CARICOM observer team to begin COVID-19 test in home countries

—similar test before departing Guyana

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 27, 2020

Members of the high-level CARICOM observer team, who will be scrutinising the national recount of Guyana’s March 2, 2020 ballots, will soon begin undergoing tests for COVID-19 in their respective home countries.

CARICOM’s Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRoque informed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh that arrangements will be made for the members of the team to be tested in their respective countries, using the World Health Organisation (WHO) approved PCR COVID-19 test.

The home tests for the novel coronavirus, is a requirement for the team, even as Guyana battles the pandemic here.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) decided last week, that should any member be unable to have the test done before they arrive in Guyana, they will have that test done here and will be quarantined for 48 hours while they await the results.

The Secretary-General also informed the GECOM Chairman that a request has been made for the WHO-approved PCR COVID-19 to be administered to the team before they depart Guyana.

GECOM had said that it is awaiting information as to when the team will arrive, before deciding when the national recount will commence.

The elections body said it is hoping to have the entire process completed within a 25-day timeframe. However, that will depend on the pace of operation, which it said will be determined after an observation of the first week.

CARICOM in the meantime said it has also requested approval for the departure and landing of a chartered flight from Guyana to collect the team members and return the same day. Similar arrangements are being made for their return, upon completion of the exercise.