Region 10 to hold ‘shut down’ against the mandatory vaccination policy

The elected leadership of Region Ten which includes Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Devin Sears, Regional Chairman Deron Adams and Mayor and Deputy Mayor Waneka Arrindell and Wainwright Bethune, have signaled their disapproval of the mandatory vaccination policy taken by the Government of Guyana and other things. To register this disapproval, the leaders have organised a shut down, slated for Monday 6th September from 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. This shut down is part of a series of demonstrations the leaders have been involved in recently.

Last Wednesday the leaders organized a unity march, which saw scores of Residents of Region 10 protesting against the vaccination policy. In a statement, the leaders described the policy as dictatorial and discriminatory as many public servants, including healthcare workers are denied access and entry to their places of work. “This action has placed the health and safety of our region at severe risk of a greater and catastrophic health crisis than what currently obtains, hence being the lowest vaccinated region. It is important to note that our region already has a shortage of much needed doctors and nurses due to transfers and a migration exodus to foreign lands. Further, there are shortages of much needed and necessary equipment, medical apparatus and the required amount of gears and drugs to effectively and efficiently manage an increase of COVID-19 patients in the region and it’s most worried some,” the statement said.

The leaders accused the government of intentionally and strategically targeting Region 10.

“Hundreds of our residents are still not in receipt of the COVID-19, hundreds were taken off and denied public assistance, many of our farmers have been denied the cash grants to assist in their rebuilding, our pensioners are concerned about not getting their promised increase, and the denial of bonafide residents of the region access to house lots at an affordable price, to mention a few solidifies this view,” the statement claims.

“As a result of this, the region stands resolute and united to continually reject this government’s dictatorial imposition being placed on our people and we will resist and fight against it to the hilt. We will stand firm in defense of our people until this decision that affects our people and by extension every Guyanese citizen is reconsidered.”

At the time this statement was issued, teachers from across Linden were protesting in front of the Region 10 Department of Education, against the vaccination policy. Schools are slated to be reopened on Monday.