The Public Health Ordinance signed by caretaker President David Granger that was conferred to Volda Lawrence giving her new far-reaching ministerial powers in order to confront the coronavirus pandemic, in reality, has no direct measures listed to combat the deadly disease since it was just “copied and pasted” from a 1945 health ordinance by the coalition Government without being revised.
Former PPP/C parliamentarian, Dr Vindhya Persaud
This view was expressed by former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Dr Vindhya Persaud during an interview with Guyana Times where she expounded the minimal changes and draconian nature of the ordinance towards the populace.
Dr Persaud highlighted that no changes were made to the ordinance, which, according to her, becomes evident when both the 1945 and present-day edicts are examined and no direct measure for COVID-19 is found listed but rather those for other infectious diseases.
“If you compare what they put and you compare the 1945 public health ordinance which was used, it’s a cut and paste. Basically, what they have done is listed everything from that 1945 health ordinance and utilised it in the gazette…so they have not looked at the measures dealing directly with COVID-19 they just listed measures from an old ordinance what they’ve done is changed Governor to Minister of Health and what they’ve excluded is the Central Board of Health. This one would’ve given the Minister of Health overarching power to do a lot of things,” Dr Persaud said.
Consternation and great concern
The edict has already been met with public consternation and great concern, which Persaud strongly agreed with, while making mention of the fact that other countries plagued with the disease have not taken such a harsh course of action, adding that in Guyana’s case, locals who may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be afraid to report same.
“If you look at the cases around the world there are more deaths and more cases in many other countries and none of them would’ve put out such draconian and harsh measures, I think this is counter-productive because what it will do, even if people have symptoms they’d be afraid to report it, they will be afraid of the measures that can be taken…its either sinister and opening the door for them to do things to people or its stupid, someone just cut and paste and put it there,” she said.
Moreover, given the country’s political atmosphere due to the lack of transparency surrounding the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the former parliamentarian asserted that the powers given to both Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and the Health Minister should not be.
“There is also mention of the Minister of Finance using the consolidated fund and we already know that there is no Parliament, and in both cases where there are mention of Ministers of Health and Finance there are no Ministers right now so for me the legislation makes no sense and I think it’s totally ridiculous in light of what we’re facing.”
Influenza vs COVID-19
Meanwhile, former PPP/C shadow Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony is urging Guyanese to not be afraid to seek medical care if they are experiencing signs and symptoms connected with that of the coronavirus.
According to him, it is important that persons understand the seriousness of the virus and its similarity to influenza.
“It’s important that people understand the seriousness of the coronavirus, the coronavirus is something similar but not the same to the flu so you would get signs and symptoms like the flu so a lot of people who would get these signs and symptoms will not necessarily have the coronavirus,” Dr Anthony noted.
As such, Anthony is also encouraging those who may be diagnosed with the coronavirus to adhere to the standard precautionary measures.
“So, people shouldn’t be afraid of going [to] their medical practitioners or health centres for treatment. If it is that you don’t have flu and they’re able to diagnose coronavirus then the standard thing is that they give you a systematic treatment and have you isolated so that you don’t spread it.”
