I make no apologies for writing to PM Modi on behalf of our people: UNC leader Kamla Persad

United National Congress (UNC) leader & Former Prime Minister of T&T Kamla Persad Bissessar gave a strong reply to both Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh and the Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Amery Browne. In response to her letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the assistance of Covid-19 vaccines.  

Trinidad & Tobago: United National Congress (UNC) leader & Former Prime Minister of T&T Kamla Persad Bissessar gave a strong reply to both Minister of Health Terrance Deyalsingh and the Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Amery Browne. In response to her letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the assistance of Covid-19 vaccines.  

In her response, the UNC leader termed both the ministers as a deadbeat and said that if they were doing their job diligently, she wouldn’t have to write a letter to save people.

She added, “Clearly, these PNM muppets must know that I have a constitutional duty to assure the safe well-being of our citizens, particularly in times such as these when it is apparent that our government has abdicated its primary responsibility to protect our residents.”

Former T&T Prime Minister noted that we asked this Government to work together to protect our citizens from day one of the global Pandemic, yet they ignored our calls. As a result, I cannot sit & allow our citizens to exist in uncertainty as it relates to vaccinations while the Caribbean goes ahead of us. 

“Only last week did Minister Deyalsingh show gross incompetence by not knowing that the Government of Barbados gifted Trinidad & Tobago 2000 Covid-19 vaccines. Minster Deyalsingh had incorrectly claimed these vaccines were a gift from India, which built huge embarrassment for our country in the eyes of our CARICOM neighbours. ” She added.

For Minister Browne, she said, ” I would like to point out to him that according to the latest news reports, five more Caribbean nations are going to receive batches of Covid -19 Vaccines as a gift from India.”

Kamla Persad Bissessar further pointed that these countries constitute Antigua and Barbuda (175,000 doses), St Kitts & Nevis (20,000 doses), St Vincent and the Grenadines (40,000 doses), Suriname ( 50,000 doses) and St Lucia (25,000 doses ). This is apart from fellow CARICOM countries like Barbados (100,000 doses), Dominica (70,000 doses) and Jamaica. (50,000 doses).

“How is it that our CARICOM associates have all managed to source vaccine gifts from India, yet Trinidad and Tobagohaves not had a similar arrangement? ” Leader of opposition questioned to the Govt.

Additionally, “The country must ask Minister Browne what exactly has he been doing for the past six months? Is Minister Browne so bad at his job he can’t manage to collect vaccines from a nation giving them away? Is Minister Browne the new Dennis Moses? “

UNC leader said, “This PNM government cannot on one hand tell us the coronavirus pandemic is so severe that they need to instantly withdraw 3 Billion US dollars from the Heritage and Stabilization Fund & on the other hand say it’s improper to recommend Trinidad and Tobago is reeling from the pandemic. “

She strongly pointed, “I make no apologies for writing to Prime Minister Modi on behalf of all people of T & T. We need to act instantly to reopen our economy, protect our health care including frontline workers as well as return our nationals stranded abroad back home. “

“The lives & livelihoods of our citizens are at stake. If this impotent government won’t do their works, I will.” She noted.

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