Persad-Bissessar slams Govt's vaccine rollout plan

LEADER of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar has criticised Government's plan to vaccinate the public against covid19.

In a media release on Thursday, she said, “The press conference today held by Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh should send alarm bells throughout the entire country, as it is now abundantly clear Government has no real vaccination rollout plan.”

The opposition leader said it was an April Fools prank by Government. “It is fitting that Deyalsingh chose today (Thursday) to hold this press conference because he effectively said April Fools to all those expecting to hear how government would finally outline their plans to vaccinate the population."

Persad-Bissessar added, “Deyalsingh lethargically outlined a mundane and laborious method for phase one of vaccinating the public including having to call hotline numbers that many have already complained do not work. Astonishingly, a full year into the pandemic, Government’s online registration process is still not available with members of the public being forced to visit health centres in person to register.”

She also questioned why the vaccine is not being rolled out more quickly. “When asked by reporters as to why, given the short expiry date, vaccines were only being administered a full week after arriving in the country, without shame, Deyalsingh answered that it was due to the Easter Holidays.

"Apparently, the small matter of saving lives during the pandemic is not enough to get this Rowley-led government to give up their Easter vacation. Either Deyalsingh is not taking the vaccination drive seriously or he is simply lazy and incompetent.” Persad-Bissessar also claimed that Government officials have not set the right example.

While berating the public in the usual arrogant style of this government, she said, Deyalsingh did not notice the irony that his own Cabinet colleague, the Attorney General has been the most prominent violator of covid19 protocols this past week.

Persad-Bissessar said Government has left many questions unanswered including when can people expect to be vaccinated against covid19. She also said Deyalsingh denied he asked the private sector for help purchasing vaccines. To this she asked, “Who then is lying, Ansa McAl or Deyalsingh?”