May 27, 2021

Kamla: “Harsher Lockdown Measures Not The Answer To Covid-19 Crisis”

By Newsroom

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar has rejected call from sections of the business community, for government to impose tighter lockdown measures as a means of shortening the time required to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

Her statement comes a day after Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, said government had received, among other recommendations, a call for the current 9pm-5am curfew to be expanded to 6pm-6am. 

Minister Young, in making the revelation, also expressed the position that government felt the 9pm curfew was appropriate at this time.

Voicing her agreement on the matter, Persad-Bissessar lamented that non-essential businesses and its employees have carried the burden of the economic fallout due to the rise in Covid-19 cases.

“Many of the businesses calling for harsher lockdown measures against the non-essential workers are in fact exempt and have been in continuous operation over the last four weeks earning income,” the Opposition Leader said. 

The Government’s plans for relief are not on par with what is needed to immediately relieve the burdens borne by people. I call on them to overhaul this system forthwith and put plans in place to fast-track approval and disbursement of grants and other forms of assistance. 

She further called for the State to extend its hand further in helping those who have been impacted by pandemic job loss.

“To deal with the plight of the poor, the Government must engage in much wider stakeholder consultation. Local Government bodies, Councillors, religious bodies, educational bodies, Trade Unions, small businesses, NGOs and charities, must all be brought into the discussions for proper planning to save people’s lives and livelihoods,” Persad Bissessar said.

 

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