Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley's Media Conference On COVID-19 - Saturday October 16th 2021

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that from November 1st, bars, restaurants, casinos and cinemas can operate at full capacity and offer full service to vaccinated persons ONLY. Religious bodies can now hold services up to 90 minutes long. However, capacity remains the same at 25%. Public servants will return to work “in an organised way” from November 1st with most workers back out to work by mid/end of November. The Prime Minister said Government has not made it mandatory for public servants to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Public indoor events at venues like Queen's Hall, NAPA and SAPA will be at 50% capacity. Public gatherings will soon be increased from 5 persons to 10, but persons must wear masks, and observe all Public Health Protocols. The air bridge will return to normal capacity by next week or earlier. Vaccinated persons can now attend horseracing in the stands. PM Rowley said T&T is not where it should be in order to reopen beaches or resume team sports. The Ministry of Health is working on an E-vaccination proof for phones. COVID-19 Vaccination bracelets are NOT authorised by the Ministry of Health. PM Rowley urges people not to falsify their COVID-19 vaccination status. He reminded that the penalties are very severe. Government will continue to have supplies of COVID-19 vaccines available to the population and top priority will be given to children. Vaccinated people account for 2% of COVID-19 deaths. The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will continue. Prime Minister Rowley addressed sections of the population who are claiming discrimination. He said they cannot speak about discrimination if they have a choice - to get vaccinated or not. Prime Minister Rowley also addressed matters raised at Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's Media Conference in which she said the UNC will file a Motion to have the President removed. He refuted her claims made at yesterday's Media Conference, and stated that the President has done nothing that warrants impeachment. The Prime Minister said he goes to the President's House when he is required to, and noted that both Offices have a good working relationship. On other matters involving the Police Service Commission and the post of Commissioner of Police, Prime Minister Rowley confirmed writing to the Police Service Commission one year ago to say he had lost confidence in the then Commissioner of Police. PM Rowley said he never involved himself in any selection by the Police Service Commission for a substantive or Acting post. He said he did not see a list of the prospective candidates as that would have been “between the Police Service Commission and the President."