PPP/C “Mask Up” campaign targets 25,000 distributions this week

…as food hamper drive begins

As the “Mask Up” campaign which was started by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali enters its second week, the initiative has set a target of delivering 25,000 masks for the week.

It is part of the party’s National COVID-19 Stakeholder Forum initiative.
Ali made the pronouncement via social media, that their aim is to distribute 25,000 masks all across Guyana for the week. He also announced that efforts are being made to secure 50,000 lbs of produce from farmers.

According to Ali, this is intended to go to vulnerable communities. Already, distributions were done in the Region One (Barima-Waini) communities of Matarkai, Oronoque and Quarry Top on Monday. There were also hamper distributions in several communities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In addition, Alberttown and Queenstown were visited by the team on Monday, while distributions were done on April 12 in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
On Tuesday, Ali announced that Mask Up distributions were done in Albion, Region Six and Supenaam, Region Two. In addition, both hampers and face masks were distributed in Port Mourant.
Some members of the Private Sector have also stepped up to the challenge, with construction firm Guy American Construction Incorporated being the latest one.
The company’s Health and Safety Manager, Kurt Jordan, announced their plan to distribute truckloads of hampers on the Corentyne Coast, Belle West and Wales, as well as Wakenaam.
“We have prepared 2000 hampers to distribute to the most vulnerable. The first truck loaded will be headed to the Belle West and Wales communities. The second truck will be headed to the Essequibo Coast, Region number Two.”
“The third truck will be headed to Blairmont, Region Five. And the fourth truck is headed to Canje, Sheet Anchor, Region number Six,” Jordan further explained.
In addition, credit was given to Nand Persaud Limited for their contribution to the hampers distributed in Port Mourant.
As of April 14, Guyana has recorded 48 cases of COVID-19 and six deaths. Government has also implemented a nationwide curfew and closed borders.

Economic implications
Many are worried about the economic implications, however, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rating Guyana as one of the least prepared countries, in a recent report they compiled.
Among the measures the institution recommended in the report were targeted measures to help everyone, particularly the most vulnerable. It had cited the case of Brazil, which announced an economic package to cushion the economic fallout of the virus.
The IMF had urged targeted fiscal monetary and financial market measures in order to mitigate the economic impact of the virus. It had recommended that Governments should use wage subsidies and tax relief to help affected households and businesses to confront this temporary and sudden stop in production.