Rowley: We will not beg for free vaccines 

Although other countries throughout the region are receiving covid19 vaccines as gifts, the Prime Minister said Trinidad and Tobago will not go "begging" for such gifts, especially if the vaccines aren't approved by the World Health Organization.

At a televised Conversation with the Prime Minister on Thursday night, Dr Rowley touched on the issue of vaccines given to other countries by the Government of India and TT not receiving any.

Two weeks ago, Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar accused the government of not positioning TT to receive some of the 500,000 vaccines sent by India.

A spat between Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne and Persad-Bissessar followed after she wrote to the Prime Minister of India on behalf of TT requesting vaccines.

Rowley said, "When you go to somebody asking for a gift, you're begging.

"I have been accused of not moving to get TT's share of some 500,000 vaccines from the Government of India. A lot of people in this country either, by ancestry or by political persuasion, have taken it upon themselves to be mouthpieces for the government of India. (They're saying) 500,000 vaccines available and TT was not moving to get it,  and accusing us of all manner of evil."

He said the government communicated directly with India and there was no confirmation of 500,000 vaccines being available. He said this country was not invited to be part of any free vaccine distribution programme.