By Joan Rampersad Monday, October 19 2009

With the number of swine flu cases rising, Government ought to reconsider hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here next month, said Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Leader of the Opposition office in Port-of-Spain yesterday, Gopeesingh said the Government had cancelled the Caricom Games last year because of the possibility of widespread infection from the influenza H1N1. At that time there were no deaths and only a few confirmed cases of infection, he said.

Now with four confirmed deaths and 163 confirmed cases of those infected with the virus, he questioned if Heads of Government coming for CHOGM will be at risk of being infected with the disease. On whether the virus posed a threat to hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next month, Health Minister Jerry Narace said the ministry sees no threat and “therefore we have no recommendation that would be different.”

But quoting from a WHO Guidelines and Protocols document on the subject, Gopeesingh said each country should regularly assess its own level of vulnerability. “What is this country’s assessment of its own vulnerability?” he said, noting that TT has to determine its capacity to respond to issues including access to health care, communication and social mobilisation and advanced preparedness and planning.