Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon says that with the current trend, Guyana is likely to see the COVID-19 death toll reaching the 1000 mark by the end of the year.
The former State Minister is of the opinion that the government needs help in formulating strategies to curb transmission and deaths, but the regime continues to engage in ‘petty’ politics by shutting out the former government.
“[T]he PPP Government continues to play with the lives of our people. Currently, there are over 850 Covid-19 related deaths, and sad to say, with the current trend we might hit that 1000 mark before the end of the year. Since the PPP took office, we have been averaging at least 15-17 deaths every week, and not even this reality has sounded the alarm bell for this regime who continue to put profit and business over the lives of our people,” Harmon said.
He said that while the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony warns of the possible existence of the Delta variant here, the government refuses to institute stricter measures.
“This is a tragedy; we seem to be on a slow death march, without any signs of changing course,” he lamented.
Harmon noted that the government could benefit more from having the opposition on board.
“We want to make this very clear, we have said on multiple occasions that we stand ready to work with the Government on matters of national importance and national security, and to this end again call for a national multi-stakeholder approach to tackling this health crisis. An approach that brings all representatives to the table, we believe that if we are to win in this battle against COVID 19 we must do it together.”
He added, ” The PPP’s continued refusal to at the bare minimum, include the Parliamentary Opposition on the COVID 19 taskforce is testament to their inability to put country over petty politics. The sad reality is that this political grandstanding on a matter that poses a threat to the lives and livelihood of all Guyanese will only serve to prolong this fight against COVID 19. The time for platitudes, token gestures, and political sloganeering is over; the approach to fighting COVID 19 has to be one that sees all hands on deck; every sector, every agency; every party.”
Harmon took the opportunity during a press conference yesterday, to encourage citizens to get vaccinated with World Health Organisation approved vaccines.
