Shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Jermaine Figueira yesterday accused the government of encouraging the spread of the COVID-19 virus by ignoring flagrant breaches of health protocols at Saturday night’s Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) Futsal final at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
“It is time to stop this nonsensical and very dangerous approach which is costing lives. End the double standard and politicization of COVID-19. It must be treated as a matter of urgent national importance that involves all stakeholders with the aim of bringing the pandemic under control,” Figueira said before reminding government that “the ball is in your court to stop putting our people’s lives at risk and bringing the pandemic under control. Our people deserve no less.”
Up to press time there was no explanation by government or the organisers of the event as to why there was massive overcrowding at the Sports Hall.
Calls to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson went unanswered. Head of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Colonel Nazrul Hussain when contacted by this newspaper said that it would be against protocols for him to speak as he was informed via a media report that a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister will be issued.
Meanwhile, both organisers, President of the GFF, Wayne Forde and Kashif Muhammad declined to comment on the matter.
Forde told Stabroek News that they will be hosting a press conference tomorrow to highlight the challenges and successes of the tournament while Muhammad said a statement will be issued today providing an explanation on what occurred at the tournament on Saturday night.
Both Muhammad and Forde questioned why the newspaper wanted to highlight the event negatively as they said that the tournament has yielded many successes.
From videos and photos seen by this newspaper the arena had far more in attendance than its capacity. Many of those present were without mask and there was no social distancing.
Stabroek News understands that such an event, given the number of people present required a far more robust crowd control mechanism in place. Patrons were required to pay $2000 to gain access to the event.
“Getting into the event from the entrance was a hassle… Inside the Sports Hall all the stands were filled to capacity and people were still entering,” one patron told Stabroek News.
This newspaper was told that the event also ended after 12 am, thereby breaching the national curfew.
“This super-spreader event saw the attendance of hundreds if not thousands of Guyanese in and around the venue congregating clearly without observing the COVID-19 protocols, specifically the wearing of face masks and social distancing,” Figueira said in his statement.
“What is most concerning and very worrying is that while other groups are refused permission to hold similar events, the PPP/C is willing to risk the lives of Guyanese to permit a group that supports its political agenda to host a super-spreader event amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.
The APNU+AFC Member of Parliament expressed the view that no group should be given permission at this time to hold such events. However, “the government seems committed to enriching its elites, family, friends and cronies at the expense of the lives of the people of Guyana. The government needs to end this practice and not politicize COVID-19,” Figueira went on to say.
He stated that other groups were discriminated against when they requested permission to host events of a similar nature.
Figueira added that the actions of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport continue to place the citizens at risk for contracting the virus as even vaccinated people are becoming infected.
“While we are committed to the development of sports and our children being educated, the regime cannot recklessly place our children, teachers, other staff and our people at risk,” the opposition MP said before calling on the ministries to formulate a comprehensive plan to facilitate learning and the promotion and development of sports in a safe environment.
“Clearly, the various subject ministers are failing the people of Guyana. This is, therefore, a clarion call for the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to pull their socks up and give leadership when our country needs it most to preserve and protect the lives of our most valuable resources, our youth, our women, our elders, all of our people,” he added, before urging the ministers to end the “reckless abandonment of our people.”
