AGAINST the backdrop of the epidemic which is sweeping through countries in West Africa and beyond, APNU Parliamentarian Dr. George Norton has expressed their support for an initiative to channel money towards the fight against an Ebola threat. 

The Parliamentarian’s disclosure came last Friday at his Party’s weekly press conference held at the office of the Opposition Leader, Hadfield Street.
According to Dr. Norton, who is Shadow Minister of Health, if the Government is to introduce a supplementary financial paper for the fight against Ebola, his party will willingly support it, taking into consideration that there is transparency and accountability.
The shadow minister also highlighted that many regional neighbours have already been engaged in activities to combat this epidemic which Guyana has only been passive about. Therefore, he underscored the importance of the administration being more active to materialize their efforts to prevent a possible outbreak.
NATIONAL ISSUE
A possible financial paper he said would be supported to this extent, since the issue would be a national one.
Echoing similar sentiments was fellow APNU Parliamentarian Dr. Karen Cummings who noted that the issue is a national one and as such, politics should not be implicated. Dr. Cummings further noted that APNU is not in a position to do much since they are merely the Opposition and the power to direct state funds to this cause would lie solely with the Government.
However, Dr. Norton assured that his party has been playing their part in public awareness and education. He said that ‘Facing the Nation’, a weekly television broadcast is one such opportunity in which the party has seized the opportunity to educate the public. The other, he added, is through APNU’s public meetings held every week across the country.
Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar on Friday revealed that Government has been acquiring modern equipment and additional medical supplies, including more protective gear in order to be prepared to tackle the disease. The President noted too that citizens must play their part in ensuring that the disease which has claimed the lives of over 5,000 people stays out of this country.