M&TC flouts Health Committee’s recommendations to close Linden markets

As Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) continues to see an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, the Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) of Region 10 said that it is displeased that the advice that was given to the Mayor and Town Council of Linden, to close the markets for three days has not been accepted and is, therefore, asking the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) to intervene.

The RHEC expressed that it had several discussions on the matter at their trice weekly meetings at which the Chairman of RHEC was mandated to pen a correspondence to M&TC formally expressing its concern and the need to act expeditiously.
They revealed that Mayor Waneka Arrindell responded through electronic means, stating that the M&TC will make every effort to sanitise.
RHEC indicated that the Mayor said that her Council has sought to do some sanitisation, stating that a number of places have been sanitised. However, on the issue of market days, she didn’t respond, only stating that the markets are a main source of income for the Council.
“The markets will remain as it is, open every day of the week. It is clear that the issue of closing the markets for three days to maximise social distancing was not taken on board,” RHEC said on Friday.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian underscored that he is disappointed at the Mayor and the Council’s actions, taking into account that she was one of the persons from the inception who had suggested a number of stringent measures to be adopted by the town in combating the virus.
“The markets cannot be so important that people’s lives and safety do not matter and the Council should be held accountable and responsible for their inaction on the issue,” Morian said.
Also, Head of the RHEC, Orrin Gordon echoed similar sentiments, arguing that while he understands that revenue is of paramount importance, the Mayor and her Council should remain cognisant that immediate and stringent action has to be taken as the lives and safety of residents are at risk with the continued non-monitoring of the markets where persons feel free to congregate in larger than provided for numbers.
President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes stressed that all the Committee seeks to do is to ensure that non-essential activities/services are not permitted, especially considering the large crowds that gather in the markets to drink.
“I believe that the Council is seeking sympathy from the vendors and workers so when we (RHEC) take action and forced closure of the markets they may use it as an excuse for being unable to pay employees but they must be cognisant that we are seeking to take preventive actions that help our residents’ wellbeing,” he said.
The Committee further expressed the view that if the infection numbers increase in Region 10, the Mayor and her Council’s inert response would be dubbed as contributory.
RHEC recently started intensifying its efforts to eliminate the spread of the deadly virus in Region 10, by adding a new health and safety feature, which is a temperature testing site that is presently set up at the entry into Linden at Bamia, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
Vehicles are now being sprayed at the checkpoint, which serves as a main security entrance into the region.
On Wednesday, the region recorded its 10th COVID-19 case, with one death linked to the virus.