The trade union movement does not trust the government, the Prime Minister or the data put forward by health officials in this country as it relates to support of a vaccine mandate for the public sector.

Attorney General Faris Al Rawi says this was the sentiment expressed to him during Wednesday’s meeting with leader of the Joint Trade Union Movement, Ancel Roget.

The AG says Mr. Roget sought to request that government provide empirical evidence to assure the vaccinated will not be capable of spreading the virus. But the AG said this was an impossible demand, as that condition has not been satisfied anywhere in the world.

He pointed out, however, that the data shows 9 out of 10 patients in the High Dependency or Intensive Care Units in the parallel healthcare system are unvaccinated.

He told Friday’s media conference that Mr Roget had rejected the statistics put forward by government, leaning instead on figures from the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association. 

“Seemed to suggest that data was different from the government’s data. I publicly call on Mr. Roget to produce the data that he has, that is in conflict with what the CMO and the team of experts have provided,” the AG said. 

Meanwhile, the unions representing the protective services (police and prison)  sought to negotiate priority healthcare if they became infected- in addition to an incentive. 

But the AG said the government is holding firm in its position, and called on the trade union to instead put forward sound recommendations. 

“Yes we may not agree upon approaches at times, but I have a deep sense of faith in the people of Trinidad and Tobago that we have the ability to do the right thing. I am respectfully pleading with the trade union movement to simply advance their suggestions. Right now, what we know is they don’t like what has been said. But there is no alternative whatsoever, that has been advanced,” he said. 

“Furlough, length of furlough, qualifications, vaccination regimes, who will administer medical certificates and deferral certificates- none of those things have been addressed,” he ended.