In light of the novel coronavirus reaching Guyana’s shores with five confirmed cases of the infectious disease in the country, inclusive of one death, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling for a unified approach to deal with the situation
GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis
This was said in the context of the country’s political atmosphere due to the lack of transparency surrounding the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. As such, GTUC is calling on citizens and workers to put “aside differences and fight the disease as one.”
GTUC posited “we are dealing with a three” issues matter and as such, it must be tacked simultaneously by focusing on the health of the nation, the economic well-being of the people and the need for assurance.
Focusing on healthcare workers, the Union noted that our healthcare workers are our front-line workers and as such, measures must be given to support them to ensure they remain safe as they wage a battle in close contact against the virus.
“I am not aware of the adequacy of equipment they have in event of grave need but there is need for inventory and collaboration to ensure that every healthcare worker is adequately protected and safe whether they are in the public or Private Sector health care delivery. This is the same with essential respiratory support equipment so that every life is given a chance to survive,” the missive explained.
Further, the Union stated that all should come on board with the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) to eradicate the deadly virus since it is important that everyone has the same goals and recognise that the safety of one determines the safety of everyone despite political partisanship and efforts geared towards political mileage.
According to GTUC, the Public Health Ministry needs constant updates as to what mechanisms are being put in place to safeguard citizens consistent with public health guidelines. In fact, he implied that the group of Guyanese who arrived from Barbados via a chartered flight who are being quarantined at a location on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway after they were whisked away in a bus with Police and escorted to the quarantine facilities were “properly schooled”.
“It has been observed that some Guyanese who arrived from Barbados on a chartered flight yesterday are being quarantined. It is not clear if the authorities screened them before placing them on the flight and if they all practiced safety measures including wearing masks during said flight. One imagines also that those subjected to quarantine are properly schooled in its application not only to the wider society but even amongst themselves; that the appropriate supportive hygiene measures are there to facilitate handwashing etc.”
So far Guyana’s numbers of the virus remain low but GTUC stated that we must remain diligent and not lapse into a sense of complacency.
Recognising that this pandemic will adversely impact persons’ livelihood, the Union reminded the business owners that sending workers home for three months without pay is against the labour law. While some are being sent home for six weeks and this is permitted under the law in that regard; not being paid is a violation of the law and transgression of the workers’ right.
To this end, the Union is calling on the Government to examine relief measures not excluding the removal of value-added tax (VAT) on some essential goods and services to cushion the damaging effect of the virus.
“The Guyana Trades Union Congress is on record calling on the Government to examine relief measures not excluding the removal of VAT on some essential goods and services. Where this nation and world face a pandemic, it is the human and decent thing for Government to enact interim measures. Our current ongoing political crisis must not hinder the application of appropriate interventions” GTUC noted.
Stressing that the safety of all lies in the caretaker Government’s hands, the Union noted that Guyanese need constant assurance that the Government is on top of this situation and this must be evident for all to see. Concerns expressed that the Government is not doing enough should not be seen as a slight but rather fear and the need on the part of the Government to do a review, increase visibility and action.
