Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Press Conference – Monday July 13th 2020

Key Points from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley’s Press Conference – Monday July 13th 2020 - Dr. Rowley opened the Press Conference by addressing the plight of nationals wishing to return home. He indicated that there are perhaps 8-10,000 citizens who travelled abroad before March 22 and are still outside of Trinidad and Tobago at this time. But he also stated that as of the 11th of July, 4515 Exemptions have been granted. - Prime Minister Rowley stated that Government has kept over 1000 workers at three state-owned hotels, gainfully employed since the Pandemic struck that cost taxpayer $12 Million a month. - Dr. Rowley also indicated that these hotels were deliberately left out of the Covid-19 response so that they would be able to return to normal business as speedily as possible. - The Prime Minister also spoke on the issue of the CPL tournament being hosted in T&T and declared that Government will NOT be paying for arrangements being made for the CPL Players and staff. - Prime Minister Rowley emphatically stated that this country’s borders will remain CLOSED as long as an open border remains a threat to the people of T&T. - Dr. Rowley empathized with the nationals currently stranded in other countries and stated that “Nobody is being abandoned. No one's rights are being trampled. We will bring everyone back according to the capacity of the parallel Health care system that we set up.” - The Prime Minister revealed that some person or persons have impersonated the Chief Medical Officer and wrote to the CPL in an effort to put a wrench in preparations for the event. - Prime Minister Rowley when answering a question indicated that there are no provisions in the law for nationals abroad to vote in an election he went on to say that changing this would require a change in the laws. - Finally, Dr. Rowley stated that Trinidad and Tobago is not involved in the operations of LIAT and have no say in the future of the airline