‘We’re gonna have an uproar from the Private Sector if we shut down activities in view of COVID-19’ – installed PM Mark Phillips

Mark Phillips, Kit nascimento, Gerry Gouveia and Ramesh Dookhoo

It is apparent as is said in Guyanese parlance, ‘Money gotta mek’. The Private Sector is currently divided over who is to be blamed for the COVID-19 super-spreader that was the Futsal Football Tournament, hosted by the Kashif and Shanghai (K&S) organization.

Eyebrows were raised recently when an after-party associated with the event was allegedly hosted at Kashif Mohammed’s residence, a partner in the enterprise attracting hundreds of patrons, with little or no adherence to COVID-10 guidelines. Mr. Mohamed is the Chairman of the Sports Commission. On the heels of that activity was another installment of the Tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Club, again attracting hundreds with little respect for COVID protocols.

A recently obtained recorded conversation shows how divided members of the Private Sector is on the issue. Additionally, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force installed Prime Minister Mark Phillips appears reluctant to take any blame or apportion a penalty for the fiasco, with installed National Security Advisor and former Private Sector Commission Chairman Gerry Gouveia paying scant regard to the implications for public safety when such large events are mishandled.

“…The Futsal we had the complaints about. The organizers must take responsibility for that, yes. Moving forward, you know we can spend a long time trying to do a post mortem on this but in the same breath if this Task Force shuts down all activities that are sports related, shuts down all activities that are entertainment related like the cinemas that you claim may not be checking for the vaccines, you know we’re gonna have an uproar from the same Private Sector,” Prime Minister Phillips is heard saying on the recording.

Guyana is in the grips of one of the worst COVID-19 surges since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic with no end in sight. Health authorities believe that not only is the COVID-19 Delta variant here, but the Omicron variant as well. However, it seems for the authorities money has to be made, over the safety and preservation of human lives.

More, In The Ring.