Too little, too late.
These were the words used by two Opposition MPs to describe the decision taken by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to appoint a five-member committee of medical professionals led by Dean at the University of the West Indies’ Faculty of Medical Sciences Prof Terrence Seemungal to examine the level of care in the country’s public health care system for COVID-19 patients.
Speaking at its weekly media briefing at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port-of-Spain, on Sunday, Naparima MP Rodney Charles and San Juan/Barataria MP Saddam Hosein raised several questions over the committee, which was announced by Rowley during a press conference on Saturday.
Describing the move as ad-hoc and ill-conceived, Charles questioned the timing.
“Over 3,100 citizens had to die before you (Dr Rowley) saw fit to heed the advice that there was something inherently wrong with our treatment of COVID-19 patients especially in intensive care,” Charles said.
Charles and Hosein pointed to the fact that in early June, last year, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar wrote to Rowley requesting that he establish a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They stated that while Persad-Bissessar was able to identify 31 areas or issues, which should be considered by such a commission, the terms of reference of the committee selected by the Government only contained six items.
They also questioned the one week time-frame allotted to the committee to complete their investigation and corresponding report.
“This should have been done since the first couple of deaths. Your policy should have been changing to be in line with the science as it comes out,” Hosein said.
Both Charles and Hosein questioned the possible effect of the eventual report as they referred to several other advisory committees that have been appointed by Rowley during his tenure including the Roadmap to Recovery Committee, the Human Resources Advisory Committee.
“Dr Rowley has a penchant for forming committees and then disregarding them and their recommendations. What were the results of the Economic Advisory Board? It was dissolved in April 2018 after the resignation of members,” Charles said.
They also questioned whether the findings of the latest committee would be made public as promised by Dr Rowley.
“We would be looking at this committee very closely to see if you act in a purely professional manner or if you operate as a public relations handmaiden of this administration,” Charles said.
Hosein suggested that a commission of enquiry as suggested by Persad-Bissessar would have been more apt as it would be chaired by an independent commissioner, who would have the same powers as a High Court Judge to compel witnesses to testify.
“I am not casting aspersions at the committee members but how it (the committee) was set up,” Hosein said.