The Private Sector Commission on Friday expressed its disappointment over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said it was concerned that Guyana’s National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is not functioning in areas it is expected to.
In a press statement, the PSC noted that the pandemic “threatens the lives and economic welfare of all citizens and businesses of Guyana.” On that note the statement added that the NCTF, which was appointed to coordinate and oversee measures being taken by frontline agencies and to support those agencies, is not functioning in several key areas.
The commission reiterated its statements, first voiced since late March, that the NCTF should be restructured to “reflect a truly national task force” which would include all of the major stakeholders, social, business, religious and political entities from a wide cross section of the country. “The Task Force must include and embrace health professionals, private sector business support organizations, sectorial bodies, [and] NGOs” the statement posited, while adding that an economic committee should also be a part of the NCTF to address the impact that the pandemic has on the economy while implementing a recovery plan.
Further expanding on the economic impact, the PSC stated that it previously submitted a number of recommendations for economic measures to alleviate the financial impact on the country along with measures to cushion the impact on small businesses and even vulnerable citizens. Some of the measures it recommended included tax relief, emergency funding rescheduling of loans and mortgages, and even the deferring of payment for public utility services.
“In the current political environment, coupled to the COVID-19 health crisis, our economy is now fighting to stay afloat. Businesses are shutting down; employees have been laid off in some cases and citizens are without much needed economic relief,” the PSC stated, while adding that the country is now likely to experience its worst economic recession in the last few decades.
According to the PSC, from the inception it has supported the mandatory use of masks, and practicing of social distancing, while still believing that there is a major need for additional extensive testing, better management of public information, and the adequate provision of personal protective equipment along with improved contact tracing. “There must be national coordination in the management of this health crisis” the PSC declared.
It further expressed commitment to continue engaging with stakeholders even as it has already contributed to a number of outreaches across the country which were focused on economic relief and are prepared to provide assistance to the indigenous communities.
In a remark that summed up its feeling on the matter, the PSC ominously stated, “Tremendous uncertainty lies ahead for the remainder of 2020.”
