THE EDITOR: If, as some say, our country is a failed state and on the edge of collapse, how come no complaint has emerged of public sector workers, or pensioners, or parliamentarians not getting paid? How come grocery shelves and market stalls are not empty? How come there are no lines at the petrol stations? And, how come the global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has given TT a good credit rating and a positive growth outlook for the rest of the year?
Yes, crime remains a problem, but it is not the only criteria in judging a country’s performance.
If the truth be told, the Government of Prime Minister Rowley has held together the body and soul of this nation since 2015, navigating a difficult period both locally and across the world.
It is no secret that the Rowley government assumed office in September 2015 inheriting a lagging economy and extremely limited financial resources. To make matters worse, this administration was saddled with a huge debt at state-owned Petrotrin as well as a commitment left by the PP government for increased wages and backpay for public sector workers.
Added to this, Finance Minister Colm Imbert was informed that there was not enough money in the treasury to meet the country’s monthly financial obligations. If ever the country was on the brink of collapse, it was then.
Imbert revealed on several occasions that the Government was operating on a hand-to-mouth scenario, scrambling to pay public servants and struggling to keep the country afloat. It was as if the previous administration was on a scorched earth policy as it demitted office.
To the credit of the Dr Rowley, Imbert and the Ministry of Finance, innovative measures were instituted to keep the country afloat including renegotiating oil and gas contracts with major oil interests. The Rowley administration was able to pull the country from the brink.
Then came covid19 with all its burdens and distress. Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh and his team at the Ministry of Health moved swiftly to keep the pandemic under control. The Government followed the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO). The country was under an extended lockdown, during which all public sector workers received their wages as usual. No public sector worker or teachers were retrenched or lost pay. In addition, the Government embarked on a massive social programme ensuring that all citizens had access to food and medical attention. It was costly, but necessary.
However, even while under this national emergency, the Opposition was criticising the Government and offering all kinds of spurious remedies including sunlight and puncheon and lime to cure covid19. The Opposition even opposed the ministry’s vaccination programme. In fact, it also challenged the Ministry of Health in court at every turn.
As covid19 receded the country was hit by unusual weather conditions that brought flooding, destruction of houses and unprecedented damage to roads. Works Minister Rohan Sinanan and his team are currently working to restore roads thro
