Don’t expect First Worldresponse to covid19

Impressive is it not, just viewing on social media how the First World authorities are spraying/disinfecting streets, trains, buses and buildings?

These wonderful amenities have been paid for out of housing taxes. Take notice of the fact that these workers do not have to first remove excess garbage dumped everywhere. The only money TT people do not grumble about is paying for a mas costume.

We are suddenly too poor and the government too shameless and greedy when you are asked to pay housing tax. Having said that, what translates into automatic deep cleaning was not achieved overnight. The revenue collected from millions of citizens translates into billions of dollars for payment of acutely needed services. Day-to-day clean habits from all citizens make it easy for the impressive immaculate cleaning offensive.

TT is small. Just over 1.5 million citizens means it should be easier to contain serious cross infections. Think about several million people sneezing at the same time and understand why First World countries must close their borders. Limiting excess travel, closing schools, offices and sports stadia, working from home, are the accepted options, without these hard decisions being made, flu victims could run into the thousands every few days.

So what do we do in TT? Do not throw garbage in the streets. Keep your hands and surroundings clean. Follow the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, the Minister of Health and Carpha and forget about comparing ourselves with the First World people who have paid upfront for amenities that you now envy.

Ask the maxi taxi drivers, bus drivers to spray their vehicles. Do not spit in the street. Do not pee on the walls. Do not drop fast food boxes and bottles everywhere. Do not dump garbage in the rivers. All such behaviour will be of assistance as covid19 reached TT.

So, what is there to explain to Tobagonians who are worried about not getting their 115 weekly visitors from Germany? Do you think the German Chancellor expects you to welcome her citizens as all being virus free?

Crapaud says do not answer that question.

Lynette Joseph

Diego Martin