Region Ten quarantine and isolation centres ready for COVID-19 patients

The release added that Gordon had expressed the feeling that his region was singled out for special treatment, but later heard his colleagues from other regions crying out and knew he was not singular.

It said he empathises with his colleague from the most populous region as they are “bearing the brunt for his and others. “This can’t continue… We have had to pay contractors and for other services, unfortunately we are very limited in this area,” he said.

The release said Gordon assured that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and other stakeholders stand united in the fight to ensure that COVID-19 is addressed aggressively while noting that while they have been making sacrifices, there is need for more stakeholders to play a part.

The press release went on to state that Gordon disclosed that “the seeming lack of interest being demonstrated by officers attached to the Ministry of Social Protection and Welfare is affecting their work.”

He noted that several of the issues affecting persons affected and or infected require counselling and increasing welfare assistance. As a result, he said, their refusal to assist the committee by being apart has further placed undue burden on the RDC’s already limited resources.

According to the release, Gordon said he has written the permanent secretaries and Ministers of both the Ministry of Social Protection and Public Health more than once because these officers should be playing a part given their mandate but unfortunately he is not getting the kind of assistance and cooperation from them.

He said he is, however, thankful to those groups and individuals both local and in the diaspora who have reached and stretched out to help.

Among those touring the facilities were Regional Health Officer Dr Pansy Armstrong, Deputy Regional Excutive Officer Maylene Stephen, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce Victor Fernandes, Regional Labour Officer Eleze Benjamin-Hall, the contractor and a number of doctors and medical staff.

The tour was geared to determine the readiness of the centres and to ensure that all works executed on the buildings were done according to the requirements of the Ministry of Public Health.