Dear Editor,
We have a problem situation on our hands with these COVID-19 surges. Relative to our prior circumstances, I would have to say we are in some part of local super surge equivalents. I regret to share that it could be early days yet, given our traditional behaviours, because the willful ignorance displayed at many levels will cost us severely. How could we be carrying on like this at a time like this is baffling to me? For too long the powers have gone it alone and got by. What happened with our sense of decency, some regard for honesty? We don’t have any situation under control and nothing is further from the truth, and with that comes the wisdom to appreciate the power of our present danger. Let better sense prevail, and I think we may have some of it still left. It must be none other than this: Heads put together, arms linked, shoulders at the wheel. To all I say, get off the election horse, even as it continues to trample us, even when we delight in reassuring ourselves that we have beaten it to death.
I emphasize that we must have the common sense to recognize that what is in the midst of us could be the death of us. I go somewhere else to remind us all of something else from a matter of mere months ago. We had what was then declared to be our worst natural disaster. But I stand here with this: what we have right now before us is worst; it is not by inches since there is no comparison. This is clear and present danger; and anybody who cannot discern that is beyond remedy. Why is our curfew still at the comical level that it is, given what rages with increasing intensity? This should not be, not when I heard a man of relevant learning appealing to citizens in the midst of today’s (Thursday) spike to stay indoors. We had better get this thing right, and I caution that the window of opportunity is narrow to the point of being tight.
On another note, with early reports of 65 teachers and 44 students stricken, our schools should not remain open. Anybody who thinks otherwise leaves me no option but to think the absolute worst of him or her. I would make an allowance for Forms 5 and 6 students only due to the proximity of examinations. Besides those children, the others should be in the protection of their homes; if only to afford us time and space to collect our senses, gather the facts, and weigh our options. As I consider all this, I have to ask myself who is protecting whom and why? The bottom line is this: in the center of what amounts to a national hour of challenge, there must be a national response. Any other way would be representative of the worst failure, the most denounceable dereliction of responsibility, of abandonment of duty. I close: we have a problem, failure is not an option. Going it alone will hurt.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
