-pick my general statements of caution.

As Prime Minister I respect and support the Constitution, the rule of law and due process and I am insistent that law enforcement must act within the confines of the law.

I am also duty-bound to point out that the laws of our country, including the Public Health Ordinance, the Public Health Regulations, the Police Service Act and other laws can, in certain specific circumstances, cover the enforcement and management of laws in private premises via public health officers with or without aid of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

Section 133 of the Public Health Ordinance for example states:

“133. For the purposes of this Part of this Ordinance, any person authorized to act under the provisions hereof or of any regulations made in pursuance of any authority contained in this Part of this Ordinance may at any time, with or without assistance—

(a) enter on lands and buildings and inspect and examine the same and all things thereon or therein;

(b) do on any land or in any building any sanitary or other work authorised or directed;

(c) generally do, with respect to persons, places, land, building, animals, or things, whatever is necessary or expedient in order to carry out the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Ordinance, or any direction or requirement given or arising thereunder. "

It is well known that activities on private properties are abundant and of concern.

Other jurisdictions have implemented States of Emergencies where constitutional rights are suspended and go as far as limiting the number of persons permitted in private settings as well as the nature and type of activities permitted on private properties.

Trinidad and Tobago has obviously not done the same but has instead successfully utilized other measures to manage the pandemic which have thus far resulted in a hard-fought balance between saving lives and livelihoods.

These are exceptional times and I genuinely and deeply commiserate with those in our beloved country who have to shoulder the burden of temporary restrictions and measures.

For those of us who are directly affected, words are of little comfort and this is why the Government has expended billions in financial support which it cannot sustain indefinitely.

We are striving to save lives until the relief of vaccines can give us herd immunity.

We have pushed at every manufacturer and supplier of vaccines and have pending orders submitted across multiple sources. Our vaccination drive has started and is continuing. We have not used unapproved experimental vaccines on our population and are in the same position as our brothers and sisters in the region leading the CARICOM fight for vaccine equality and distribution.

This pandemic will come to an end and the temporary restrictions and hardships will fade away.

I am deeply conscious of the need for survival in every sense of the word.

As Prime Minister I must take the advice of our medical experts and balance all interests. I must ensure that death sentences are not read to thousands by a failure to act and take hard and sometimes unpleasant decisions.

For the next three weeks I am asking the population to limit their movement as best as is possible, including undertaking the task of cooking at home whilst restaurants and bars are temporarily closed.

I respect the roles and views of stakeholder bodies but encourage them to support the general call for compliance and to resist from taking a general and correct statement about the law out of context.

Ultimately our courts will function as the arbiters of any law and its enforcement.

For my part I encourage that the letter of the law be applied and upheld within the spirit of the law.

Let us all see the forest and not just the single tree.

Dr the Hon Keith Rowley
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

Tell The Truth for Once, Lives are Depending on it

The Minister of Health’s revelation in the Senate under questioning that the Brazilian variant got into Trinidad and Tobago via a migrant shows clearly that this Government has failed to secure our borders.

Our borders have been closed for well over a year, yet cases are now rising, and Minister Deyalsingh and newly appointed National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds were at pains last week trying to deny that the P1 variant entered the country because of our porous borders.

In their haste to cover up and deflect from the issue, they warned journalists who were asking pertinent questions of the potential to fuel xenophobia. Precious time was lost while the Government chose to deflect from this serious issue, and now we are seeing more cases of the P1 variant in various parts of the country.

Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are concerned with what measures are being taken to protect them, as it is clear that this Rowley-led administration is doing nothing to secure our borders.

Apart from illegal migrants coming into the country, we are seeing large shipments of illegal weapons and ammunition getting in through legal ports of entry, which is alarming.

Several months ago, the United National Congress put forward several plans to deal with border security.

We proposed the formation of a Ministry of Defence which would focus on border protection, the illegal entry of weapons, drugs, and human trafficking.

We proposed the use of drones, helicopters, and full use of the Coast Guard vessels for 24/7 patrolling of the nation’s borders, creating an impenetrable security system around our country to protect it from all illegal activity.

Had the Government placed the interests of the population ahead of their own narrow interests, our country would not be in the situation it is in today.

It has been just about a week since the Prime Minister shuffled his deck and replaced his number one failure, Stuart Young, with another, Fitzgerald Hinds, and as a result, the trend of incompetence continues.

It is now imperative that the Government steps up and does its job of protecting the people of this country. Lives are at stake. Our country’s economic future is at stake.

