Government's mismanagement has created superspreader event, says UNC

Trinidad and Tobago: The long lines of elderly persons in every corner of the country, stretching farther than the eye can see, desperately queuing for the Government's insufficient supply of vaccines, is a vexing display of the PNM Government's recklessness, said the United National Congress on Wednesday. "In a State of Emergency, this is a clear breach of regulations. The Government called people out on a first come, first serve basis, fully well knowing that they do not have the requisite supply of vaccines on hand. Thousands of people were induced to leave their homes by the Government, who fully well knew that the vast majority would not receive any vaccine at all. The Ministry knew the number of doses it had available. The Government very well knew that the vulnerable would have flocked in mass and congregated, to obtain this life-saving drug."

The opposition accused that the PNM clearly wanted to create a public spectacle as part of a cruel PR campaign. For this purpose, elderly citizens were heartlessly exploited as props, made to stand in the hot sun for hours, only to be inevitably turned away.

Furthermore, these persons are the most vulnerable to catching covid-19 and at greatest risk from the disease. Yet the Government purposely gathered them in superspreader events across the length and breadth of the country.

"Fourteen days from now is 23 June. We must monitor the epidemiological charts and hope that there is not another spike, like what occurred after Easter when Keith Rowley recklessly encouraged Trinidadians to move in mass to Tobago, without PCR testing," the statement added.

"This debacle requires immediate police investigation. The Government has created mass confusion, as a clearly foreseeable and predictable result of its actions."

UNC lambasted, "We must pin the tail on the donkey. The Government must not evade responsibility or, worse, spin this morning's events into any sort of success."

Today's disaster has the potential for even more disaster. The PNM has lost control. They cannot do anything right. The Government must be held criminally responsible for any spike that the country sees in the next two weeks, the opposition accused.