Moonilal laments dengue deaths, calls them preventable

Radhica De Silva

With County Victoria reporting the highest number of dengue cases in Trinidad and Tobago, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has sharply criticised the government’s handling of the outbreak, calling it a major failure.

The dengue crisis has already claimed eight lives, including that of eight-year-old Nelisha Narine from Princes Town. Nelisha, a standard one student at North Trace Government Primary School, died from dengue, which Dr. Moonilal argued is largely preventable.

“Nelisha, also known as Dolly, was an eight-year-old girl with a bright future ahead of her. She died from dengue, a disease that we could have prevented,” Dr. Moonilal said.

An autopsy confirmed that Narine died from dengue shock syndrome with gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Her family said she first went to the Indian Walk Health Centre but received no medication and was told to return in five days for a dengue test. As her condition worsened, she was moved to the Princes Town District Hospital on August 11, where her health continued to decline until she eventually died.

Dr Moonilal criticised shortages in the Insect Vector Control Department, saying this was a critical lapse in dealing with the outbreak.

“I was at a union meeting last week, where Ministry of Health reps told me they lack materials, chemicals, and manpower. They want to carry out spraying and fogging, but they don’t have the resources,” Dr Moonilal explained.

He described seeing a video showing a small amount of chemicals in a pigtail bucket, which he claimed was all that was available nationwide.

“These people can’t even protect you from mosquitoes. How do you expect them to protect you from bandits?” he asked.

Dr Moonilal criticised the government’s focus on less urgent issues, suggesting that more resources should go toward dengue prevention, crime-fighting, flood prevention, road maintenance, and water supply.

“Nobody can convince me that it costs a billion dollars to get the chemicals needed to fight dengue or to hire a few more people. That’s a minor cost,” he argued.

He also questioned the priority of changing the Coat of Arms, suggesting the funds would be better spent on addressing more pressing concerns.

“Symbols are important, but what’s more crucial is tackling crime, preventing floods, managing dengue, and ensuring proper infrastructure and services,” he said.

Dr. Moonilal expressed frustration over the lack of job opportunities for qualified young people, sharing a story about a young man with multiple degrees but no job prospects.

“There are young people with degrees who come to see me. One guy had a BSc, MSc, and LLB. I said, ‘The only thing you don’t have is a J-O-B,’” Dr. Moonilal recounted.

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