…NCTF Director says though Guyanese have had a light jest at the GDF bus, the Task Force hopes they are serious about COVID-19
…party-goes, curfew breakers, harming themselves and the elderly
By Lisa Hamilton
In the last week, social media has been flooded with memes about the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) buses which are being used to transport COVID-19 curfew breakers from parties to police stations for processing.
Over 300 persons were arrested last weekend collectively from Georgetown, Berbice and the East Bank of Demerara. However, what got greater spotlight was the memes on social media which proved that Guyanese really can make light of any situation. There were memes about the GDF (Army) bus kidnapping persons —a satire claim, the Force later debunked; memes about persons escaping through the window of a GDF bus and sprinting up the road — persons who are still on police radar; memes about the bus being a ‘party bus’ after persons were seen partying within while arrested; and, recently, a song by popular Guyanese artistes on all the aforementioned.
JOINT SERVICES DOING ITS JOB
Speaking with the Village Voice News, Director of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Colonel Nazrul Hussain said that the fact that Guyanese found a light moment in the midst of it all was not taken to heart by him. However, the Task Force hopes that, even while Guyanese find humour in the actions of others, they understand the seriousness of the virus and the need for the joint services to do its job. “The police, the Task Force and the army will have to enforce the measures whether they use buses, trucks or vans…the buses are being used as a means of transportation,” Hussain said.
Before COVID-19, law enforcement in Guyana was expected to do its duty to protect and serve. With the emergence of the pandemic, they are expected to do the same while ensuring compliance with the country’s gazetted COVID-19 Emergency Measures. Initially, while the NCTF had primarily focused on addressing curfew breakers through restrictions and requirements for business owners, one year on, it is coupling this with the mass arrest of persons seen out and about beyond curfew without a valid explanation. This, the NCTF believes, is a just decision as Guyanese have been living with COVID-19 for some time and are aware of its deadly consequences.
GET SERIOUS ABOUT COVID
Though it is understandable that humour can be found in every situation, on the other hand, there are some who believe that the virus, in itself, is a joke. These are people whose actions run contrary to the efforts to protect from the spread of the virus. To these people, Hussain said: “Your recklessness is contributing to the spread of COVID-19 and the statistics have shown that the spreaders are the young people and the people who are most affected are the ageing…I’m very disappointed with the public behaviour, with the young people and how they go about partying in this reckless manner.”
Currently, persons caught by the joint services are being charged and put on bail ranging from $5000 – $20,000 but can also face fines, jail time or community service work based on the decision of the Court. Hussain said that, without doubt, he would advocate for stricter penalties.
Meanwhile, the NCTF is examining enforcing suspensions of businesses and the business licences for establishments that operate beyond the established curfew or breach the established COVID-19 Measures in general. Last week Sunday, the Village Voice News published an investigative piece that examined that some city businesses were using lookout men and walkie talkies to evade the police. Hussain said that, recently, the joint services have successfully arrested persons found in such covert parties, including secret house parties.
“The private parties and lockdown arrangements are of concern to the Task Force because these are safety breaches and it has been getting our attention,” the director said.
He added that the Task Force, the Ministry of Health and the joint services have all been encouraging persons to report COVID-19 Measures-breaking businesses and secret parties. However, the Director said that he has realized that while some persons shy away from making reports, others do so but have not seen a desired or immediate response. He therefore also urged the police to respond to such reports with alacrity.
SEEK OUT ALTERNATIVES
Meanwhile, under the memes on social media shared in the last week, several persons have complained about feeling as if they’ve been cooped up for too long and need an ‘entertainment escape’. According to the World Health Organisation/ Pan American Health Organisation (WHO/PAHO), it is true that many persons are currently suffering from pandemic fatigue. This is where persons become exhausted and frustrated from being cooped up in their homes or from experiencing the consequences of the pandemic such as the death of a loved one or job loss. They begin to crave physical and outdoor engagement or can even go into a state of depression.
The Organisation said that while pandemic fatigue is an expected and natural response to a very restrictive and prolonged pandemic, multifactorial action is needed to maintain public support for the established measures while keeping persons actively engaged. Hussain said: “We’ve been working with several sporting organisations to get people to be able to open up in a limited way so that persons can get out and this is good for mental and physical health. But, for the young people who want to party, I don’t think that is a viable activity to get rid of stress…do games, do walks, do some non-contact sports.”
Some of the other recommendations for pandemic fatigue coming from WHO/PAHO include: taking care of your body, limiting your negative news intake, lowering stress through safe means, connecting with others through safe means, accepting your feelings, positive self-talk and seeking mental health support if necessary.
