Live Wire Chronicles: Covid-19 measures vs Covid-19 plans, devilish Davlin, and forgetful Faris

Trinidad and Tobago’s Covid-19 vaccination drive will lose two days of implementation this week due to a rescheduling forced upon the Ministry of Health by the state of emergency regulations, which in itself was designed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In other words, to repeat a quip from venerable journalist and editor Sunity Maharaj, measures designed to deal with Covid-19 are now getting in the way of dealing with Covid-19. 

Laugh and cry in the same house, and presumably not practising physical distancing.

Image: The lighter side of physical distancing.

Was Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh not in the same press conference at which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced his new ‘extended holiday curfew’? Why didn’t Deyalsingh mention the necessary adjustment to the vaccination schedule there and then, with the nation looking on—as opposed to the following day in a press statement?

We should not need one of Dr Avery Hinds’ charts to tell us that the only logical explanation is Dr Rowley’s latest measures lacked consultation with the necessary stakeholders and simply failed to consider the wider implications of the alterations. 

Now that might be something worth shedding a tear over.

Once more, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was noticeably absent from Saturday’s press conference, despite the obvious implications for his ministry. (Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds wasn’t there either, but we will count our blessings on that one.)

On Saturday, Dr Rowley said hardwares will be closed for one week, yet if the measure was included in Al-Rawi’s amendments the following day—the necessary clarity was certainly missing. Does the right hand know what the left is doing?

Photo: Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi (centre) auditions for Jackass of the Month honours in March.

Maybe Diane Seukeran used to pin the groceries list on little Faris’ jersey as a boy so the shopkeeper could read it himself, just to ensure he came back with: a loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter.

Is this what meticulous planning and a scientifically-driven approach looks like? 

On Saturday, there was arguably the most extraordinary allegation since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. 

Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) president Idi Stuart and the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (T&TMA) accused North Central Regional Health Association (NCRHA) CEO Davlin Thomas of denying critically ill Covid-19 patients access to the Couva Medical Multi-Training Facility (CMMF), so as to artificially improve the hospital’s mortality rate.

It was a decision taken amidst of a backdrop of dozens of dying citizens.

And then? Radio silence.

Photo: North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) CEO Davlin Thomas (front left) poses with staff at the Couva Hospital.
(Courtesy NCRHA)

With the country facing eye-watering infection rates and deaths, a public servant is accused of managing a TT$1.6 billion taxpayer-funded facility with all the transparency of a bouncer at Club Coconuts, and yet the main national talking point remains candlelight vigils and Easter holiday plans?!

Mrs Dennise Demming, with all due respect, the prime minister is right—even if inadvertently so. This has got to be jackass country in truth.

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About Mr. Live Wire

Mr. Live Wire is an avid news reader who translates media reports for persons who can handle the truth. And satire. Unlike Jack Nicholson, he rarely yells.

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3 comments

  1. A loaf of bread, container of milk & stick of butter. Haven’t heard that one in a while.

  2. “The only logical explanation is Dr Rowley’s latest measures lacked consultation with the necessary stakeholders and simply failed to consider the wider implications of the alterations.”

    Might it not also be that the spotlight-loving Health Minister wanted his own story? That would not surprise me. I hear the Guinness Book of Records is checking two claims for the highest number of media headlines by a single minister and the highest number of media conferences called by a single minister.

  3. By the way, I love my Massy Stores food options. Please don’t take it away… But how come they can sell repackaged food and restaurants can’t?
    Massy Stores lunches aren’t prepared by chefs? They use gnomes?

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