– Mayor says

With a high number of cases of the COVID-19 virus recorded in Bartica, Mayor Gifford Marshall is urging Barticians to be more responsible and adhere to the COVID-19 measures in place to mitigate the spread. Recently, residents expressed their concerns that students who have returned to the Bartica and the Three Miles secondary schools are at a greater risk of contracting the virus there. But in an invited comment on Saturday, Mayor Marshall explained that the town has a wider issue where the spread of the virus is not being easily controlled. According to him, it seems as though the students may be contracting the virus outside of the schools and may become transmitters inside of the two secondary schools.

“We continue to see irresponsible action from some of the residents; clubbing, gathering in large numbers and the reality is the police force only has a certain number of officers and we can’t place the entire Guyana Police Force to go in every house and in every street,” Marshall lamented. The police force has attempted to curb gatherings and club activities which are prohibited under the gazetted COVID-19 measures. While there have been some successes in this regard, the Mayor noted that persons have resorted to “closed door parties” and “house parties”. And these are much harder to police, particularly where there is an absence of intelligence.

According to the newly gazetted COVID-19 orders, which took effect from December 1 and will last until December 31, authorities have decided to restrict non-essential travel in or out of Region Seven. Additionally, gatherings shall not exceed five persons and the physical distance of six feet among persons shall apply to those gatherings. And Bartica, a town, is deemed the capital of the region. Between December 1 and 12, the region reported 48 new cases of the coronavirus. And the Town Council, which is part of the Regional Health Emergency Committee, endorsed the recommendations made and the measures effected to essentially lock down the region.

“People have to understand that they have a responsibility to play in this, the Mayor stressed, adding, “If we understand that this thing is about us helping the cause, then our actions will reflect such and our action will result in the numbers not increasing.” He also highlighted that persons should be aware that there is only so much the local authorities and medical personnel can do to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus. Aside from those efforts, the onus is on residents to avoid large gatherings and activities that are conducive for the spread of COVID-19.
Moreover, it is that time of the year when social gatherings would usually be more frequent, owing to the Christmas and year-end celebrations. Marshall, however, said that persons should not become complacent in this season. “It is bad enough now,” he posited. The mayor, however, noted that the town council does not want to make the decision to entirely “shut down” the town, particularly at a time when Christians value engaging in their religious activities. And so, he said emphasis must be placed on encouraging persons to desist from harmful activities and act more responsibly.