Dr Moonilal slams ‘lame duck’ Rowley

“He is prime minister only by virtue of a piece of paper signed by the President,” Moonilal said on the weekend at the Mohess Road Hindu School where he hosted an open clinic and medical fair for those affected by Tropical Storm Bret.

“It is very unfortunate that incident (the hiring and firing) came at a time when the country is in mourning,” he said, referring to the murders of Hafeeza Rose Mohammed and her 13-year-old neighbour Videsh Subar last week in Malabar.

Moonilal said since the prime minister appointed and then fired McDonald, he is ultimately responsible for the unsettling brouhahah.

Speaking on the free-for-all at the Office of the President in which members of McDonald’s constituency were able to rub shoulders with President Anthony Carmona at McDonald’s swearing in last Friday, Moonilal said there have been contradictory information which speak volumes as to how something like this could happen.

It shows, he added, that Mc- Donald lacked discretion and judegment as an individual was not invited, but based on the recommendation of Mc Donald, was allowed inside President’s House. He said that the fact that Rowley had to go back on his own decision to hire McDonald, shows the leader of government is incapable of making sound decisions as leader of Cabinet.

Commenting on the issue of a Rio Claro resident posting threats to the primie minister and his family via social media, Moonilal said, “I do not condone persons using social media to threaten anyone. Whether it is the prime Minister or the Opposition Leader.” He however said that there are many in society who are lashing out because of anger over the government’s bumbling when it comes to managing the affairs of the country.

The health clinic was coordinated by Dr Rai Ragbir and saw Dr Rishi Rampersad as well as nurses and health specialists in charge of the fair at which there were free diabetes, blood pressure and other tests conducted.

Moonilal said parts of his constituency suffered tremendously following the tropical storm. From a medical standpoint issues of concern, post Bret include an increase in mosquito- borne diseases and floodwaters invading homes and business places leaving people especially chidlren susceptible to water-borne diseases.

“We are not satisfied that the Ministry of Health and the public medical institutions are doing enough to handle the health issues sustained by flood victims,” Moonilal said adding that because a large number of those affected by the flood include children and the elderly, he decided to arrange this medical fair in collaboration with Dr Ragbir.

He said that the people of Penal, Debe and Oropouche are still waiting for health workers to spray their villages for mosquitoes and other insects.

Moonilal claimed that recently, a 26-year-old died of dengue and this is why the Ministry of Health should be concerned.

“Dengue appears to be back and with the aftermath of the floods there are mosquito infestations everywhere.”