— President Ali chastises Guyanese flouting COVID-19 guidelines

By Vishani Ragobeer

AMID the significant increase in efforts to enforce the COVID-19 guidelines instituted to help keep the population safe, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has chastised those persons who continue to breach these measures and those who have made light of the enforcement efforts.

The President, while speaking at the sidelines of an event held at the Office of President on Monday, highlighted that the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) engaged in more aggressive patrols over the past few weeks.

Earlier in April, Covicurb patrols were conducted by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Through these patrols, the officers found scores of persons breaching the national curfew and flouting social distancing guidelines, by congregating in bars, at parties and at other similar gatherings.

After these patrols were conducted, few videos began circulating on social media wherein the persons detained in the GDF and GPF vehicles, and who were later arrested, were verbally abusing the officers and engaging in other disorderly behaviours. Subsequently, memes emerged on social media labelling the GDF bus as a “party bus”, making light of the situation.

“What they were behaving with in that bus was reckless. It’s reckless,” the President lamented.

The President related that members of the Task Force are patrolling every night until about 04:40 hrs the next morning trying to ensure that persons adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines. The national curfew is from 22:30 hrs to 04:00 hrs, but businesses such as bars, restaurants and supermarkets are to be closed by 21:30 hrs.

He, however, stressed that Guyanese must recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic is no joke. In fact, he emphasised the severity of the pandemic, stating that many people can lose their lives if the novel coronavirus is allowed to spread.

“It is time for us to understand that sometimes we need to take responsibility, and this is a case and a scenario in which we have to exercise that responsibility,” the President underscored.

Over the Easter weekend, the Guyana Chronicle reported that 140 individuals had been arrested in various locations for flouting the COVID-19 guidelines. More arrests followed in the days after and this past weekend, another 40 persons were arrested in various places across the coast.

Health officials, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, cautioned that an increase in social activities would lead to a surge in the number of cases and deaths recorded in Guyana. And, for the month of April, thus far, 24 people have died in the country. A recent statement from the Ministry of Health highlighted that the country is facing a third, deadlier wave of the dreaded coronavirus, which is rapidly spreading across the country and attacking the younger population.

With individuals continuing to flout the guidelines, however, the President lamented that it seems as though Guyanese are behaving as though the pandemic is non-existent.

“So Guyanese and I call on all Guyanese, we need to understand that this thing can only be managed if we are all responsible and we have to act in a responsible way,” he emphasised.