The back and forth between Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony and the APNU+AFC (coalition) Members of Parliament relating to Messrs. Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan coronavirus (COVID-19) status is not what The Village Voice is desirous of embroiling itself in. This newspaper reminds all COVID-19 is a deadly virus and it is selfish and uncaring for anyone who is suffering from the virus or has been exposed to expose others.
Those diagnosed or exposed, for the sake of their health, their loved ones and Guyana, are being urged to take all the necessary precautions as outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Government. Persons should be aware by now that none is immune from contracting the virus, there is no cure or preventive measure except obeying the precautions. At the most basic these are- hand washing, wearing a mask when in public and staying six feet apart.
The problem with the management of COVID-19, as with so many other issues of national importance, is how quickly politicians would find a way or excuse to go low and score petty partisan points. If Messrs. Jones and Duncan contracted the virus or have been in proximity of someone exposed, they should see it as an obligation to observe the isolation protocol. If they are being wrongly accused, then they should say so. Either way these gentlemen owe society an explanation.
With that being said it is expected the Ministry of Health would have engaged in the necessary contact tracing and sought to ensure those exposed follow the necessary protocols. This concern is expressed given the vindictive politics practiced. It is not unreasonable in the us versus them environment to assume others who may have been exposed could be overlooked.
The hypocrisy and dualism in managing COVID-19 is not lost on Guyanese. When the virus was detected and in the early stage of managing spread, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) accused the Coalition Government of playing politics as then Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence sought to implement WHO’s protocols and daily kept the public informed. With the PPP/C in government Guyanese are concerned they are notkeeping the public fully abreast. There are concerns about the news blackout and the rising number of cases.
The government may want to argue it is doing more testing hence there are likely to be more cases, but it cannot be ignored by its very actions they are putting more lives at risk. In the so-called public outreaches government officials are showing no regard for social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines. The Inauguration Ceremony at the National Culture Centre was noted and condemned by those concerned about exposure and spread but the irresponsibility continues.
Guyanese are not going to take this virus seriously when those expected to be delivering leadership are setting poor examples. Minister Anthony must not only feel he has a duty to speak out about Messrs. Jones and Duncan, he must apply that duty for himself and fellow ministers, including President Irfaan Ali. The ongoing public outreaches, which have all the features of political campaigns, are putting the lives of ordinary Guyanese at risk. Food hampers or whatever COVID-19 relief measures government is desirous of dispensing could be done in a controlled manner mindful of the consequences of the global pandemic.
COVID-19 is easily contracted. Only with certainty one can claim to be negative at the time when testing was done. You could test at 2:00 p.m. and 2:01 p.m. contract the virus. This is how this coronavirus could be easily contracted and spread. Government must therefore lead by example.
