Consultations “have, are and will take place” on creating public safe zones and it is in the Attorney General’s hands for the necessary law to be structured concerning legal authority for any such development in the public and private sectors.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley indicated this in Parliament yesterday in response to United National Congress MP Rudy Indarsingh’s query about timelines for “mandatory vaccination” and “quasi safe zone” status in the public service.
Rowley said Government had not stated any intention of implementing “mandatory vaccine” but noted that phrase was an interpretation of Indarsingh and others. He said Government had stated it was engaging in ongoing consultation—including with the labour sector—on creating safe zones. He added that’s in Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s hands for the necessary law to be structured so there could be legal authority “for any such development in the public and private sectors.”
Rowley said a month’s extension was granted to the AG for this, from January 17 to mid-February, “but it’s an evolving situation and we’ll ensure we stay on track.”
He said consultations “have, are and will take place.” Rowley added that some sectors have participated and others haven’t.
“But the doors of consultation remain open...it’s an integral part of the process... It doesn’t necessarily mean agreement is guaranteed but consultations are on,” Rowley said, noting a letter from labour to the AG.
On Indarsingh’s query on if workers might be “illegally locked out,” Rowley said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about—nobody is threatening to illegally lock out anybody.”
Rowley said “quasi safe zones” meant some areas were better protected than others.
Giving an update to UNC’s Arnold Ram on construction of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital’s Central Block, Rowley said as a result of issues related to the pandemic, including global supply chain issues, which resulted in shutdown of construction, Udecott and the contractors were dealing with “issues and differences” that arose. Talks and negotiations underway should see some sort of resolution of the challenges, he added.
“There has been some loss of time on the project and what’s being discussed is the impact of that on costings and progress of the project,” he said.
On UNC MP Roodal Moonilal’s queries about Shanghai Construction’s threats to terminate the contract, Rowley said he was aware some threats were made.
“But I’m not sure they were carried out. The contractor was threatening to terminate and Udecott had no difficulty with that as Udecott is protected by contractual arrangements.”