COVID measures draw more political fire

The management of the coronavirus pandemic has again found itself at a political crossroads as Opposition Leader Joseph Atherley on Thursday seized the opportunity to chide the Government on its measures.

On the heels of concerns about the safe zones raised by the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), Bishop Atherley has questioned whether Government consulted with the doctors’ association over its intended move to relax the curfew.

On Wednesday, BAMP president Dr Lynda Williams called on Government to temporarily suspend its safe zones initiative until after further consultations.

Stressing that he was thinking “in the best interest of national health”, Bishop Atherley said he did not understand why Government continued to put the proverbial carriage before the horse, noting that this was not the first time Government rolled out a policy only to have to take it back to the drawing board.

He recalled that he had asked for clarity after Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Government was moving ahead with the establishment of safe zones last month.

Bishop Atherley told Barbados TODAY: “I think it is unfortunate the way Government continues to go about these critical matters. It always gives the appearance of bumbling, that it is so rushed they are never ready. They roll out something and then you have to roll it back and you roll it back after consultation with people who are medical experts in the field and whose advice you can benefit from. Why don’t you get the advice in the first place?

“I know Government has its team of health professionals, the Ministry of Health on whom they would rely on for advice and guidance and that is to be understood and I trust that they would be listening to them, but you and I know that sometimes people who are operating from the vantage point of the public service can’t always say what they need to say and sometimes their advice is not listened to.

“I have cautioned Government that it would not be good that we respond to this serious health crisis and not give full ear to the medical professionals who are part of the public service health team, but of course there are medical professionals outside of that with whom you could consult. Why not consult upfront rather than wait and do it from behind and then have to pull back? Important matters like these try to get it right first. This COVID thing is serious and the response must be serious and urgent but we have to get these things right and simple things we can’t continue to bungle because we do not put the requisite consultation process in place.”

He said if BAMP was not consulted on the safe zones, he wondered if they were consulted on the decision to relax the curfew.

Bishop Atherley maintained that major decisions such as these should be made with the best possible advice and with the interests of Barbadians at heart.

He said: “One has to wonder the extent to which Government is listening to the voice of the medical professional opinion. It is not surprising to me that Government is now talking about relaxation possibly of the curfews. There is pressure from the business sector, there is pressure inbuilt in the whole process because Government wants to make sure it gets this tourism season off to a good start and that tourists are welcomed here and have the opportunity to enjoy their stay.

“I do not know the extent to which the medical opinion is saying that we can relax these curfews at this time but I suspect it is the economic interest, particularly so the tourism sector that is driving this and I also suspect that we have to have a good tourism season in order for Government to feel it is in the best position possible to take some political decisions a couple or few months from now.”

“I’ve always said this and I maintain that when we have to make these decisions we should put in first and priority position the national health and wellbeing. Economics comes secondary and certainly, politics comes way behind. We should be guided by what is in the best interest of national health.” (RB)