“We have started to deliver to the people” – PM Phillips

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, August 16, 2020

While the fight against the coronavirus pandemic continues, Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Brig. (ret’d), Hon. Mark Phillips, said the PPP/C Government is moving head-on in bringing relief to those most affected.

The relief measures commenced with the restructuring and flattening of the “bureaucratic organisation”, known to be the former COVID-19 Task Force, established by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

The new Inter-Agency Task Force, established by the PPP/C Government, has shown it is more responsive to the needs of the people.

The structure of the new Task Force includes a team that is responsible for the work across the country, along with connecting with local and international donor agencies for assistance in the efforts.

Representatives include the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), CARICOM, and the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), among others.

The Task Force is also equipped with medical response, and economic and social response arms; both of which are guided by a secretariat that works out of the Ministry of Health.

Prime Minister Phillips, on Saturday evening, joined the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, on the National Communications Network’s (NCN) ‘Government in Focus’ programme, to provide updates on the new PPP/C Administration’s work plan regarding the virus.

“We have started to deliver as we have promised the people, both on the medical side and on the economic and social side,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

He related that the agency has already donated hampers, including sanitisation supplies, and Personal protective equipment (PPE), to persons all across Guyana.

With a surge in cases in the hinterland communities, the new Task Force has also ramped up efforts in, especially, Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuta), and Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), including villages close to the border.

Prime Minister Phillips noted that this was never done by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

“I am quite satisfied that the work we have done over the first week, and we are gearing for a continuation of our activities over the coming week, and there is a lot of focus on the hotspots in Regions Eight and Nine, Seven and One.” 

He said while the government recognises limited human resources in some areas, an active interagency approach will yield greater success.

“So, we have all the agencies of Government now better coordinated, not just in the [COVID-19] hotspots, but all across Guyana.”

The Prime Minister reminded that many citizens are out of work because of the pandemic. In this regard, the economic and social relief arm is ready to deliver.

End