By no stretch of one’s imagination, would Guyana be considered a high-income economy. In fact, based on the World Bank evaluation, even with the growth of the oil economy, we are registered a low-income country. Which means, with such a status, severe poverty remains pervasive. Moreover, being low income, means Public Servants are grossly underpaid, with a minimum wage of approximately US$350 per month. Further, reflecting our level of poverty under PPP, we have one of the highest rates of childhood malnutrition in this hemisphere.
Furthermore, again in this hemisphere, we have one of the highest rates of underweight newborns. For these matrices, beyond doubt, indicate that this our country, is far from wealthy, with no latitude for financial wastage. Therefore, it’s in this context of our society with mass deprivation, that the discarding of $410M in Sputnik-V vaccine, has to be considered criminal. Criminal, considering PPP was repeatedly warned, of the uncertainties of Sputnik-V.
Thus, it’s on this backdrop, we revisit December 2019, when worldwide fear, was caused by a deadly virus, emanating from Wuhan China. Where within a matter of weeks, the deadly virus was provided a name, Covid-19, with the worldwide affliction characterised a pandemic. Then it was March 2020, when the first case registered its presence amongst us. Such that, by the time APNU+AFC was fraudulently removed from office in August 2020, there were only 268 cases, with 20 deaths, over a 5-month period.
But this all changed with PPP being installed, as immediately evident was Covid mismanagement, accounting for the spiralling cases and deaths. Which saw, within a 2-year period, PPP registering 73,405 cases, with 1,279 deaths. Where the underlying reason, prior to vaccines being available, was the non-promotion of Public Health Practices, such as lockdowns, face masking etc. However, down to expeditious medical research, vaccines were made available, within a matter of months. But PPP, rather than making the health of the nation a priority, prioritised Covid corruption, through the acquisition of unapproved COVID vaccines. Unapproved COVID vaccines, which were appraised by WHO, and found not to have met their exacting safety and effectiveness standards. As a result, they weren’t registered as WHO approved vaccines, recommended for Nations Covid vaccine programmes.
And it’s for this reason, guided by WHO recommendations, most of the world procured with intention to purchase, WHO recommended vaccines. However, in contradiction to the rest of the world, PPP made the conscious decision to disregard the science, as they purchased unapproved vaccines. And one such unapproved vaccine, invested in by PPP, was the Russian made Sputnik-V. Where involving in naked corruption, PPP purchased the unapproved Sputnik-V, at twice the recommended price, from a Middle Eastern middleman.
Then with the vaccine acquisition, the unapproved Sputnik-V became the cornerstone of PPP, Covid-19 vaccine programme. But the fact is, Sputnik-V being an unapproved Covid-19 vaccine, was ineffective at fighting the pandemic. As a result, mass vaccination with this unapproved vaccine, contributed to cases and deaths spiralling out of control. Then having heavily invested in Sputnik-V, purchasing it at twice the recommended price, PPP had to recently discard $410M worth, of the vaccine. That is, $410M which could’ve been invested in the Healthcare Sector.
However, prior to PPP procuring Sputnik-V, this columnist, a UK trained Medical Specialist, provided voluminous evidence on this vaccine shortcomings. Since for one, it wasn’t WHO approved, and was always likely not to acquire their approval, on account of fraud in the clinical trials. Nevertheless, despite the evidence this columnist provided on Sputnik-V, PPP made the inexplicable decision to purchase it, rather than WHO approved vaccines. Where the reason for this inexplicable purchase, was to facilitate PPP corruption, through the Middle Eastern middleman. The kind of corruption, not possible with Western WHO vaccines, purchased directly from the manufacturers.
Which means, as a consequence of their mismanagement and corruption, we have registered the highest rates of Covid cases and deaths, in this hemisphere. And also, as a consequence of their mismanagement and corruption, is the reality that $410M in expired Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines, had to be dumped.
Mark’s Take
But the reality is, with Guyana an underdeveloped and impoverished nation, PPP discarding $410M worth of Sputnik-V, is utmost criminal. That said, this wastage represents only the tip of the Covid iceberg, as it’s almost certain, the registered Covid deaths and mode of death, aren’t as PPP reported. And it’s for these reasons, this column demands an independent COI into PPP Covid management. A COI that will provide the necessary closure, in the deaths of our loved ones.
