MEDIA RELEASE: TERRANCE DEYALSINGH ON DISMISSAL OF CMO

Saturday 24th May 2025

To All Media

From Terrence Deyalsingh

Subject Unplanned Leave of Dr Roshan Parasram ORTT Dr (Hon UWI)

For immediate release

To date I have politely declined media requests to comment on matters on national interest allowing the new government time to settle into its work program.

In this case however, of what a source calls the unplanned sending on leave of Dr. ROSHAN PARASRAM CMO ORTT of TT, silence is not an option.

To contextualize we need to understand how despotic leadership lays down it's tentacles. From the 1930s to now strongman leaders propel professionals and populations at large into submission and silence. History is replete with examples.

In our new political reality I point the country to the following early warning signs. The canary in the coal mine, so to speak.

1. The public dressing down of Ret'd Major General Rodney Smart, CEO of ODPM by his line Minister. A totally unwarranted attack.

2. The broadside against Prof Annmarie Bell Antoine, UWI Principal, another public humiliation of a professional simply doing her job.

3. The warning given to the newly installed Independent Senators that they are under scrutiny by the govt even before a bill is debated, subliminally stating to be careful in their deliberations.

4. Now we have what a source calls the unplanned sending on leave of the country's CMO. In this case the following questions are posed to the Minister of Health. Was this on his direction? If not his, on whose direction ? How many persons were asked to act as CMO and refused? Was there a period of time when the country was left exposed when there was no substantive or acting CMO due to the refusals? Where did the current acting CMO lie in the seniority list of those asked to act? Without casting aspersions on the individual, is she a FIT and PROPER person to guide the country in the event of any public health crisis as Dr. PARASRAM did so brilliantly during Covid?

The country is now faced with the reality of how PURGES are carried out. It is my hope that other public officers and professionals in the rest of the public service are not similarly targeted for public humiliation.

I end with the following quote which I read into the Hansard when I was in Opposition debating that diabolical RUN OFF bill which was meant to kill off third parties like the COP in whose defense I spoke at the time.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak out for me."

TT you have been warned.

END.