The toshao in the Moruca sub-district in Region One yesterday said that residents are adhering to the lockdown and restrictions that are being enforced by the Ministry of Public Health to stem the spread of the Coronavirus disease.
Following the spikes in COVID-19 cases in the Moruca sub-district and Aranka/Arangoy Landing, in Region Seven, the Public Health Ministry announced emergency measures to stem the further spread of COVID-19 in those areas. The announcement came as the government proceeded with the second phase of its six-phase plan to battle the spread of the virus that has claimed the lives of 16 persons in Guyana.
Under the special measures, the Joint Services are being tasked with coordinating, mobilising and securing quarantine and isolation facilities, materials and goods and services at those sites, and manning screening and test check-points as well as providing escort for mobile teams. While specific demarcated coordinates were given for the Aranka/Arangoy Landing and Moruca areas and gazetted measures have specifically stipulated that “No person shall travel into or out of the areas listed in the Schedule during the period 3rd July 2020 to the 16th July, 2020 without the authorisation of the Minister of Public Health”.
With Santa Rosa, Kwebana and Waramuri being the only three villages in the Moruca sub-district that have known cases of COVID-19, Stabroek News contacted two of the three villages’ Toshaos. Whanita Phillips, the Santa Rosa Village toshao said via telephone that persons in the village are coming around slowly and have so far adhered to the restrictions, albeit the first day. The Santa Rosa Village Council made several attempts to lock down the community since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded on March 11th but those attempts were unsuccessful because of disbelief at the disease’s existence by the people in Santa Rosa. However, since the numbers continue to rise in the area persons seem more compliant.
Phillips also said that there is a $14,000 fine if persons are caught disobeying the measures. In addition, persons who have an emergency and have to leave the village, will have to seek permission from Ministry of Public Health officials before being allowed to leave.
Paul Pierre, the toshao of Kwebana village also spoke to Stabroek News. Pierre said that people seem to be abiding but noted that prior to the lockdown being enforced, persons were not as compliant and were a bit “careless”. He also addressed the matter of food supplies in the village. “Well as long as there will be a lockdown, persons will need help because you know persons aren’t really doing any work so we are trying to see if we could get any assistance from the Government. So far the Amerindian People’s Association has reached out to us,” Pierre said, “They did supply some amount of foodstuff and help each family in the community.”
Phillips also addressed this matter and said that the Amerindian People’s Association and the Santa Rosa Family, a small group formed in Georgetown, had been sending relief hampers to the village. Speaking with one of the members, Miranda La Rose, she explained that the group has sent a total of 287 relief hampers to the Santa Rosa Village. A goal of 500 hampers is hoped to be met but she noted that when the goal is reached, the Santa Rosa Family will continue sending hampers to those who need it.
“[In] our first shipment, we had targeted to see if we could get between 50 and75 [relief hampers]. We got to ship in 105 [hampers]. So we exceeded our target and that I must tell you was in a matter of three days, mobilizing. Because we spoke about the idea on the Sunday and we had three days within which to put everything together, including packaging the hampers putting them in barrels, bags and boxes. The second shipment we said we would see if we could get 150. And we sent in 182, so to date we sent in 287. So this week we hope to send in 100,” La Rose related.
She said that the hampers are paid for through donors, who have come on board to either send supplies or donate the moneys to have the items purchased. She also said that some donors would request that specific supplies and a certain amount is purchased after donating the moneys. Some of the donors are John Fernandes Limited, Sterling Products Limited, Globe Manufac-turing Limited, Banks DIH Limited, Twins Manufac-turing Limited, Dr. Melissa Ifill, who donated $200,000 cash and the Cara Lodge, who will be raising proceeds all month via its Cara Quiz night which will be held every Wednesday at 8pm on Zoom. La Rose said that the proceeds raised throughout the whole of July will be donated towards the relief. She said that these donations are appreciated very much by not only the relief group but also the people who are benefitting from it. The hampers contain food supplies such as rice, flour, sugar, milk, canned food like tuna and mackerel, as well as peas and there are also sanitizing hampers which are donated to the hospitals.
