PNCR must put the nation first

Our PNCR Opposition continues on the path of self-destruction as it politicizes the Government’s acquisition of vaccines to save the lives of its citizens. The PNCR never misses a chance to remind the nation why they should never be elected again to office. During the period of attempted rigging after the March 2020 election, the PNCR used the COVID task force to delay the recount by limiting the number of counting stations. That’s about the only thing the politicized task force accomplished. Now that the Government has worked feverishly, beating the bushes to acquire vaccines, the PNCR resorts to calls for delaying vaccination. There are some countries that will not get access to vaccines until 2022. We are lucky that we can get vaccines to buy at this time where demand exceeds supply. The PPP Government should be complimented for doing all it can to obtain vaccines for its people. It’s also using multiple customer-friendly strategies to go into communities and vaccinate the people. The Government is doing its job, and it’s now for the people to care about their own health and get the vaccine immediately. If you did not get vaccinated, when things go bad for you, don’t blame the Government.

The nation wants the Opposition to make the Government accountable and ask questions about costs, but to deliberately become obstructionist and create controversy at a time when we need all leaders and people of sound mind to encourage the laggards among us to get the vaccine, the PNCR is going on the wrong track. It should be concerned that many of its supporters have not taken the vaccine. (They can lose votes if supporters die!) Won’t it be nice if the entire Parliament holds a telethon type of event to encourage the unvaccinated to step forward? Won’t it be nationalistic if we can see President Ali and Mr. Harmon appearing together and calling on the nation to take the vaccine? There is a time for raw politics, and there is a time when we must lay aside our differences and close ranks when the nation’s well-being is at stake. If the vaccination programme fails, the nation fails. “A hole in the boat, is a hole in the whole boat.” The Opposition should not contribute to the problem and feel gleeful delight if the Government faces great challenges in mobilizing all the people to be vaccinated. When it comes to the life or death of our people, we are all Guyanese and we are our brother’s keeper. We should all support and be invested in the nation’s health. Much thanks to all the Doctors, nurses, Minister of Health and staff, and various vaccination teams for what they are doing to keep the nation safe. A grateful nation thanks you. Mr. Harmon and PNCR, please get with the programme, and put the national interest first!