Dear Editor,
IT is very scary to hear the Private Sector Commission suggesting that returning Guyanese should be home- quarantined. Apparently they are not quite au fait with Guyanese or their way of life. There isn’t a Guyanese who is staying home presently, even though the COVID-19 is increasing in Guyana. Many houses in Guyana are overcrowded, so which part exactly will these returning Guyanese be quarantined?

We’ve already seen cases of families being infected in Guyana, and I am quite sure that even if they agree to certain rules, it’s because they are in a situation. I am quite sure they will go against their agreement; some have already done that. Now, for the PSC to be thinking of such nonsense to endanger us is outright ridiculous, and I would never agree to that.

Editor, it’s the first time I’ve heard of Guyanese garnering sympathies to return home, especially from the USA. Majority of them willingly left these shores, knowing of the existence of the pandemic, and many would not have returned if the circumstances were different. The USA is one of the hardest hit with this pandemic, and because of that, they are attempting to run away from there now. Those in other countries might not have family or friends to brace them, thus they would find it hard, because I’ve heard of stories where many other countries are not so hospitable to Guyanese, and mind you, their lockdown is more serious than Guyana’s.

Every day, Guyanese are carelessly going about their daily lives without giving a second thought to the dangers they are putting themselves and other in. Around where I reside, every day you could see parents taking their small children/babies for a stroll, going to shop, liming and even playing without proper protection.

People are ganging up to discuss politics and this virus. Minibus operators are still forcing people to sit four and three in a seat, whilst the police are allowing them to pass without stopping them, because they are known to one another. If people follow the guidelines, I am quite sure Guyana would not be so severely hit, but, as I’ve mentioned before, Guyanese have a tendency to take things for granted. This pandemic is spreading, and it is seeping into Guyana via various means, and I for one will never allow anyone in or out of Guyana, unless we have a better solution to combat this Coronavirus.

Regards,
Sahadeo Bates