RADHICA DE SILVA
With T&T facing its first possible case of community spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has backtracked on her calls for the reopening of T&T’s borders.
During a motorcade at the Pointe-a-Pierre constituency on Wednesday afternoon, Persad-Bissessar was asked whether she was still in support of the reopening the borders.
She responded, “I said before we will be guided by health protocols. T&T has been guided over the last several months by WHO (World Health Organization) health protocols and I maintain that we continue to be guided by those protocols.”
She added, “On August 10, vote UNC and every child will get a free laptop.”
Regarding a video involving the UNC’s Toco/Sangre Grande candidate Nabila Greene, Persad-Bissessar said, “I don’t know anything about that.” Greene has since denied it was her in the video.
Earlier this month, Persad-Bissessar called for a reopening of the borders to facilitate the election. She said citizens were being disenfranchised adding that her party had lawyers standing by to challenge the closure of the borders during the election.
She accused the government of “depriving citizens of the right to vote,” in the August 10 polls saying the government is choosing to put systems in place for Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket competition instead of allowing nationals to come home during this time of elections.
Meanwhile, UNC candidate for Pointe-a-Pierre David Lee said all protocols were followed during the party’s motorcade which began from Tropical Plaza in Pointe-a-Pierre.
He said permission for a music truck was granted from the Transport Commissioner and Police Commissioner Gary Griffith was given details about the route for the motorcade.
Lee said all COVID-19 protocols were being followed during his campaign. He said during the exuberance of elections, some supporters may want to greet candidates and he hoped that no one will be offended if candidates follow COVID-19 regulations.
