Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar head to the Parliament today with their respective teams to discuss and decide on what may be the most important aspect yet in the fight against COVID-19. The sides will debate on the motion to extend the current State of Emergency, set to expire on August 29, by a further three months.
Of course, many citizens may hold the view that the debate is mere window dressing, since the Government does not need Opposition support to pass the measure. However, today’s debate could be the key to uniting this country, now at a crossroads in the battle against COVID-19, if they can put aside political one-upmanship in the interest of the country.
In that regard, Mrs Persad-Bissessar gave a good sign on Monday night by indicating that while her party was opposed to the extension, they were ready to listen to what the Government had to say in justifying its position to extend it. The United National Congress leader is basing her argument on the steady daily COVID cases and deaths even with the ongoing SoE. Furthermore, she, like other segments of society, believes the continued curtailment of citizens’ liberties is no longer worth the sacrifice after over a year and a half of restrictions that have destabilised families, the economy, education and health systems and taken too many lives.
Prime Minister Rowley’s People’s National Movement is counter-arguing that the SoE allows them to implement measures that the Public Health Regulations do not, especially regarding the control of citizens’ movement during the curfew and use of certain personnel in administering vaccines. The Government is also worried about the slowdown in the vaccine uptake, even with four options — Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and Sinopharm — available. Add to this, the latest pushback from parents/guardians of school-age children to PM Rowley’s suggestion of the possibility of mandatory inoculation for a return to in-person schooling.
Truth be told, both arguments may have validity. However, there can be no doubting that the biggest issue the virus presents to scientists is that they still cannot determine how to prevent it from afflicting humankind due to its constant mutations or find a cure. What we can be sure of, though, is from what we have seen globally, countries that have restarted after lockdowns too soon have been hit hard by new waves because they were not ready. Also, we know that the best defence against COVID currently is the three Ws — wash your hands, watch your distance and wear your mask — and vaccinate.
So the real question is with the threat of the Delta variant lurking, will citizens access the vaccines to allow T&T to reach herd immunity and follow the health protocols, or will they need regulation by continuing laws? It is a problem being encountered across the world wherever citizens have the luxury of choice and in instances where it appears the majority may not, those in power will always have tough decisions to make. In that context, we know the country cannot continue indefinitely on a path of uncertainty and hope the MPs at today’s sitting will at least properly educate the citizenry so they can make the best collective decision.