THE EDUCATION MINISTRY HAS RUBBISHED MEDIA CLAIMS THAT POLICE
ARRESTED SOME STAFF AND FORCIBLY REMOVED THEM from the 21 Brickdam
office because they violated existing gazetted COVID-19 protocols.
“Today, August 24, 2021, a staff member of the Ministry attached to the Personnel Department
of the Ministry at 21 Brickdam was denied entry into the compound because he could not present
his vaccination and identification cards nor a negative test result. However, he persisted that he
cannot be denied. entry and forced his way into the compound and took up his post at his desk,”
the ministry said in a statement.
The employee’s immediate Supervisor cautioned him about his breach of the Gazetted Order and
advised that he should leave the building but he refused to comply. According to the education
ministry’s statement, the Principal Assistant Secretary (PAS) Administration, who has
responsibilities for security also advised him to leave the building. He again refused.
“The supervisor attached to the security firm that is contracted to operate at the building was also
called to caution the staff member to leave the building. For a third time, he refused to leave. At
this point, the Guyana Police Force was contacted and officers arrived to address the matter. He
was cautioned by the officers and eventually decided to leave the building. He was not escorted
or handcuffed as is being reported,” the statement said.
It said “other staff who had breached security, violated the Gazetted Order along with the
Ministry’s instructions and entered the building… were (also) asked to leave the building in
accordance with the Gazetted directive and peacefully complied without being forced or escorted
out of the building.”
“The Ministry, therefore, finds it disingenuous that sections of the society chose to tell untruths
about other staff of the Ministry and the officers of the Guyana Police Force who performed their
duties in a professional manner,” the release said.
According to MoE’s pandemic policies, employees who refuse to take the covid jab are required
to provide a negative test result to their relevant Heads of Department (HODs) on a frequency
“determined by the Ministry”.
It reminded that some categories of persons including breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women
and persons who were tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days are given wavers by their
individual departments.
The ministry said according to its data, the majority of its staff is vaccinated and is in compliance
with the August 1 st to 31 st Gazetted Order about the adherence to the requirements that all staff
must present their vaccination and identification cards to enter any of the Ministry of Education’s
buildings. Before the incident, s reminder was sent to all HODs about strict compliance.
“The Ministry of Education wishes to state that it will not allow one or two deviant non-
compliant staff to tarnish its image nor put at risk any of its staff or members of the public,” it
reiterated.
“We ask that all Guyanese during this time act responsibly and work together to ensure the
safety of everyone,” the ministry release implored.
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