A Guyana Defence Force bus, or the ‘ormy bus’ as some have dubbed it, has been used in the rounding up of those who breach the COVID-19 curfew. We have seen recordings of instances where people escape through the windows of the bus. We have seen pictures and videos of people jumping fences and running to escape the COVID-19 Task Force. There have been secret gardens and silent parties. Bars and casinos are opened and filled with patrons under the façade that all COVID protocols are being observed.
And when there are charges for breaching the COVID guidelines some seem above the law. Whether it is the delta, mu or the reckless variant, with the rise of large social gatherings, one must wonder if Guyana is really at its deadliest stage of COVID-19 or if the daily reports of deaths and new cases are just a hoax.
When someone told me that Guyana was having carnival in November, I initially thought it was a joke. Earlier this month, however, I decided to search for any information about it. On the Guyana Carnival social media pages the information was there. Parties, J’ouvert, a concert and brunch are indeed planned for November 25th to 28th, 2021. But of course, these events are only for the vaccinated. Just like it is only the vaccinated who can enter public buildings without providing negative COVID tests, and it is only the vaccinated who can enjoy movies at the cinemas or dine in at restaurants.
While I understand that vaccines provide a sense of security and safety, we are also aware that a person vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine is not immune to the virus as they can still contract it and infect others. In most cases, the vaccinated might be asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms but we have seen cases in Guyana where fully and partially vaccinated people have also succumbed to the virus. So, what are we doing here? Will we just ignore these facts and host large events exclusively for the vaccinated with prayers and hope that no one is infected? Have we silently signed a pact that whoever dies in Guyana dies, but the show must go on? Is it essential to have carnival in Guyana this year when we are at the peak of daily cases and deaths?
I understand that promoters need to make money. I understand that many of us are desperate to return to the old order. We are social beings, and it is natural for us to want to mix and mingle. I am pro-choice and pro-freedom, but I am also pro-common sense. Guyana never had a lockdown, but for months many establishments could not operate because of the risk and the need for us to flatten the curve. I recall last year when for about two or three weeks there were no reported COVID deaths, and I began to feel that we were indeed flattening the curve. But now even after thousands of vaccines have been administered, we are seeing more daily cases and deaths and we are so relaxed that we will be having carnival? Am I crazy to think that this is absurd?
I agree that we cannot imprison ourselves. For me coping during this pandemic starts with how we condition our minds. We are as free as we allow ourselves to be. The pandemic will not last forever. What is the urgency in having something like a carnival this year? Are we possibly sacrificing some of our people to COVID just for a section of our population to fete for a few days? And after the parties are over, what then? Why can’t we hold off on hosting such events until we have this pandemic somewhat under control?
I know there are people in the entertainment industry who have not been making money as they were pre-pandemic. The National Cultural Centre and the Theatre Guild have been closed to producers, directors and performers since the beginning of the pandemic. Since promoters can be granted permission to host carnival, will the theatre community be given permission to host plays and other performances?
If common sense does not prevail and the Guyana carnival does occur, I do hope that all COVID-19 protocols will indeed be observed. I hope that I am proven wrong about it possibly being a superspreader event. But even if it is, how would we know? Who will keep track of all the people who would attend and their loved ones?
Escapism is a coping mechanism for COVID but we should try to not be reckless in our escapism. Every week it seems there are reports of people running from the Task Force for breaching curfew. Often when videos and pictures are captured, some of the people are laughing and smiling like the excitement of almost being caught or being caught is adding value to their lives. Maybe it is. Judge Lynn Toler, who was a judge on television show Divorce Court, would often describe unnecessary expenses as the ‘stupid tax’. Having to pay bail or a fine for deliberately breaching COVID guidelines to party is a stupid tax. Whether one can afford it or not, is giving into the feting variant when delta could also be dancing in the crowd worth it? Maybe for some it is.
I understand that we are all craving the old order of things. We are social beings and to be confined to our homes is unnatural. Some are grieving and weary. Even some of the strongest are exhausted. Being faced with restrictions, burdened by the new rules and trying to interpret new meanings of freedom can be overwhelming. We are standing divided and should ask ourselves if a great fall is imminent.
Like others I have had enough of this pandemic. Going to the cinema was one of my favourite pastimes. I miss it, but the thought of being in an air-conditioned space with strangers is not worth the risk for me. So I will continue to enjoy movies at home. I choose to stay indoors at nights not only because I do not want to risk breaking the curfew, but I also do not want to be victim of criminal elements.
It all comes down to the individual choice. We all will not cope the same way. Whether we decide to fete or not, dine at restaurants or go to the cinema, individually we must take responsibility to be as safe as possible.
Pictures and videos surfaced recently of the Guyana Rum Festival and there were comments that hardly anyone was wearing masks at this event. Whether we believe that the mask reduces our chances of becoming infected or not, we should not be reckless and deceive ourselves into thinking that things are back to “normal” just because we have had the jab. Nothing is normal about what we are experiencing as a country and globally. But we must hold on to the hope that this too shall pass.
