Indian High Commissioner clears air on vaccine brawl between government & opposition

High Commission of India declared in the statement that T&T health minister Terrance Deyalsingh and foreign minister Dr Amery Browne reached out to the high commissioner separately to explore the possibility of getting Astrazeneca vaccines from India.

The statement added that Trinidad and Tobago's officials were made aware of two option of availing vaccine from India. The options included suggesting the Government of India a donation of the COVID-19 vaccine from Indian PM Narendra Modi.

It further added that T&T could also explore the vaccine's commercial purchase from the Serum Institute of India (SII). The India consulate added that T&T officials were aware of the Indian government's minimal role in the deal besides the export approval.

Following the leads, the High Commission received a letter from T&T Foreign Minister Dr Browne's letter to his counterpart in India, Dr S Jaishankar, asking for assistance in purchasing and receiving 250,000 doses from the Serum Institute of India.

The consulate's letter stated that High Commissioner was called to the Foreign Office for a meeting on 24 February 2021 and was informed that the Serum Institute of India could not take any commercial orders. The high commissioner suggested that though it was very late, he told to request a donation to GOI at a suitable level. High-Commissioner stated he agreed to go the extra mile to facilitate the vaccine for T&T and was told a letter would be sent.

However, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago had stated that when asked about the vaccine, the Indian High Commissioner said, "I don't know".

The issue of procuring vaccine for Trinidad and Tobago from India arose when the leader of opposition Kamla Persad wrote a letter to the government of India requesting vaccines for the people. She also lashed on the Prime Minister for not acting on his duties and asking India for help like other neighbouring countries.