YASEEN AHMED
HAVE WE really stopped as a nation and wondered where and why the covid19 virus is rampaging unabatedly through our little islands?
Also, have the authorities given serious thought and consideration to the solutions being implemented to weed out the deadly virus? Is the shutting down of the economic life of our country the solution?
Why (in the absence of proven measures) does the Prime Minister think every time covid19 numbers go up another sector of the country should be closed?
The latest in the series of lockdown measures as of May 29 is that now hardwares across the country have been closed for the week of May 31 to June 6 as well as well as those businesses deemed non-essential, including food services/caterers/kitchens and restaurants, are to remain closed. Also, the curfew was extended to restrict movement of the public during daylight hours of the two public holidays this week.
As of May 29 (according to the Ministry of Health's media release) there were 9,250 active positive cases of the coronavirus and 381 new positive cases in Trinidad. Since Easter the numbers have steadily increased. Similarly and frighteningly, deaths have been hovering between ten to 18 daily.
The Government has not yet presented us with the most important criteria for reducing/controlling this deadly virus in light of a continued and rising spread. So far there has clearly been no compatible force to challenge this disease.
Also, giving vaccinations creepingly with ten per cent of the population (of 1.4 million) being fully vaccinated by the end of August is, respectfully, not a plan to fight the virus.
Closing various sectors of the business community and now running the risk of potential constitutional infringements (which would be breaches outside of a state of emergency) by curtailing the movement of the public and confining healthy (as well as asymptomatic) law-abiding citizens to their homes is also not a plan to fight the virus.
The country is waiting patiently for our Prime Minister to tell us what the expectation levels are when the entire productive work force is confined to their homes and only hospitals, supermarkets and pharmacies are functioning.
Why is it that the computer or bookstore is deemed a non-essential business? Why is it that the insurance salesman is non-essential? The movie cinema? The service station? Every single business in our country is interconnected to every sector of our society, thus making it essential. Where are the statistics/valid proof to show that covid19 numbers are likely to fall if every single business (deemed non-essential) is shut.
Further, is it not a certainty that if the economic life of a country dies the entire country will die as well (covid19 and all)?
In my estimation, imposing an SoE is the solution only if you want to stop the virus spread as well as decimate the commanding heights of the economy.
The Government has certainly shown effort but no innovation/foresight in this crisis that we are all presently in. The sociological ap
