Giftland turns screw on workers over Covid vaccines

…instructs employees to be vaccinated or produce weekly negative PCR tests

Giftland OfficeMax has announced that effective immediately, all of its employees must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated to continue working or submit a weekly negative COVID-19 PCR test, as it expressed its support for the position that there should be “consequences” for the unvaccinated.

In a media release on Tuesday, dispatched by Giftland Group of Companies, Marketing Manager, Lorenzo Persaud, the Company expressed that it believes that such a commitment by workers will prove the value of their health and the health and wellbeing of those they work with and serve.

“This is the logical fulfilment of the ethical commitment of all workers to put patrons as well as their colleagues first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being are secured,” the release stated, adding,

“Giftland OfficeMax is announcing that all unvaccinated staff will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test at the beginning of every workweek to commence duties.”

Furthermore, the Company pointed to statements made by Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy which were supported by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) just last week.

The PSC had stated: “The Commission endorses the position taken by the Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, that ‘if you want to exercise a right to not take the vaccine you must be prepared to face the consequences’…the Private Sector Commission embraces and recommends that its member companies require that all those of its employees who refuse to be vaccinated must provide evidence of a medically current COVID-19 negative test from infection before reporting to work, while continuing to encourage all of its employees to become vaccinated.”

The Company said that studies have shown that 99.5 percent of all persons in hospitals dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated. It said that it is critical that all people in the workforce get vaccinated against COVID-19 because highly contagious variants have increased through the unvaccinated and deaths are once again rising throughout Guyana.

Giftland OfficeMax stated that such actions are being expounded by all major health and Government organizations around the world.

“As the health care community leads the way in procuring vaccines for our country, we hope all other employers across the country will implement effective policies to encourage vaccination. The health and safety of workers, families, communities and the nat