Worrying COVID-19 testing arrangements

Dec 16, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

On my business travel to Georgetown, Guyana from New York, JFK International Airport, via Miami International Airport to Guyana, everyone had to get a COVID-19 PCR test done, with results uploaded to the Ministry of Health Website for approval.
On doing so, I was granted approval via email confirmation.
I did the Rapid COVID-19 test in NY, by CityMD and got my results with a negative test results in 15 minutes via email confirmation.
At the CJ International Airport, it’s a total different scenario.
On arrival at the CJ International Airport, myself included, many more passengers were told that we had to get the COVID-19 test redone at a cost of US$80.
My response was that I got a COVID-19 test done less than 24 hours before my travel and also I was approved to entering CJ International Airport by the Guyana Government.
Then why didn’t the Guyana Government let everyone know on entering Guyana that there will be a fee of US$80 to get the COVID-19 test done on arrival.
The Guyana Government and the company doing the COVID-19 test at CJ International Airport is like a Fish Market.
One take your money, another gives you a receipt, another gives you the test kit, then you have to take it to the technicians to get the test done.
I was precisely told by the person in charge of the COVID-19 test that the results would be available directly to me via email within 24 hours.
I received my results 96 hours after it was taken, with test results being Negative.
The system is not working.
This administration seems to be doing everything backwards and very cumbersome for traveling to Guyana.
The entire system with the Guyana Government and this Laboratory, Eureka Inc. is worrisome and this is why I’m requesting that this letter be published so the public and passengers like myself can be heard.
This, in my opinion, is all profiteering from innocent Guyanese people and foreigners.
Most of the people, if not all of them got their Covid-19 test done for FREE on departure at country of departure.
For my understanding of the country as a whole, it’s going in the wrong direction with lots of corruption and favours.
On my return to NYC, I will seek assistance from my State Representatives to highlight such things with the Guyana Government immediately.
This is our country and we as citizens and the media, need to highlight issues.
I’m not affiliated with any political parties and I’m not asking for favours.
All that I’m trying to do is get my voice heard for the public to understand what’s happening.

Best Regards,
Frustrated Passenger

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