The APNU+AFC coalition on Tuesday evening flayed Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony after he disclosed that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Jones was tested positive for COVID-19.
On Tuesday the Newsroom reported that Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir and his Clerk, Sherlock Isaacs were sanitised after being informed that Jones recently tested positive for COVID-19. It was Dr. Anthony who disclosed this information to the Clerk after Jones met with the Clerk and Speaker on a separate matter that day. In a press release, the APNU+AFC said that the occurrence is irresponsible on the part of the minister, given his office and has caused the party much “distress”.
The party informed the public that while it is true that Jones had tested positive for the virus, he, like two other Ministers of government who were present at Parliament, had recovered. Furthermore, the party reminded that it was the health minister who recently announced “no follow up test needed to be cleared of COVID 19” explaining that once a person tests positive for COVID they must be monitored for 10 days and, once they are free of symptoms, they will be monitored for another three days.
“We are aware that since Dr. Frank Anthony has shown that he now has access to a citizen’s private health information we know that he is also in possession of other important facts surrounding this case. Mr. Jones’ positive test was done more than the 15 days ago, which Dr. Anthony must be aware of but deliberately omitted to share. Mr. Jones underwent the recommended period of self-isolation, observed all protocols established by the Ministry of Health and his private health care professional. He therefore attended Parliament today confident that he was no threat to persons,” the APNU+AFC stated.
The party said that it notes the “duplicity of this situation” as sitting in the National Assembly today were the current Ministers of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Waldron and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd who both tested positive for the “dreaded disease”.
The APNU+ACF underscored: “No explanation of their current status was shared with members of Parliament present. The APNU+AFC rejects this malicious report and notes with alarm that the Minister of Health seems not to be able to recall his own statements and protocols. We hope that his confused state of mind is not responsible for the spiraling out of control positive COVID 19 cases which have doubled since he took control of the sector after months of marginal increases.”
This is not the first target to be placed on Jones in the last few weeks. On August 21, the police engaged in a stand-off with Jones over barber equipment which they claimed belonged to the State. They broke into his home, rejecting a court injunction and seized several boxes which they said contained the equipment. Jones was subsequently arrested and release on $100,000 station bail.
Jones’ lawyer has since indicated that he will sue State, including the GPF, for wrongful arrest and seizure of property that belongs to Jones as rightfully applied for under the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme.
