The UNC is taking away St Joseph constituents' time for attention to their needs.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh made the comment as he rebuked UNC Senator David Nakhid for bringing a motion on Tuesday on Government's pandemic management, when it was Deyalsingh's constituents' day and they've been affected by floods and landslides.
"I wish I could say it's a pleasure to be here," Deyalsingh said in the Senate while speaking on Nakhid's motion.
"Because, as an MP, Tuesday is my constituency day - the day when I meet constituents. And I'd have preferred to have been in my constituency office today meeting and treating with my constituents who've been affected by flooding, landslides and everything else that goes with it.
"But here am I today being called away from treating with my constituents' real problems - dealing with COVID. What an absolute abuse and waste of this Senate's time! The UNC ought to be condemned for wasting the Senate's time - today of all days - on a motion like this!"
Nakhid wants a commission of enquiry on the Government's COVID-19 management. But he'd opened by extending UNC's "commiserations and support" to flood victims in all the circumstances "and calamitous events that accompanied such flooding."
Nakhid went on to blame Government for the flooding and went further until reminded by Senate President Christine Kangaloo of his COVID topic.
Nakhid claimed Government "mishandled the pandemic, was incompetent and had clueless leadership." He said the situation required the "creme de la creme, not aspiring professionals or hopefuls which described what was implemented."
Nakhid said the medical professionals weren't the heroes of the situation, but doctors and nurses were. He stated nurses hadn't gotten their bonus yet.
Slamming Deyalsingh 's management, Nakhid added, "We got someone with a BS in pharmacy. In no country did I find anyone less qualified to face challenges, who we had in place was like appointing the Culture Minister to captain T&T's football team. They didn't even have a qualified doctor in charge. He should have resigned...!"
Nakhid claimed T&T had Caricom's highest death rate and that private sector involvement was needed there.
Deyalsingh, among replies, said, "He speaks about the 'creme de la creme'! Dr Roshan Parasram (Order of T&T!), you want more 'creme de la creme' than that?
"Dr Maryam Richards - Chaconia Gold! (award) , Dr Avery Hinds - Chaconia Gold! Dr Michelle Trotman - Chaconia Gold! Professor Christine Carrington - Chaconia Gold! That is' creme de la creme'!"
Deyalsingh said if, for instance, acting UNC Senator Dr Tim Gopeesingh was "so wonderful," why didn't he reduce the maternal mortality rate when he was in the PP Government. Deyalsingh said under Gopeesingh's tenure, 1.5 women died monthly in hospitals in childbirth - but only one died for this year in his own tenure.
Stating the benefits of the parallel health system and that over 2,200 medical staff were employed for the parallel health system, Deyalsingh asked where the private sector would get so many personnel.
"Absolute poppycock! T&T never had a shortage of ventilators or personal protective equipment. But the UNC wants to make T&T look like a basket case in this era of the Big Fib - as I can't say Big 'L' ."
Deyalsingh said the UNC's way to treat COVID-19 involved sunshine and hydroxcholoquine.