And speaking to the press, the Attorney General and Minister of National security stuck to his guns on the requirement that the DHS hand over the names of COVID infected persons.
As we told you, that caused a major moment last week when the DHS balked at the request - explaining that to do that would be a breach of professional ethics.
A release from the government at the time said that the National Oversight Committee did have a discussion with Dr. Manzanero regarding the SI and, quote, "It was agreed to recommend to Cabinet an alternative way of dealing with the issue of COVID-19 positive persons who break quarantine and the law."
Well, the AG made it clear yesterday that there is no alternative way: the DHS must adhere to the law, which says that the DHS "SHALL" provide the names:
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"I've not been instructed by the oversight committee to revise the SI, so the SI remains in place."
Reporter
"So that means technically is he still in breach of that SI at the moment?"
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"Well I wouldn't want to violate anybody's privacy, now would I? Let's just say that he is required to provide those names to me under the law of the SI."
Reporter
"Have you made any formal request for him or as you just depending on him to adhere to the law and provide these?"
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"The law doesn't require for me to request it; the law says that he shall provide it."
And, it turns out the Attorney General doesn't think too much of the principle of patient confidentiality when it comes to COVID 19:
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte
"There's no sticking point, the SI is the SI, we're in the middle of a pandemic and the law states very clearly that in a pandemic, the Minister of Health has the right to sign SI for the betterment of the country and to tackle the pandemic. Remember you know, it is his minister who signed the SI saying that he should give it to the Minister of National Security. I believe that the Ministry of National Security should have the names, why? Because we have to make sure that people are protected within the country. We have in the Ministry of National Security, a lot more information that's far more sensitive and private than just whether or not you're covid positive you know. So, I really don't see the issue at all, I personally don't see what is the issue with being covid positive. There is no shame in being covid positive, what's the big secret? It is incumbent upon you to say, if I were to be covid-19, I would want the world to know, so everybody who has been in contact with me, can get themselves tested and what privacy are you really talking about? When we hear that you're covid-19 positive for example, don't I have to do contact tracing through the Ministry of Health? So, when I go and I say Isani, I need to test you, why? Because you have been around so and so who is positive, there goes the secrecy right there. So, if everybody can have the information, why can't the national security operatus not have the information, when we are in charge of national security."
The Attorney General added that the only change in the new SI will be that contact sports will be allowed, and hotel bars will be allowed to open for guests only.
