Questioning if an attempt is afoot to “sideline” certain persons during the ongoing recount of votes cast at the March 2nd polls, Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and attorney Timothy Jonas yesterday revealed that he has been contacted by the Public Health Ministry to undergo testing for COVID-19.
Jonas, who said he was told by the ministry that the request was made based on reports that he exhibited respiratory symptoms, dismissed the reports and said he would continue to participate in the process after obtaining certification from his own doctor to verify that he has no symptoms.
Jonas participated in the national recount being conducted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Thursday.
In a live video on his Facebook page last evening, Jonas noted that he was not scheduled to return to the venue yesterday since “there was another person on rotation.” He went to work instead but saw comments on Facebook alleging that he has COVID symptoms. He also received a phone call yesterday morning while at work from an official of the Ministry of Public Health and was told that it had been reported that he had respiratory symptoms.
As a result, Jonas said he opted for a live video so that he was “not in a position to edit out any coughs and sniffles—I want you to see me live.”
After taking a deep breath during broadcast, Jonas said “so all air passages are clear, everything’s clear. I’m good.”
Noting that some anonymous person, from a long distance, assessed him as having respiratory symptoms and informed the Health Ministry, Jonas said he insisted to the caller from the ministry that they write a letter and he undertook to uplift it, which he did. He disclosed the letter stated that it had been reported that he was demonstrating respiratory symptoms.
“This is amazing!” Jonas declared.
Noting that the doctor to whom he spoke at the ministry is an official there, Jonas said by his estimation he appeared to be “honest,” “hardworking,” and merely doing his job and not wanting to be involved in “political ugliness.”
The attorney said he pointed out to the doctor that it was clear that he had no symptoms. However, the doctor then responded by saying that some people are asymptomatic. Jonas pointed out that if his letter said that it was reported that he has respiratory symptoms, it was difficult for him to understand the doctor’s response.
Assuring that he has no symptoms, the lawyer said that it led to “a more sinister question” as he asked whether an attempt was being made “to sideline people who may be inconvenient to the authorities.”
“You judge for yourself,” Jonas said, while adding that he will also visit his doctor and request of him to certify that he has no symptoms.
The attorney said that upon entry at the Conference Center his temperature was taken and he was allowed in.
He said he had even travelled to Berbice earlier this week and his temperature was taken at the bridge where a station for so doing is set up and was again taken on his way back and allowed to proceed.
“What respiratory symptoms are these people talking about?” Jonas questioned.
He said the after he gets a certificate from his doctor stating that he is not showing any symptoms, he will then respond to the Ministry of Health in that regard.
He also asked that persons make their own assessment as to the truth “as in a larger context in Guyana we all have to make our own assessment as to what is the truth.”
“Please have a good weekend, you will see me at the Conference Center once I have all my certificates,” the lawyer said before ending his live recording.
ANUG is one of the new parties which contested the general and regional elections.
Both the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition and the main opposition PPP/C have claimed victory at the polls. With the tabulation for Region Four marred in controversy, both main parties have agreed to a recount of all ballots cast. The exercise commenced on Wednesday and is expected to last for a total 25 days.
