Rising COVID cases In Region 10 Trouble RDC members

CAVALIER ATTITUDE AMONG SOME INFLUENTIAL PERSONS in Linden is helping
drive the spread of the dreaded covid-19 ailment in the bauxite-mining town two Regional
Democratic Council (RDC) members have complained.
The health carelessness is exhibited by some with strong politically connections, while the same
haughty disregard for the safety of others can be found among others with strong financial
influence in the impoverished mining municipality in Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten).
“There are some persons who are very influential both politically and economically taking
COVID as a joke, so (that) the ordinary people are just following suit in my view. I will not take
away from what Councillor King said about the Task Force, but in my view the Regional Health
Officer (RHO), Dr Gregory Harris, being a medical doctor, on a number of occasions operates as
though the disease is a joke. If he isn’t demonstrating any concern or fear, why should the
ordinary people do?” the Councillor rhetorically queried.
The Councillor said that people are using the actions of those with medical competence to justify
their disregard for the disease and the daily guidelines from the office of Minister of Health, Dr.
Frank Anthony.
As such, the Councillor is convinced that Dr. Harris should set a better public example.
“Anyone may say that the RHO should do whatever makes him happy, but the reality is that
whatever he does has and still continues to affect how people see him. The REO has his taste of
being COVID positive and I guess that once the RHO survives, he himself will be better able to
get the public to know that COVID is no joke,” the Councilor added.

Sources have confirmed to this media house that RHO Harris was recently tested positive for
COVID19.
Another Councillor on conditions of anonymity strongly object to Lindeners attitude to the
deadly virus despite heroic efforts of the Regional Task Force with support from the law officers
led by Commander Hugh Winter.
“The police, under the leadership of Commander Winter, certainly is doing a great job, but the
reality is that the police can’t do everything, the public has to see it as their responsibility to
adhere to the guidelines and also to take required precautions as the numbers are increasing.
While in my mind Guyanese have not come to the point where they are really scared over the
death rate, it is getting there, where many may not even want to step out of their homes,” the
Councillor said.
The Councillor admitted that many RDC members are reconsidering attending meetings because
of the increased risk of doing so.
“I can’t risk my life and the welfare and health of my love ones in the name of politics because at
the end of the day when I am dead and gone, I will be forgotten like others,” the Councillor
lamented, recalling the sterling contributions and passionate dedication of the late Peoples
Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor ‘Gem’ Narine.
“There is a popular saying that when you dead another ‘Rasta’ will take your place and the
reality is that surely another ‘Rasta’ will take Gem’s place and we will just have memories while
her children are now left without a mother So the point, I am saying, is that COVID is
everybody’s business,” the Council said.
RHO Dr. Harris and REO Mr. Dwight John have to be constantly reminded about their civic
responsibilities in this regard.
“At the end of the day their actions have consequences and as a Councillor I am urging my
fellow Councillors to take the required precautions as COVID isn’t going anywhere and it's

evident that by the tune this is finished many of us would no longer be here,” the
Councillor warned.