3 weeks’ notice needed before national shutdown – City Hall to NCTF

…as municipality unable to pay workers
…laments M&CC’s absence on APNU/AFC Task Force

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is calling on the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) to give adequate notice before making any announcement for a national lockdown.

Currently, the National Task Force, through the Public Health Ministry, has implemented a 6PM to 6AM curfew among a series of emergency measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Guyana.
As at Wednesday, the country has recorded some 139 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 11 related deaths. To date, 67 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease, while there are currently 61 active cases, including two in the COVID-19 ICU.

The curfew was extended for a second time last month until June 3. But with that date fast approaching and Guyana’s figures continuing to climb almost daily, it is anticipated that there would be a further extension to the curfew.
In fact, there have been talks of a possible national shutdown. However, no formal announcement has been made as yet, but Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine wants at least three weeks’ notification before any such announcement is made.
“I am kindly asking the National Task Force to communicate with us, and we also would like to have that notice to the Mayor and City Council, so that we can put things in place for the various markets that we control, and as well to see how we can able to strategise to deal with our workers,” he stated at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to Narine, there are depressed areas in Georgetown, and people who depend on the road for their livelihood. As such, there should be some strategies at the Task Force level in regard to how it would deal with those “depressed areas”.
The Georgetown Mayor further lamented the fact that there is no City Hall representative on the NCTF, even as City Hall manages the capital city.
He explained, however, that there is a team working along with the Ministries of Communities and Public Health, but there is no one on the NCTF.
“At the Task Force level, we don’t have anyone sitting there. However, I would like – we have a medical officer… I don’t know much about health, but she, as a doctor, is fully aware, and she can sit there to represent the City. I solely believe that a representative from the City [should be on the Task Force], you’re taking about the capital city… I would love to have someone sit there yes, but currently no,” he contended.
Narine went on to point out that the entire Government operates out of Georgetown and, as such, the Task Force needs to work more closely with the M&CC, as Central Government usually does.
“I just can’t make a decision because Central Government operates here [as well as], so we both have to make decisions together,” he posited.
On this note, the Georgetown Mayor posited that such collaboration is need, given the Council’s limited resources. In fact, he noted that he is not even sure where he would get money to pay salaries next month.
“As the Mayor and City Council, we’re very limited in resources. I don’t know how I will pay staff for next month. I’m seeking Government’s help. I did all they asked me to do…and supply it to Ministry of Communities. However, I do look forward to hear from Ministry of Communities and National Task Force, so we can do it together,” Narine stated.
Nevertheless, the Mayor called on companies in the City to ensure that they pay their rates and taxes.
The NCFT was set up by caretaker President David Granger back in March to coordinate Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is currently headed by Moses Nagamootoo as its Chairman and Joseph Harmon as its Chief Executive Officer.
Hamon was appointed to the post only last month, after being removed as Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency. He was handed most of the duties that previously fell under Nagamootoo’s portfolio.
Of recent, allegations have been mounting that the caretaker APNU/AFC Coalition, through the Task Force, is using COVID-19 as a political tool to hang on to power, especially when it comes to issues regarding the ongoing National Recount of the votes cast on March 2.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has had to seek permission from the NCTF to increase the number of counting/work stations from 10 to 12 to accelerate the pace of the 25-day exercise.
Most stakeholders, including the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), say that GECOM is an independent constitutional body and does not need approval from anyone to conduct its work. The Party argued that the guidelines previously outlined by the Task Force to maintain social distancing, among other things, during the recount can be used by GECOM as a model to implement additional work stations.