As places of business in the public and private sectors adopt and enforce the new requirement of showing proof of vaccination against COVID-19, Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, yesterday said he intends to request a Parliamentary discussion on “Mandatory Vaccination” during today’s sitting.
In a statement issued yesterday, Harmon said he plans to ask the Speaker of the National Assembly to allow a discussion on “what is obviously a matter of urgent, definite public importance.”
“The nation needs a clear sense of what is happening, what the plan is and to see political, religious and civic leaders working in tandem. The Coalition is once again saying that it is ready, willing and able to be engaged and believes that Churches and other Civil Society stakeholders should be given a voice in the process as well,” the Opposition Leader declared.
According to the new gazetted measures which took effect from August 1, public transport operators are required to show proof of vaccination in order to be allowed to ply their trade. It was also stated that persons requesting services at government ministries and agencies, entering restaurants and other places of business will also have to show proof of vaccination. Those persons wishing to visit government ministries and agencies and are not vaccinated are required to make an appointment prior to visiting for services.
Harmon in his statement, deemed the new measures as harsh and said that it has severely hampering the “ability of the people of Guyana to access public and government services. The extensive views and opinions expressed in the public have led to confusion, miscommunication and suspicion.”
The new measures have been greeted with mixed reactions from sections of the population as thousands are still against being vaccinated against the deadly virus. Several persons said that the measure is necessary and applauded the government for “finally” taking some action to stabilise the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have declared that it is an unfair move.
The government announcement of these new measures is geared toward achieving herd immunity.
With the measures already adopted by a number of entities in the private and public sector, supporters of the coalition opposition have been staging small protests across Region Four.
As of yesterday, scores of villagers from Victoria, East Coast Demerara lined the public road in protest against the measures and the demand for persons to be vaccinated by the Irfaan Ali led administration.
As of last week, many ministries, Regional Democratic Councils, and government agencies, have already put up notices advising unvaccinated persons to make an appointment before their visits in addition to providing a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to visit.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, last week explained that since these measures were implemented, more people are “trying to get themselves in order” and the government is very pleased about this. On Thursday he informed that more than 3,500 persons were vaccinated in a single day.
Thus far, he said, 260,403 persons have received a first dose, accounting for 53.5% of the adult population, and 143,302 person have received both needed doses, accounting for 29.4% of adult population.
The minister however iterated that while the vaccines do not prevent persons from becoming infected, they can ensure that they do not suffer from a severe form of the virus. He also advised that persons continue to abide by preventative measures such as like mask wearing and social distancing.
Up to yesterday, Guyana had officially recorded 22,843 cases to date, along with 554 deaths.
