“Cook at Home” says MoH, following long lines at street vendors

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh is urging citizens to cook at home, after he expressed disappointment with images he saw on social media, of long lines of people purchasing street food.

Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s virtual media briefing on Saturday, Deyalsingh said it was “disturbing” to hear the reports and see videos showing hundreds of people gathered to purchase food at several locations across the country, including the Eddie Hart Grounds in Tacarigua and Cross Crossing in San Fernando.

He said: “We got some very disturbing news and videos about hundreds of people gathering in the Eddie Hart Grounds to buy food, in Cross Crossing, in the Savannah, in Curepe Junction. This is not the time for discerning members of the public to be congregating by your hundreds to buy food. We are asking people to shelter in place, only come out now to go to the pharmacy, to go to work, to go to the grocery. Cook at home.”

Deyalsingh said: “It is not about blaming street vending or blaming bars…What is regrettable about all this is that it is not limited to any one demographic or one socioeconomic group. What we seem to be doing is living the national anthem – Every creed and race find and equal place. Every creed and race in Trinidad and Tobago has abandoned personal responsibility.”