Opposition slams Gov’t for relaxing curfew at a time when COVID-19 cases continue to increase 

…urges GCCI to lobby for an inclusive approach in fight to combat the pandemic 

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) is deeply concerned about Government’s decision to relax the curfew at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the increase.

“We note that despite the positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise, there has been the relaxing instead of tightening of certain measures. The government has completely ignored the call of more than half of this country to return to a 6-6 curfew, instead curfew hours have moved to 12 midnight to 4am. Undoubtedly, this is a cause for concern. This government has shown time and time again that it has no plans to keep our people,” the Opposition Leader said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 926 as of Tuesday, November 2. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Health, 62 new COVID-19 cases were recorded within the last 48 hours while 14 persons are battling for their lives in the COVID-19 ICU. Additionally, 62 persons are in institutional isolation while 2,499 persons are in home isolation.

“The Minister of Health on multiple occasions acknowledged, that we are in a ‘Delta surge’, and given all that we know of the Delta Variant, we thought that the new gazetted measure would seek to encourage less human movement and engagement. It is the total opposite,” Harmon said.

He disclosed that during a meeting with officials from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday, the Opposition underscored the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach in the fight to combat the deadly pandemic. Though it holds 31 seats in the National Assembly, the Government has excluded the APNU+AFC from the National COVID-19 Task Force, a situation Harmon insists must be corrected.

He expressed the hope that GCCI will lobby for all sectors of society to be consulted to aid in the better management of the pandemic

“I trust that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry will add their voices and will stand up as strong as they can to speak on behalf of the people of Guyana, and to ensure that this Government gets off of its high horse and start some meaningful process of consultation so that we can have a plan to tackle this pandemic, which is creating havoc in our country,” Harmon said.

The meeting was held at the behest of the GCCI to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of vaccination.

Given the current circumstance, the Opposition is calling on all Guyanese to not only get vaccinated but to take all other precautionary measures to safeguard themselves against the deadly virus.