PONTIUS PILATE

WHY Dr KAREN CUMMINGS IS NOT DEFENDING DISMISSED COMMUNUTY
HEALTH WORKERS (CHWs) even those in her own Region is anyone’s guess.
Dr Cummings was Minister Within the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) when her party, the A
Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition formed the
government between 2015 and 2020.
So, Dr Cummings was strategically placed to provide insight into the thinking behind a lot of the
policy decisions her Ministry took that would impact for the health of the 700,000-odd multi-
racial Guyanese society.
The lives and livelihoods of dozens of former CHWs have been mangled when they were let go
by Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health in the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)
coalition, after August 2 when his party defeated the APNU+AFC.
Anthony’s ministry explains that the 36 CHWs from Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four) were not
properly qualified for the post. But, a very knowledgeable source is rubbishing the MoH public
explanation.
“It was only those from Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) that approval was not secured for
their training. So, every other Region would have had, and completed theirs. So, the many
excuses being given are unacceptable (since) only Region Six had not secured approval for
theirs. Even if what is being offered as excuses is the case, the (36 dismissed) CHWs were
already trained. No way in the world, healthcare givers are not employed, especially in a
pandemic. This is sad,” the official said.
Many of the dejected former CHWs reached by www.aroundtheregions.com have the same
depressing story: their lives have been turned upside down; they remain unemployed; those who
are single mothers and/or the sole breadwinners of the family wish to see faint hints of the
promised silver lining behind the ever-darkening clouds.

Yet Dr Cummings has chosen the route of silence. Complete silence like the panic-stricken
Health Sciences Education Department armed with credible information to contradict
misinformation Dr Anthony’s Ministry’s has been peddling.
“People are afraid to speak these days. What seems to be the norm, is that stories these days have
one side, and it is hurting the growth and development of Guyana because people are evidently
fearful. That is why many are not speaking, or seem reluctant to call out the government for its
actions,” the former official explained.
The CHWs seem to be caught in the vortex of the country’s ongoing bitter political struggles
between the incumbent PPP/C, the main opposition APNU+AFC and other smaller parties. Dr.
Karen Cummings is among some dozen opposition legislators to survive from the 11 th
Parliament. So, she has, or ought to have, institutional knowledge of this particular issue.
It is bewildering why to date, neither she, nor former Public Health Minister, Mrs. Volda
Lawrence, has come to the defence of the hapless CHWs. Not surprising is the fact that
enigmatic Opposition Leader, Mr. Joseph Harmon, like the fabled Rip Van Winkle, has fallen
asleep on the job.
For his sake, let’s hope when he finally awakes, more than a solitary old friend recognises him.
But by then the CHWs might have won their battles. It is puzzling that former APNU+AFC
government officials and current representatives in parliament have been following Pontius
Pilate’s example of washing their hands from the controversy swirling around the trained-but-
unemployed CHWs.
“What harm can CHWs do to the government? This is really sad as most of the persons are
ordinary individuals and extremely small fishes in the sea. Therefore, they pose no harm to the
government. This is ridiculous, low and spiteful,” the one-time senior government employee
queried.
Speaking strictly on conditions of anonymity, the source said: “Somebody in Government should
tell their colleagues that this is unacceptable because after spending over six months completing

their training and some months working, these persons are forced to rearrange their lives and I
don’t know how could people sit by and accept it”.
Member of Parliament (MP) Karen Cummings will remember that under the government she
was part of, CHWs were integrally part of the much-touted Health Vision 2020, so there was
also completed training in Mahaica/Berbice (Region Five); Cuyuni/Mazaruni (Region Seven);
Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) and Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten).
Only approval for the 49 CHWs in East Bernice/Corentyne (Region Six) was not secured on time
because of Public Service Management (PSM) slothfulness.
“This is sad, this is painful and what makes matters worse is that you have an opposition that
seems incapable of highlighting and or demanding explanation from the government and this
cannot continue as people are not only frustrated but are angry over what is being meted out to
them. Guyana is certainly in a very sad place,” the official added.
“What I can tell you is that even to the supporters of the opposition have lost faith in their MPs
and that is why the government feel empowered to take advantage of these small people. The
opposition sits by arguing over this and that instead of standing up firmly demanding answers for
the CHWs that have been sent home. They are all silent, I have and continue to tell some of them
that they are useless,” another source said.