More army force to look upon COVID-19 protocols breakers 

Guyana: Dr Irfaan Ali declared that more army and police would be on the ground to look upon COVID-19 rule-breakers. Business buyers and managers who ridicule the Task Force rules will experience more significant consequences.

The Prez made these announcements during a Presidential Press Briefing at State House today.

In explaining the questionable nature of dealing with rule-breakers, the Head of State used last weekend as an instance, where over 1000 people were on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

He explained that arresting them would have caused overcrowding and could have led to more infections. To counter this, the Head of State said that his administration would go after persons who create the environment for these environments, including corrupt business owners and managers.

“I have asked the Prime Minister (Head of the COVID-19 Task Force) to discuss with the task team how we now shift the focus on the owners of these facilities and the managers of these amenities. If the owners and managers allow these violations at their facilities, then they will be charged to the full range of the law.”

The Prez said that moving ahead, and there will also be a more robust enforcement method.

“We are now going to add more extra boots on the ground from the army and the police to support that implementation, and we are going to put more resources into this.”

The President remarked that he was dissatisfied with the attitude of some Guyanese, who continue to disregard the stipulated guidelines that are in place to protect the health of all.

People need “to realise that their lives matter, the lives of their family members matter, the entities of people in their community constituents and that they can’t be this reckless”.

According to the Prez, regardless of whether people have been vaccinated, they must follow the COVID-19 protocols.

“We had hoped that conventional sense would have commanded in following the established guidelines, but regrettably, it hasn’t. The enforcement, therefore, of these guidelines will be further extended and enhanced.”

VACCINATION

The Head of State announced that the regime is taking every measure to have everyone vaccinated to fight the respiratory disease. Though not compulsory, every resident’s accountability is to understand the importance of the immunisation process.

“These vaccines come with a counter life, cost for accommodation and transportation, which are huge, and will not forever be possible.”

NATIONAL COALITION ON VACCINATION

He stated that although the vaccination method is not mandatory, it will help the nation rebound from the pandemic’s effects.

To guarantee that Guyanese recognise the significance of the process, the administration has been engaging with various bodies, including civil society, political parties, the religious population and the private sector, to build a political coalition.

This coalition, according to the Prez, will boost and motivate people to take the vaccine. Moving forward, the administration might adopt similar strategies as some other nations, including preferred treatment for people vaccinated.