Uncertain leadership blamed for COVID-19 spike in Region Ten

ADMINISTRATIVE bungling is helping complicate a coordinated response to spikes in new
cases of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic gripping residents of the depressed bauxite-mining
town of Linden.
News blackouts, threats of legal action against www.aroundtheregions.com, and shrouding the
health status of Regional Democratic Council (RDC) employees who decision-makers left
exposed to the deadly virus in their office seem apparently the modus operandi by those tasked to
manage regional health sector.
There were 90 new cases of the deadly virus between November 21 and December 2 according
to official health statistics of communities comprising the 17,000 km 2 Upper Demerara/Berbice
(Region Ten) area.
Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Gregory Harris and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr.
Dwight John are avoiding accountability for the outbreak of the deadly virus which has killed
more than 150 Guyanese since it was first detected here in early March this year.
When it became obvious that the climb in COVID related cases will be of grave public concern
the Regional Health and Emergency Committee meeting (RHEC) cancelled further meetings
normally hosted in the RDC Boardroom.
www.aroundtheregions.com, was reliably informed that several RDC workers contracted the
deadly virus. Telephone calls to RHO Harris and REO John were unanswered. But the former
left what could only be described as threatening social media messages.
For good measure, Dr Harris also promised to sue this reporter. He warned this news outfit to
stay away from some issues because of their highly controversial nature, explaining chasing
down these types of stories is the main reason he denies this reporter interviews.
Harris bellyached about articles focusing on unjust practices allegedly endemic in the Region.

“You called and we spoke and that was it. This is the second article that I’m seeing about
victimisation. This period is very sensitive, and everyone needs to be careful. Da (That) issue (is)
finished …let it go. No need to be talking about one thing twenty times…is it you are looking for
a certain response?” the RHO queried in his social media message.
“Why are you always writing things about people. You see why I don’t reply to any of your
messages? You always write without peoples’ permission. What is it bro? You will find yourself
in problems for writing about people, anyway I done,” Dr Harris wrote in his online message.
Ministry of Health (MOH) PR boss, Mr. Daniel Singh denied there is an official government
policy of blacklisting this news outfit and promised to seek clarification from the Permanent
Secretary (PS) about issues emerging from Region Ten.
“It’s sad that the RHO has not seen the need to publicise (information that) will awaken people
to the harsh reality that Region Ten is certainly a hot spot (for COVID-19) when Region Ten was
considered as one of the safest regions in the early days of the deadly pandemic. However, it
isn’t the same today as it is one of the Regions in which we see COVID spreading exceptionally
fast,” a health official said on conditions of anonymity.
“The actions of the RHO are very worrying and regardless of one’s position politically on the
matter, action must be taken as his inactions continue to place more lives at risk. The fact that
several other employees at the RDC have been tested positive and a rapidly growing number of
infected cases requires urgent attention by all,” the official continued.
“Something has to be done urgently about this situation as while the Region Ten situation is
rapidly growing, we have a RHO who have chosen to remain silent. He is talking privately to
some of his doctors and nurses on selected social media platforms but doesn’t see the urgency
and importance of speaking to the public. Is this the level of leadership within our regions that
we want? I certainly don’t think so,” the official said.