“Each day a disjointed approach is being offered to the public which seems to be created on the hoof. Media questions are responded to with a lack of information combined with misinformation or are just not answered.

“Repeated calls for increased testing are being met with delays and problems. After almost six weeks we still are only testing 20 to 25 persons per day while international norms are well into the hundreds, opposition leader Kamla Persad Bissessar said, justifying her call for a united front to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“This is a time for cooperation, as no single entity has a monopoly on ideas that can alleviate our current situation.  We need all hands on deck as we navigate this new normal, and come up with innovative ways to return to stability and growth.

“In six weeks, 987 people have been tested, despite Ministry of Health officials assuring the public since February 2020 that they were prepared for this eventuality. Two months after these assurances were given, we have still not built the capacity to undertake testing outside of CARPHA,” the opposition leader emphasized.

“Retrenchment is increasing and many people are unable to access government assistance due to the inconsistencies of the application process. Businesses have no clarity on the government’s next steps which are being done without consultation, and these actions will have devastating effects in months to come. Some of these businesses are already beginning to feel these effects today,” Mrs Bissessar  said explaining why she thinks that  there must be a united fight.

“Today I am once again reiterating my call to the government to work with the Opposition, civil society, NGOs and other non-aligned persons to mount a united effort and work on a comprehensive Covid-19 response and recovery plan.

“Tremendous damage to the efforts to combat this pandemic can be avoided by using a consultative method, as more open discussion can lead to improved ideas and approaches.

Currently, despite the efforts of the authorities, the Covid-19 response is in danger of becoming chaotic and uncoordinated. The majority of proposals put forward in press conferences over the last month have not materialized,” Mrs Bissessar said.

“We’ve seen, however, that persons who have ideas or suggestions that have differed from those being put forward by the government are being accused of politicking or silenced through fake outrage,” the opposition leader continued.

“Every right-thinking citizen in this country is aware of the threat to our country posed by this virus. They also know that now is not the time for division, or for attempts by the Government to avoid accountability and suppress opposing views.    “Now is the time for cooperation and transparency and putting all our citizens first,” she stated.

“More than two weeks ago, at a meeting with the Prime Minister, I offered a number of suggestions, many of which have since been taken on board. The Opposition is ready to continue the collaborative effort to fight Covid-19 and work towards solutions for our nation’s future, and we propose the establishment of a National Task Force to include members of the Opposition, civil society, business, labour and academia. “I urge the Prime Minister to let good sense prevail and consider our proposal.  It is only by working together that we can get this crisis under control and bring relief to our fellow citizens, Mrs Bissessar said.

 The Photo above is the property of the NJORD Law Firm in Denmark.