Government is moving to amend legislation to impose stiffer fines and longer imprisonment time against citizens guilty of non-compliance with required protocols for Zika and other health issues.
This is according to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, during his contribution to yesterday's urgent debate in the House of Representatives on a motion by Opposition MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh on the Zika public health emergency in T&T.
Al-Rawi later told reporters that he had reviewed the existing regulations and proposes to increase the fine up to a maximum of $3,500. The current fine is $500, he added.
Al-Rawi said consideration is also being given to increasing the prison term for non-compliance of citizens.
“This is a matter which I intend to take to the Cabinet and once the Cabinet considers the position we will very shortly be bringing forward a policy which will become law,” he told reporters.
“We think it is important to look at all avenues to motivate compliance with the laws of T&T, particularly on an issue as serious as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever,” he said, adding that “it is about time that we use every bit of weaponry in our arsenal as a nation.”
Earlier during the urgent debate on Zika, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh in his contribution to the debate gave a detailed account of what had been done since the first Zika case was confirmed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha) at 2.30 pm on Wednesday.
He said the County Medical Officer of Health visited the patient—a 61-year-old woman who lives in Diego Martin—and her immediate family. He said blood investigations were done on all her immediate family and family who did not live close to her.
He said the protocols also dictated “that we go to her work place, which we did, (and) no symptoms were displayed by any of her colleagues.”
Deyalsingh said insect vector officers visited the area in Diego Martin area at 6.30 am on Thursday. He said perifocal inspections were done at 252 houses. He said the 43 houses which were locked on that day were visited yesterday and the exercise was completed. He said three of the houses inspected were found to be positive for Aedes aegypti larvae.
“Samples have been taken away for testing to see if the larvae are positive for Zika,” he told legislators.
Deyalsingh said the Government had implemented the full WHO (World Health Organization) protocols to deal with Zika.
“The protocols to protect all citizens—man, woman, child—have been developed by the Ministry of Health since December 29, last year. They were practised in Bagatelle and in Penal and they are now into full swing.”
He said he could assure citizens that “no stone is being left unturned to protect all 1.3 million people against Zika.”
In presenting the urgent motion, Gopeesingh said he had information of two suspected cases of Zika in Central Trinidad.