May 3, 2021

Kamla On New Covid Measures: “Lockdown Locks Out The Vulnerable”

By Newsroom

In what she described as “short-sighted leadership and ad-hoc decision-making”, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has slammed the latest Covid-19 restrictions announced by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, calling it a reflection of poor management since the start of the pandemic.  

“Keith Rowley has shown his absence of love for our nation and abdication of his responsibilities by sending home almost the entire workforce of our nation without any support to put food on the table,” the Opposition Leader said in a statement. 

Under new measures unveiled by the PM, essential services (groceries, pharmacies, hardwares) must operate within the hours of 6am and 8pm only, while all non essential retail services will remain closed. Street vending has also been prohibited. 

The Opposition Leader said her party supports measures to protect the health and wellbeing of citizens, but we cannot support hundreds of thousands being left without the ability to take care of their families. 

“This Government has found money to pay millions of dollars in rent to the families of Cabinet Ministers and finance contracts of the families of other senior ministers, but they do not have a single dollar to help the taxpayers of this nation during their time of need.,” she claimed. 

In making his address on Monday, PM Rowley announced that government is working to make some $40-$50 million available to distribute to persons who are in greatest need as a result of lockdown restrictions.

Persad-Bissessar questioned what was the long term economic plan after the lockdown.

“What is the plan after the lockdown ends? Do we stay in lockdown until the Prime Minister “feels” it is safe to reopen? Or do we stay in lockdown until a friend of the PNM secures a vaccine contract? The public has a right to know how long these restrictions will be in effect and what to expect in the future,” she said. 

PM Rowley addressed the concern of the economic fallout from the restrictions, pointing out that saving lives was government’s main priority at this time.

“For all those who put the economy out front…what kind of economy are we going to preserve if the outcome of not intervening now with economic disruption results in economic destruction in the face of a calamitous healthcare system and a large number of people sick and dead or dying?” he asked. 

 

 

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