President’s measures to tackle COVID-19 too extreme – FITUG

President David Granger’s conferral of far-reaching ministerial powers on Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in an effort to respond to the global pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) is not sitting too well with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

The Federation, in a statement, related that the Public Health Ordinance issued by Granger earlier this week would heighten anxieties among the Guyanese people, especially those infected with the virus.
FITUG has said it believes that every practical step should be taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, but it fails to see how the Government’s measures can be really helpful.
According to the Official Gazette, under the order, the Public Health Ministry shall take measures to “restrain, segregate and isolate persons suffering from the disease, or who may, likely from exposure to the infection, suffer from the disease”.
Additionally, the Public Health Ministry “shall speedily bury or cremate the corpse of persons that died as a result of the coronavirus, in addition to providing curative care”.
More alarmingly, the directive to the Public Health Minister is that the Minister may “remove, disinfect, and destroy the personal effects, goods, buildings and any other article, material or thing exposed to infection from the disease”.
In no other country has any such authority been given, since the virus survives on surfaces only for a limited time.
“In fact, it is our considered view that it could force Guyanese who may contract the virus to become afraid to disclose their status, given the wide-ranging and vast powers that the authorities now possess. While the officialdom has sought to downplay concerns, we believe at the same time the extreme measures are completely unnecessary at this time,” the Federation has stated.
Moreover, the Federation said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had flagged Guyana as being among the least prepared countries in our hemisphere when it comes to addressing COVID-19.
“The IMF, from data at its hand, concluded that our country was among the least prepared in our hemisphere. Rather than seeking to catch up, an Executive Order was foisted on our people. That order has only, in our view, served to raise the already high temperature even higher, given the sweeping powers it has placed in the hands of the Authorities,” the statement read.
The Federation further expressed concerns relative to the shuttering of businesses and the measures the Government has been putting in place for employees and employers. Some businesses in Central Georgetown have temporarily closed their doors because of fears that the virus would spread, with five cases already being confirmed in Guyana.
It has been noted that the economic slowdown could linger for some time, yet it appears that there is no attention being paid on this front.
FITUG is contending that, “in other nations, we have seen pro-active public policies to alleviate such stresses on peoples and enterprises. This appears to be absent from our response, though it is very much an important and, we dare say, critical element.”
In fact, FITUG has said that with the Head of State issuing a proverbial blank cheque to the Public Health, Education and Citizenship Ministries, a dangerous precedent may result that would not augur well for accountability and transparency.
The Minister, via the Public Health Ordinance, has been empowered to prohibit or restrict the movement of persons within, to, and from, an infected area. The Order also empowers the Minister to call on the Guyana Police Force to provide enforcement assistance relative to its duties under the Order.
The Order has also called on the Ministries of Education and Health to take measures to control the spread of COVID-19 across educational institutions and in respect to immigration matters.
According to the Order, the Finance Minister shall expend from the Consolidated Fund such sums of money as may be necessary for the effectual carrying out of identified measures to be undertaken by the various Ministries.
The Order, which has since been gazetted, states that the “President considers that immediate action is necessary to address COVID-19, and declares COVID-19 as an infectious disease” warranting the special orders.
The Executive Order is to remain enforced until withdrawn by the President.