Granger’s government failed to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic

Sep 06, 2020 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Permit me to offer my humble views on the recent ramblings of former President David Granger with regards to the COVID-19 situation in Guyana. By now, any right thinking, intelligent minded Guyanese would have learnt to disregard any statements made by this once esteemed gentleman.

I read with utter disdain, the proffering of his opinions as to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Guyana in an article in Kaieteur News dated September 5, 2020 titled, ‘Surge in COVID-19 cases seen because PPP abandoned Coalition’s “strategic plan’.

Let me begin by asking, “What Plan?” As far as citizens were aware, the former caretaker President, David Granger, selected individuals from his Cabinet who were unqualified and thereby ill equipped to make critical decisions and take decisive actions early on. From all indications these individuals lacked the medical training and even an elementary understanding of the severity of the situation.

This was further compounded by the fact that there was little to no evidence of stakeholder consultations to deal with the far-reaching ramifications of this deadly pandemic. In this regard there was a multitude of false promises. Decisions therefore were not thought out and actions, when they were taken, were poorly coordinated. Simply put the former government lacked the technical capacity to make sound decisions.

How then can Mr. Granger describe with a straight face the actions of the Coalition in response to the pandemic as “strategic”? Perhaps Mr. Ganger was thinking of another adjective to describe the actions of his “high-level task force; please permit me to offer a few alternatives given the outcome, or lack thereof, of their interventions- sloppy, scant, sickly and stillborn.

There were no tangible results or relief forthcoming to the Guyanese people looking to their so-called leaders for reassurance. The task force head, former Prime Minister Nagamootoo was called out several times by the private sector bodies for failing to include key stakeholders and former Minister of Health, Volda Lawerence was upbraided for her “less than satisfactory” actions. There was also a resounding call for additional testing and effective contact tracing, all the while proposals and recommendations were given, including several measures to cushion the financial impact on the country and its vulnerable citizens. These concerned citizens may as well have been whistling in the wind as their calls and recommendations fell on deaf ears.

As if these examples in itself are not enough evidence of a failed attempt to lead, the Public Health Ordinance was another shameful show of megalomania on the part of the caretaker President and his cohorts, it demonstrated their deep-seated views that power was paramount over the pandemic and the preservation of the lives of the citizens of this country were of no consequence.

I dare say, this may very well be the “strategic plan” David Granger is referring to. In addition, part of the task force’ “strategic plan” to renovate and retrofit the flood-prone former Ocean View Hotel into a COVID-19 treatment facility is yet another example of an inept team and their bungled plan.

The PPP/C made a more impactful and concerted effort to bring relief to as many citizens as possible since the onset of the pandemic, even while the caretaker government was hanging on to power by gossamer strings.

Lead by the then Opposition Leader. Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, there was mass distribution of COVID-19 relief hampers and masks to the vulnerable sections of society. In the month since the PPP/C has taken office, the relief drive has intensified, there has been a gargantuan effort to clear the backlog COVID-19 tests, there has been an increase in testing, and the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony on Friday announced that the government is engaging Russia to access the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V from that country if it proves to be successful in fighting off the virus. These are but a few examples of a plan in action.

There are many more examples of the alacrity with which this Administration has responded to this national crisis. The citizens of this country can also look forward to additional relief measures in the coming days; His Excellency President Ali has recently announced that his government will soon be providing a cash relief of $25,000 to those citizens affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the caretaker government had made decisive moves to protect the citizens of this country instead of concentrating their efforts on stealing an election and hanging onto power at all costs, then we may not have been faced with the grim effects of a pandemic that was allowed to rampage unchecked and claim the lives of many of our Guyanese brothers and sisters. I say to Mr. Granger, keep whistling in the wind as the citizens of this country are much wiser and will no longer listen to your platitudes.

Yours truly,
Darion Camacho

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