Drink your White Oak and Coca-Cola at home.
That was the advice from Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday, after he said he was appalled at the behaviour of some citizens even as health officials and the Government have implemented more restrictions and urged more vigilance to stave off the latest wave of COVID-19.
Speaking during a media briefing to update citizens on the latest restrictions implemented and the situation regarding the treatment of COVID patients at facilities across the country, Deyalsingh said he had driven through downtown Port-of-Spain hours earlier and was brought to tears when he saw people drinking and congregating in flagrant violation of the public health ordinances.
Deyalsingh said he saw a group of people sitting without masks drinking White Oak and Coca-Cola and there was also no social distancing in clear breach of the prescribed protocols.
“I have no problem with people drinking their White Oak that hour of the morning but do it at home,” he said.
The minister said he had paid special attention to the tone and tenor of some of the medical experts who spoke on the dire situation in the parallel health system before him during yesterday’s media briefing. He said it mirrored his own sentiments when he saw the group liming and drinking on the Brian Lara Promenade earlier in the day.
“It is the same way I felt this morning driving in Port-of-Spain,” he said.
“And I wept, I really wept when I saw what was going on at 8.30. A total disregard for the public health measures.”
Deyalsingh said he pulled aside and a “tear came to his eye.”
“We don’t know what else to do to get the man on the street to understand how severe this is,” Deyalsingh said.