We have two viruses to overcome

Mar 13, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

I think that, given our political obsessions, what I share today may trigger dismissal and indifference on the part of most citizens. But the fact is that COVID-19 is now here, with one fatality confirmed. I am hoping that, because of our limitations, this will prompt one and all to refocus and reprioritise what matters higher (at least to me), which are health and wellbeing. Because if those are not present, then all the rest of our efforts are diminished, our best intentions mean nothing.
What was, and still is, a serious and growing global concern, is now here with us in Guyana. This is not exaggeration or misinformation, but the reality of what has come. With that reality comes another: we may say that we are prepared, but are we ready enough and equipped enough to deal with this still unmanageable plague?
I would hope so after all the robust assurances. I would hope also that our leaders would understand that, with this health development, the fixations and follies over things electoral should be relegated to the far backburner.
As I pen this, I recognise that this appeal is going nowhere. It is but another illustration of how far we have gone down the road that consumes, in our failure to appreciate that there are bigger things and more important things than elections.
That said, our political leaders, no exceptions, must be in the vanguard of confronting this issue that now faces us in a concerted manner. Let there be a moratorium, leaders must lead by example in bringing a halt to the sniping, kneecapping, and backstabbing that now prevails.
The New York Times in an analysis dated March 11, informed the world of, “A fumbled global response to the virus in leadership void.” The title alone tells the story of many words and less leadership. And, as if to confirm, the Wall Street Journal in its editorial of March 11, spoke towards, “The virus and leadership.” As the contents indicated, there was the usual political dustup from the top, while the disease ballooned and spilled; this one resisted being tweeted away. I would trust that we would succeed in overcoming our leadership deficits across the political spectrum here and join hands to combat this scourge that now menaces.
To be clear, there is no panic button that needs to be pressed. This is merely one of my usual calls for the greater commonsense of vigilance and corresponding protective action. One of such would be for all political leaders to insist, if not demand, that their supporters do not crowd public spaces, as the probability for contamination becomes geometric. May good sense take over.
International news coverage keeps the concerns front and centre, with the psychological pressures ratcheted up on countries and citizens. In Guyana, the word from the nation’s health stewards is that we are prepared and ready. That is partially comforting for the limited road it covers, now that one has died. The hope is that there will be no more developments that put those claims to any kind of test, given our struggling, still improving health care system.
The updates from the most prestigious health agency around, the WHO, has deteriorated along a steep trajectory that went from the guarded to the sounding of one alarm after another, with the final declaration that it is officially a pandemic. Now that it is officially recognised as a pandemic, which instills fear in countries far more advanced than Guyana, I pray that we will get some sense, and that we will adjust accordingly.
The instance of Iran should stand as a special example for us, as it is considered to be at a geographical and commercial crossroads, and with the voluminous human traffic that comes with those. As a New York Times article pointed out, “Religious pilgrims, migrant workers, businessmen, soldiers and clerics all flow constantly across Iran’s frontiers, often crossing into countries with few border controls, weak and ineffective governments and fragile health systems.”
Some, if not all three, of those enfeebling natural and official barriers compare well with Guyana, which could render our defensive efforts porous. I recommend that this issue be prioritised going forward in the media; it is neither secondary nor momentary, and all the stops need to be pulled out. This supersedes elections. None may wish to hear that, or agree with it, but it is where I stand.
As we fight over elections, we are most vulnerable, and I don’t care what any political figure or authority says to the contrary.
Our ongoing problem is that we have our own raging homegrown virus to deal with at the local level: it is called elections, and though not exportable, it is worse. It is all ours to grapple with, and I fear that on both counts – coronavirus, and elections – we are looking uphill.
My closing thought and wish is that this virus, however minimal, would sweep elections from public attention. I recognise that is not going to gain any reception.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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