Readers who missed the recent Christopher Ram’s “Plain Talk” on Channel 9 where I was the guest, may be interested in our discussion on COVID-19 as it relates to Guyana. Mr. Ram specifically asked for my views, having returned to Guyana after spending nine months in Canada.
Situation in Guyana compared with Canada
I stated that everything seemed normal in Guyana as if the virus does not exist, except for the wearing of masks. People just go about their daily lives as usual and in a relaxed manner. This is notwithstanding the measures that have been put in place by the Authorities. These include a 10.30 p.m. to 4.00 a.m. curfew; certain restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings; prohibition of social activities; wearing masks in public places; enhanced sanitization procedures; and adherence to social distance requirements. However, authorized businesses continue to operate as usual and the two international airports remain open, except for flights to and from Brazil.
In contrast, throughout my stay in Canada, Toronto was under severe lockdown, with a stay-at-home order and restrictions on business activities. Shops, restaurants, stores, bars, and all non-essential services were closed to the public, with only curbside pick-ups being allowed. Food could, however, be ordered on line and delivered to your door.
Canadians were not moving around in the streets unless they were going to the supermarket, the pharmacy or were visiting the doctor. Even then, there were restrictions on the number of persons that could enter the premises of these essential services, and hand-sanitising facilities were to be found everywhere. Few vehicles were seen in the streets. In general, people complied with the stay-at-home order. Whenever they were required to venture outdoors, there always wore masks and observed the social distance requirements.
The current lockdown in Ontario, which would have expired on Thursday, has been extended for another two weeks. According to the senior officials in the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), the province is not ready to lift the stay-at-home order, citing the number of new COVID-19 cases daily, along with the current number of people in hospital. OMA recommended that some restrictions on outdoor recreational activities, like golf, tennis and basketball, should be lifted to improve people’s mental and physical health. However, those restrictions still remain in force:
We all want the third wave to be the last wave. No one wants to start lifting restrictions too soon, only to find the virus spreading again and we have to go back into lockdown. People are tired of restrictions being lifted only to be put in place again a few weeks later. It is hard on the economy and hard on people’s livelihoods and mental health.
I received my first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine before leaving for Guyana. However, the use of this vaccine has been suspended because of the reported cases of blood clots. According to the Province’s health officials, the chance of having blood clots from this vaccine is one in 60,000 which is the reason for suspending the administering of AstraZeneca. It is still to be determined whether the second dose can be administered using another vaccine type. I have been making enquiries whether I can get my second dose while in Guyana because I have no immediate plans to visit Canada soon, especially in view of the requirement for arriving passengers to first quarantine at a designated hotel near to the airport for three days, followed by home quarantine for the remaining eleven days.
On the day that I travelled out of Canada, the current enhanced restrictions came into force. The Police are authorized to visit workplaces to ensure employees’ attendance is necessary, and having regard to the nature of their work, whether it is not possible for them to work from home. The Police can also stop vehicles on the road to enquire about the purpose of travel by the occupants. Additionally, they can visit homes to ensure that only family members normally residing there are present, especially in situations where reports are made of persons violating the COVID-19 restrictions, such as having social events in their homes.
I was fearful that our vehicle would be stopped on my way to the airport. However, this did not happen. When I arrived at Pearson International, the entire airport was empty except for the Caribbean Airlines direct flight to Guyana. In the aircraft, the middle seats on both sides of the isle were deliberately kept empty in partial observance of the social distance requirement. I took the additional precaution of wearing both a mask and a face shield. Meal service was also suspended throughout the duration of the flight.
Some interesting statistics on COVID-related deaths
Now, here are some statistics from UK, Canada, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Brazil about COVID-related deaths (in order from the most serious):
Upon enquiry from Mr. Ram, I indicated that I am in favour of the approach Canada has taken. The authorities there have chosen to put the welfare, well-being and lives of citizens ahead of the economy. This is quite in contrast to what prevails in the United States and Brazil with the staggering death rates of one in 563 and one in 491, respectively. Trinidad and Tobago, which is better off at one in 5,936 compared with Guyana’s one in 2,316, has closed its borders to air and sea traffic in addition to the requirement for persons to work from home, among others. Last Thursday, 21 Trinidadians died from COVID-related causes in just 24 hours. There is now a state of emergency with a curfew from 9.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m., with the Police being empowered to take action against anyone breaching the curfew. However, essential services will remain open. According to Prime Minister Keith Rowley:
Today in Trinidad and Tobago we have a population that is running scared. I woke up yesterday and people were telling me to press the panic button. I am sorry but it has come to coffins and faces of dead people for us to realise that we are in and always has been in a very difficult place.
In October 2020, just after the second lockdown was imposed in the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was reported to have stated that he would rather “let the bodies pile high in their thousands” than take the country into a third lockdown. He, however, vehemently denied using the phrase. The UK is currently under a third lockdown. With a population of 66.65 million, the number of COVID-related deaths is 151,765, giving a death rate of one in 439.
The situation in India is most worrying where one in 57 persons has been inflicted by the virus and where the death toll has so far exceeded 250,000. Corpses can be seen floating in the Ganges River, as they were apparently dumped because cremation facilities have been overwhelmed, and wood and other materials needed for cremation are in short supply.
Apparent link between COVID-19 and air pollution
Some medical authorities in India believe that there is a link between COVID-19 and air pollution, especially in the various cities, as a result of the burning of fossil fuels. In Guyana, however, we are so overwhelmed, enamoured and excited at the prospects of having oil-related revenues, that we appear oblivious of not only the dangers posed by the extraction and use of fossil fuels but also our commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.
In several of our columns, we had stated that, given the adverse impact on the environment caused by the burning of fossil fuels, we should leave the oil below the ground where it belongs, concentrate on having a diversified economy, and actively promote the use of renewable sources of energy from wind, water and the sun, to satisfy our needs. I lightheartedly stated that the extraction of fossil fuels can be likened to the production of cocaine in that while we are fully aware of the harm that former is causing to the environment, we are aggressively pursuing its exploitation purely because of profit motives.
We now learn that ExxonMobil will be fined US$30 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, for exceeding the flaring limit allowed. However, the fine will only be imposed after 14 days of flaring in excess of the requirement. Is this not a slap on the wrist, considering that the U.S. oil giant can afford to pay the fine and continue merrily along with exceeding the limit, especially in a period when it will most likely boost production to take advantage of rising oil prices? That apart, it is unclear whether the fine will be a recoverable cost. However, if we care about the environment and in order to protect the planet from global warming and climate change, should Exxon not be required to cease operations until it takes steps to stay within the flaring limit? And who will be policing its operations to ensure that there is no violation in this regard?
Some questions for the Authorities
Given the above, one could legitimately ask the following important questions of the Authorities in Guyana:
Should we not reconsider keeping the economy open, and have tighter restrictions in place, coupled with round-the-clock monitoring to ensure strict compliance?
Should we not put the welfare, wellbeing and lives of our citizens above our apparent eagerness for the economy to perform and for continuing to encourage the acceleration of business activities, especially as regards those surrounding our new-found oil and gas industry?
Are we not too obsessed with the desire not only to have favourable GDP growth rates but also to allow businesses to operate and flourish in this time of crisis in the hope of enhancing profits and boosting overall economic performance of the country?
Are we not fearful of the COVID-19 situation in Brazil which has the potential to spill over our porous borders, if it has not already happened?
As regards (d), the Regional Chairman for Region 9 is reported to have stated it is becoming increasingly clear that there may be the COVID-19 variant originating from Brazil in the Region, if not the entire country. He further stated that many persons are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of the virus.
