Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the recently-appointed team to investigate factors contributing to clinical outcomes of COVID patients are working for free.
Saying yesterday that there are still people who do things out of love for country, Rowley said, “It’s not every assignment someone is asked to do that the major concern is about how much they’re paid.”
At this moment he said he’s not aware there’s any charge. But in the event remuneration arises and stipend is to be paid, he said Government “will happily pay for services” anticipated the team, headed by Professor Terrence Seemungal, will provide.
Given their assignment, he said Government thought one week was a reasonable timeframe and if more time is needed it will be provided.
Rowley said the Opposition was “broadening the assignment to all kinds of things” and if that was so, a week wouldn’t be enough. But Government is focused on the terms of reference given and more than one week’s needed, that would be given.
Rowley also said the team’s unabridged report would be made available and it won’t be the “political broomstick” the UNC was talking about, since it would be a report where professionals were looking at other professionals’ protocols and conduct to determine if T&T is benefitting from best practice within hospitals.
He said he had to do this as UNC was demanding Government make decisions inside hospitals - the preserve of the professionals only. The team was therefore appointed so the public can know what’s happening in hospitals is best practice.
Meanwhile, Rowley also said the Social Development Ministry’s statements on reviewing its grant programmes should bring comfort, as this ensures that the help from the programmes will be available to the people who need it.
Addressing UNC MP Vandana Mohit’s concern about whether public assistance will be available to families in situations of need that might be increasing following a review of the ministry’s Public Assistance and Food Card Grant programmes, the PM gave the assurance they would be catered to.
He said statements by the Social Development Minister on probing fraudulent activity in some programmes should bring comfort, as that ensures that the help from the programmes will be available to the people who need it, and in the event the ministry can reduce fraudulent activity, it leaves more resources for those in need. If the latter becomes one for Government intervention, “Government will most certainly ensure there is help from the public purse.”
On Mohit’s query on initiatives to address the “emerging crisis affecting scores of vulnerable children who lost parents/guardians through COVID-19,” Rowley said this was “clearly the season of exaggeration” since there is no “emerging crisis.”
However, he said Government is aware of instances where children have lost parents. In such situations, he said if a family cannot treat responsibly with the situation, the Family Services Ministry steps in to provide resources to assist. If children are abandoned, the Children’s Authority steps in.