The surge is worrying

Apr 16, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Many more cases daily than before, consistently so. There is a relentless, similarly alarming, trickle of deaths. Whether one, two, or four, those deaths remind all of what is in our midst, not going anywhere, and which intensifies with the language of this viral pandemic. It is of Sars-COV-2 and COVID-19, and P-1, surge and variants, and variants of variants. Lord, help us!
I could care less about whether the government is liked or not and supported or not, which is not under discussion here. Rather, my concern is of encroaching worrying risks. To its credit, and I dismiss any contrarian media or partisan dissent, I think that government has handled the vaccine distribution efficiently. I commend the Hon. Minister of Health and his expanding team of health professionals for yeoman efforts under gruelling circumstances. Like the UN, I am concerned about vaccine corruption, which I watch. I am also negative about possible, still hidden, COVID-19 cash relief distribution corruptions. To put differently: whenever a million (or less) is involved in Guyana, and under public service auspices, temptation and individual crumbling occurs. We are talking billions here. I watch. But pardon aside, as I return to risk.
I reduce this to finance terms: the greater the risks taken, the higher the possible returns. There are also the corresponding greater risks for going down in flames, meaning catastrophic losses. It is no different with this hard to destroy virus, which eludes most efforts at complete eradication.
What is at risk is me and fellow citizens. We have some control over that, but when we lack restraint and take risks, in disdain for rules and protocols, then we may (may) get away momentarily with arrogant swagger that impresses the ignorant, lures fools. Thus, we may win some space for ‘passive resistance’; but at some cost. Somebody, perhaps one loved comes close, with possible vulnerabilities; trouble looms. When we disregard, we may be doing damage, without even knowing, maybe not even caring from where sourced (self) and where it could lead (serious loss). I wrote this sometime before, but authoritative studies have confirmed that minorities are statistically more prone to infection from the virus. In Guyana, our majority consists of such coloured minorities in the big towns and unhearing gatherings. The Fourth Horseman tramples upon the daring standing in his path. That horseman is not the police; he is not sickness or job loss and distress, which has had global waves; he is death.
Therefore, I insist that there is so much more that we can do as citizens, to whom I appeal to observe the rules. Social hangout places have ignored; disdainful citizens, thus, hang themselves. Some left the church on Ash Wednesday and objected during Holy Week, when politely reminded about Task Force protocols. Yes, we are this unruly, this disorderly, and this full of ourselves. A serious surge can really send us scurrying for safe harbours, with ports closing. Neighbours are out. Listen, please. Comply.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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