Dear Editor,
The Government of Guyana is failing to institute measures to enforce social restrictions to curtail the spread of COVID-19 virus. There has been no statement from the Government despite the fact that September has been the deadliest month for COVID-19 in Guyana with 39 deaths to date. The death toll now stands at 74 with 8 deaths within the last four days. Each day there is an alarming number of positive cases yet there is stark silence from the Government save and except from Minister Anthony, who firstly attributed the spike in deaths to “underlying conditions”.
The Minister further refers to the failure of citizens to observe precautions such as the wearing of face masks. Yet there has been no strict enforcement of such “mandatory” mask wearing by the authorities. Each day, citizens in Georgetown walk around the capital city maskless.
It seems that the Government is content with its gazetted COVID-19 guidelines and seem to have washed their hands of it as having done their part. These guidelines, which are mere paper declarations, are bereft of meaningful precautionary measures and in no way protect the citizens of Guyana. The Government only grudgingly adjusted the curfew time after pleas from the PAHO Representative,
Malls, restaurants, bars, beaches, rivers, creeks, salons, places of worship all remain open. There are pictures on social media of persons congregating at creeks and visiting the Splashmins Resort and other such venues, Funeral services are still being conducted with mass attendance of persons.
What has the Government done to enforce social restrictions? There is absolute and total lawlessness in Guyana with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic and it is as if there is no virus present within Guyana.
The Government seems to have as its ultimate objective at this time, the reopening of business as opposed to ensuring the health and safety of the Guyanese people.
In the United Kingdom, as they experience a second wave of the virus, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has considered the imposition of measures such as strictly enforced curfews and banning household visits.
The Guyanese people also have to recognize that it is ill-advised at this time to attend parties and social gatherings. They must observe the rules of social distancing, wear masks and observe basic hygienic practices. Those who can stay at home ought to do so. If rules are followed, then we may be able to flatten the curve. The United Kingdom has instituted a 10,000 pounds fine for any person who fails to self-isolate after having tested positive for the virus.
The Government of Guyana has to impose penalties for failure to adhere to the rules. However, even before that, they must impose the rules.
At this stage, there has to be the imposition of strictly enforced social restrictions or a lockdown of this country. Region 4 has more than 1000 confirmed cases of the virus. The Honourable Minister of Health who, by his own admission, has been monitoring the path of COVID-19 around the world, would be aware that in all parts of the world where there was a shutdown there has been a consequential sharp decline in the numbers of cases of the virus. However, the President and his Ministerial colleagues have declared that they have no intention of resorting to any lockdown, no doubt because that will incur the wrath of their business buddies.
I, like most Guyanese, am dismayed at the decision taken at the Office of the President for all of the numerous staffers to report back on duty at the same time as opposed to the shift system that was previously effectively in place. This is even in direct contradiction of the Govern-ment’s guidelines that all members of the public service should work on a rotation basis.
The Government has been excitedly forging ahead with plans to re-open the airports which will lead to more imported cases of the virus. We cannot, at this time do so.
I refer to the letter published in Thursday’s Stabroek News written by Radzik, Whitehead and others in which they listed measures that should be implemented to address the curbing of the virus and urged reconsideration of the decision to reopen the airports. I fully concur with the thoughts of these letter writers.
I implore the Government of Guyana to honour their duty to the nation in doing everything possible to control this horrible virus affecting our country. Ignoring it is not the solution.
Yours faithfully,
Stephanie Isaacs