I call on the Government to stop playing politics and games and get down to the serious business of getting this security crisis under control.

MEDIA RELEASE

To: All Editors
From: UNC Communications
Date: 20th April 2021

PRIME MINISTER ROWLEY MUST EXPLAIN FITZGERALD HINDS' HATEFUL WORDS

The Opposition UNC commends the Prime Minister for firing Stuart Young from his post as Minister of National Security, following our Motion of No Confidence.

However, Keith Rowley's choice of replacement is totally unacceptable. Even PNM stalwarts are denouncing it, calling for him to reverse his decision.

On top of Hinds’ years of demonstrated incompetence, the Prime Minister must explain to Trinidad and Tobago the many hateful, offensive and repugnant statements that remain fresh in the minds of the citizens whom Hinds has now been appointed to serve as Minister of National Security.

Prime Minister Rowley needs to explain how it is acceptable that, on a PNM platform at Mafeking Junction, Mayaro, Hinds addressed the crowd: "I said to my colleagues, as a younger parliamentarian then, I said the UNC is badly wounded. We need to finish them out. Kill them dead. I want you to understand that on November 28, you have the opportunity to drive a PNM balisier deep into the hearts of the wicked UNC vampires. Take a stake with a balisier on top and drive it deep within their heart and finish them off once and for all."

Prime Minister Rowley needs to explain, at a public meeting at Piggott's Corner, Belmont, how it is acceptable that Hinds referred to the UNC as "ugly" stating, "all dem alligators from the same murky lagoon".

Prime Minister Rowley needs to explain how it was acceptable that whilst in the Senate Hinds heaped scorn on a citizen who shook hands with then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during her tour of flood ravaged areas. Hinds' response was: "I saw an idiot little rasta boy kissing the Prime Minister’s palm. It made me sick. And if I had my way I would cut every dreadlock off him head! [Laughter] Every one! Madam Vice-President, an idiot boy; yes, a rude little dreadlock."

Prime Minister Rowley needs to explain Hinds more recent Facebook post: “Not even aware that I was in his focus, on exiting the Massy Foodstore, I entered my vehicle. I settled in and observed a body up to my window. Closer observation revealed a perhaps 30-year old, healthy-looking, muscular man. I looked for the piper in him and could not find it. He beckoned me to talk to him. I rolled down my glass window and he delivered! 'Ah just asking for a lil $20 to buy something to eat!' I immediately reflected on a previous occasion when another young man asked me for 'ah lil $100'. I have given financial and other assistance many times in greater quantity, but I refused them both! Ah doh like the idea of young, apparently fit men begging! And ah doh like it more, when they tell me hummuch dey want! I reflected deeply on my new portfolio, took a deep breath; and drove away highly energized to do this critical work.”

Just as elections have consequences, Mr. Prime Minister, words matter.

If the Prime Minister stands by this appointment which offends all decent and right-thinking citizens -- even persons in his own party are calling on him to revoke the assignment -- we call on him to explain and justify the above utterances by Fitzgerald Hinds.

The Opposition demands this accountability from the Prime Minister in the name of the people.

Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley today (April 19, 2021) advised Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to, with immediate effect, in accordance with Sections 3(9), 76(3) and 79(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago:

(i) reassign Mr. Stuart Young as Minister of Energy and Energy Industries in addition to his duties as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister;

(ii) reassign Mr. Fitzgerald Hinds as Minister of National Security and

(iii) appoint Mr. Foster Cummings as Minister of Youth Development and National Service.

On behalf of the United States Government, we extend condolences to the family, GoTT, and people of Trinidad and Tobago on the passing of Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Franklin Khan.

Condolences to the family of Mr. Franklin Khan Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Franklin Khan, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs.

Mr. Khan dedicated much of his life in service to his country, and his contributions over a period of almost two decades as a Member of Parliament, a Minister of Government in varying capacities in two PNM administrations and as a Senator, are laudable.

On behalf of the United National Congress and my own behalf, I offer sincere condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Mr. Franklin Khan.

I pray that they can find peace and comfort during this difficult time.

May he Rest in Peace.

Prime Minister Dr. the Hon Keith Rowley extends his deepest condolences to the family of Senator the Hon Franklin Khan.

Minister Khan served in the Cabinet as Minister of Energy and Energy Industries.

The Prime Minister is extremely saddened by the passing of his colleague and friend who will be remembered as a man who dedicated his life to public service.

Dr. Rowley mourns the loss of a patriot and son of the soil.

May God bring comfort and strength to his loved ones.