NCTF grants approval for trade unionist Komal Chand’s body to return home

─ following its weekly statutory meeting

DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 18, 2020

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) on Monday evening disclosed that approval has been granted for the body of the late trade unionist Komal Chand to return to Guyana from Cuba.

Chand and his wife travelled to Cuba earlier this year to seek medical attention. However, Chand, 75, died on April 8, while receiving medical treatment there.

Following the closure of the two main airports after the implementation of the emergency measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, Chand’s body could not be immediately returned to Guyana’s shore

Following its virtual statutory meeting, the NCTF stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings met with the son of the deceased and spoke to Mrs. Chand via telephone, to convey the government’s decision.

Dr. Cummings also extended sympathies on behalf of the government.

Chand joined the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) in 1975 as the union’s organising secretary and later served as President up to his demise.

Described as an individual who was committed to his work, he dedicated his career to fighting for the protection and rights of workers in the sugar, rice and numerous other industries in Guyana.

Meanwhile, today’s NCTF statutory meeting also considered several applications of various groups of Guyanese overseas who are desirous of returning home

These approvals are subject to the satisfaction of all requirements of the Ministry of Public Health and other relevant ministries, the NCTF stated.