UNC: Govt threatening the economy

THE Opposition UNC is claiming that Government is placing the economy "at great risk" through its plan to reopen the economy on a phased basis, to balance public health and economic interests as the covid19 pandemic continues.

Responding to the Prime Minister's announcement of an early start to phase two of the reopening strategy, the UNC observed Dr Rowley said "decisions on further opening up of the economy would be driven by science." But the UNC, in a statement, claimed "testing levels remain abysmally low."

In acknowledging Rowley's point about a second wave of covid19 taking place in countries where covid19 restrictions were eased too early, the UNC claimed TT remains reliant on one laboratory for testing.

While welcoming the fuel support grant Government is offering to legitimate maxi taxi drivers, the UNC said, "However there are thousands of citizens still yet to receive their promised salary relief grants.

The UNC added that since being announced in March, according to the Government’s own reports, only 12,000 people have been able to access the $1,500 grant. The UNC claimed the delivery of grants has been bogged down in red tape while "thousands are unable to feed their families."

The UNC also claimed many citizens who work in the private sector "have been without any financial support for well over two months now." While the Health Ministry has produced guidelines for businesses/ facilities/institutional to implement safe work practices to prevent the spread of covid19, the UNC asked "Why are businesses not allowed to reopen under these guidelines?"

The UNC added it had already presented its plan for economic stabilisation and job creation post-covid19.

On Saturday, Rowley said Government would not allow "politics and impatience" by some people to threaten the health of the population. He observed the people advocating for that approach would undermine their own objectives as premature openings could result in a resurgence of covid19 and the economic consequences of that would be disastrous.