CONGRESS of the People (COP) political leader, Carolyn Seepersad Bachan has spoken against calls that Government declares the State of Emergency, saying at the weekend that the facility “should only be used to restore law and order when a Government has lost control – and this is not yet the case in Trinidad and Tobago”.

The former minister’s assertion comes amidst calls by some that Government escalates its response to the COVID-19 pandemic to a “state of emergency”, as well as concerns that its current ‘lockdown’ order presents with too much ambiguity of the law to support the Trinidad and Tobago Police service in helping to control non-essential business and movement.

The lockdown, aimed at interrupting the spread of the highly-contagious coronavirus, will stay in place until April 15 and possibly be extended to April 30, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has said.

Seepersad-Bachan said in a statement that while Section 8 of Part III of Trinidad and Tobago’s Constitution allows for a period of emergency in the event of disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and the outbreak of infectious diseases, “the wide-ranging detention powers are for controlling looting, riots and general risks to life and property which tend to occur where there are shortages of food, fuel, and health care”.

“There are countries which have reached this stage and to re-establish law and order have declared an SOE. However, our situation is not yet at this

stage,” she said.

“The challenge right now is non-compliance with the requirements for social distancing and quarantine. The social distancing and ‘stay home’ rules meant to prevent community spread of the pandemic are necessary but do not need an SOE to be strictly enforced.”

Seepersad-Bachan, an attorney and former lecturer at the University of the West Indies (The UWI), offered as an example the fact that she would be able to travel outside curfew hours to her sister’s home and stay overnight, without violating an SOE.

Recalling the “curfew” parties of 1990, while T&T was under an SoE following an attempted coup by the Jamaat al Muslimeen, the COP leader pointed out that “an SOE does not prevent a private members’ club or bar from operating behind closed doors”.

She also noted:

“It also does not prevent the social embrace of any two individuals in the public domain.”

Law and quarantine

Seepersad-Bachan said the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), in this case, Dr. Roshan Parasram, “also has wide-ranging powers to arrest without a warrant those who do not comply with the regulations for quarantine”.

Such powers are “vested in the relevant authorities including the Police Service”, she said.

This, therefore “eliminates the need for an SOE at this time and this purpose”, Seepersad-Bachan insisted.

She added:

“My greatest concern right now is the levels of corruption and repeated incidents of abuse of power against innocent citizens by those in our national security forces.”

Seepersad-Bachan recalled a video recently widely circulated on social media, showing the alleged abuse of homeless persons by members of national security.

“Just recently the heart-breaking videos of the abuse by officers conducting joint police and army patrols against the homeless during this lock-down is evidence enough,” Seepersad-Bachan said.

“Imagine what can happen if we have an SOE which provides our security forces with these wide-ranging detention powers!”

She went on to state that there was no need at this time of a pandemic to add to the burden of the citizenry, the fear of police reprisals against innocent citizens during an SOE.

“I urge our citizens to act responsibly to improve our chances for emerging out of the pandemic stronger and safer,” Seepersad-Bachan said.

Positives, transformation

The CoP leader has also appealed to the national community to focus on and engage the opportunities for growth presented by the pandemic circumstances, including a chance to become more resourceful, productive, unified and disciplined.

She called for partisan politics and superficial differences to be set aside.

“Out of every crisis emerges a golden opportunity to be better, stronger and to improve the quality of our lives. This present COVID-19 pandemic demands unity from all the different races and political organizations,” Seepersad-Bachan said.

“It is not the time for partisan politics or racial division.”

She said it was clear from falling oil prices and the global impact of the virus, “that this pandemic will hit us hard”.

She noted the difficulties faced by employees and employers, as stay-at-home orders and overall caution against the virus have decimated human resources at workplaces.

“We are heartened by the very positive response of many employer groups and businesses both in the public and private sectors and congratulate them for taking up the challenges and adapting to the new needs including working from home and, where necessary, social distancing,” Seepersad-Bachan said.

“At the same time, without the traffic pressures we normally face, this is an opportunity to spend some time in working on ways and means, now and in the future, to improve our work ethic which is the biggest negative in our ease of doing business as a nation.”

She said small businesses must now shift focus towards “new opportunities emerging in this crisis”.

A case in point, she said, was an opportunity for dressmakers and tailors to service an increased demand for PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) type clothing and masks.

“There is also the possibility of our manufactures redeploying existing facilities to meet the ever-increasing demand for the range of cleaning and sanitization products. Let us unlock our native genius through creativity and innovation in our approach,” she said, adding that during a need for isolation “we should not ignore others in our community who are most in need, especially the older ones, and the relatives of our emergency crews and frontline-workers”.

Healthier communities, where family relationships have also grown and improved, could also mark T&T’s emergence from the pandemic, she said.

“I am confident that we will emerge out of this crisis in many ways better and stronger if we embrace some of the positive changes that will augur well for a newly defined future for our nation post-COVID 19. With the bitter and unexpected experience of death, despair, distance, and detachment, this is a time to renew our faith in God and our belief and conviction that the Lord helps those who help themselves and one another,” Seepersad-Bachan said.