The Opposition APNU+AFC coalition has once again expressed its interest to sit on the national COVID-19 Task Force.

According to APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Dr. Karen Cummings, the Public Health situation in Guyana has been worsening. She said the government should consider having all hands on deck to address this issue in a bipartisan way.

“We should be part of the Task Force. I have spoken to the Prime Minister and I am still to get a reply from him for us to be engaged in the Task Force, so they are very reluctant. We have so many things, we talk about vaccine hesitancy, public awareness, there are so many things to be done and we need all hands on deck for that.” Dr.Cummings who is a Medical Doctor by profession said.

She added that the government must be stern in its effort to enforce the public health laws and to ensure that the population adheres to those measures.

“We are saying that COVID will not be defeated until everyone is safe and the Guyanese are kept informed about the vaccine and its roll out, we are saying to the Minister of Health that the Public Health response must ensure equity in the distribution of the vaccines and no one must be left behind, Cummings said.

When the APNU+AFC was in government at the start of the pandemic, it had invited the then PPP opposition to be part of the National COVID-19 Task Force. The PPP refused and since it got to office, the COVID-19 situation in the country has been worsening.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon said the Coalition is alarmed of how COVID-19 situation in Guyana has turned out. He said the increase in both cases and deaths are due to several measures undertaken by the Government which could have been avoided.

He made reference to the opening up of the country before the virus is under control, the relaxing of measures and the poor enforcement of the regulations.

“The government, the task force, and the Ministry of Health appear to have lost complete control of the management of the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana, it is nothing short of a colossal failure in handling this pandemic. The measures are inadequate, the enforcement is abysmal, and the safety of citizens is not given the priority it deserves”, the Opposition Leader said.

Guyana has recorded more than 1600 new coronavirus cases in the past month with the death toll climbing to 233. A total of 36 deaths were recorded in the past 31 days.

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