Senior Political Reporter
Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe has assured that there is no health crisis in T&T at this time.
Bodoe made the comment in Parliament yesterday, following a question by People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Pennelope Beckles. She had asked, given the protest action by nurses in Port-of-Spain yesterday, what was the Government’s plan to alleviate the current health crisis, which is in its third week.
In his answer, Bodoe also said that under the Government, healthcare systems continue providing services to thousands of patients daily.
“I thank all of our healthcare workers in the RHAs and Ministry of Health who continue to work diligently on a daily basis to serve the citizens of T&T,” Bodoe added.
Opposition PNM MP Colm Imbert queried Bodoe’s reply, noting that at that time, there were hundreds of nurses marching along Independence Square with police blocking off a series of roads in the capital.
Imbert queried what Bodoe’s definition of a “health crisis” was.
Bodoe said his definition was, “…what transpired as healthcare for the 10 years under the last government.”
Beckles also asked Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kadijah Ameen if the ministry had undertaken any immediate action to address recent reports regarding significant funding shortfalls affecting the Point Fortin Borough Corporation Borough Day celebrations.
Ameen, who said Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations are on, said, “We’re working with private sponsors together with the Point Fortin community. The Culture Ministry, via the Best Village office, is collaborating to deal with some of the events on the Borough calendar. Members of the public are free to go to Point Fortin.”
Ameen said the Point Fortin MP will be meeting with the Point Fortin mayor this morning (Sat), as there’s an entire calendar of events they’ll be collaborating on.
Ameen dismissed PNM whip Marvin Gonzales’ query on whether the ministry provided funding to the Point Fortin corporation to host Borough Day. She said allocations were given to corporations annually and their councils approve funding for different items. She said the ministry doesn’t directly fund any event in a municipality.
Beckles asked if an official request was made to Ameen by the Point Fortin corporation for funding.
Ameen said the only request she had from Point Fortin—at her meeting on Wednesday with all 14 corporations —was to meet a shortfall for pensions and gratuities due to short allocation under the previous government “and a pile-up of electricity bills.”
Ameen said the Point Fortin Borough didn’t pay T&TEC bills for three years and she’s working with them and several corporations on similar issues.
