Kamla: Stay home, save lives
Leader of the Opposition Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar, SC, MP, is urging all non-essential personnel to stay at home as we work together to fight this Covid-19 crisis. After having made the call last week for a temporary shutdown of non-essential businesses and services, Mrs Persad-Bissessar issued the following statement today:
My friends, I know that many of you are worried at this time, and as we prepare for a nationwide shutdown, I urge everyone to remain calm. Now more than ever we must be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
The news of the death of the third person who tested positive for Covid-19 is saddening, and I offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones, and pray that you find comfort in this time of sorrow.
We need to work together – while engaging in physical distancing – to contain this virus.
In a few hours, non-essential services will be prohibited, and the public has been asked to restrict movement. I urge everyone to follow the directive and stay at home.
We’ve seen what has happened in other countries when these simple guidelines – wash your hands with soap and water, isolate yourself if you feel sick, engage in physical distancing – are not followed. Let us ensure our health-care system is not overwhelmed, and we have many more persons recovering.
Our health care professionals have been doing an amazing job, and I want to thank them. To all our nurses, doctors, paramedics and hospital staff who are all on the front line of this national fight – you are national heroes.
My fellow citizens, at this critical time, we must all play a part in the national fightback against Covid 19. We must all face this crisis together.
Remember the watchwords of our beloved country: Together we aspire. Together we achieve. Together, we will emerge from this crisis a stronger and more united people.
In this time of great uncertainty, we turn to prayer to find solace and hope. Let us lift our hearts, let us show the strength in our diversity, many different religions, praying for our country.
I encourage everyone to keep our nation, our health care and frontline workers in our prayers daily. Stay safe everyone! And may God bless our nation.