Davis blasts “last-ditch effort” to contain COVID-19 spread

Davis blasts “last-ditch effort” to contain COVID-19 spread
Opposition Leader Phillip Davis (Keval Williams/EWN FILE PHOTO)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Opposition Leader Philip Davis yesterday said his party expected to be fully engaged in discussions with health experts at a special briefing this week, which he characterized as a “last-ditch effort” to contain COVID-19 community spread.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he extended the invitation for Davis and his team to attend a Cabinet briefing with representatives of PAHO/WHO, during his national address yesterday.

In a later statement, the Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador MP said the Opposition was denied an opportunity to engage during previous briefings.

The Progress Liberal Party leader said the prime minister’s national address represented a concession of his administration’s failure to contain community spread of COVID-19.

Davis said: “(Minnis) conceded that the healthcare system is overwhelmed, COVID-19 deaths are averaging one per day and the positivity rate is unacceptably high.

“The PLP is again disappointed that the Prime Minister took the opportunity again to blame this escalation in the spread of COVID-19 on the behavior of the Bahamian people when his government has not done enough to provide the requisite public education and sanitizing material to more effectively fight and mitigate against the spread of this virus.”

Davis also questioned the scientific rationale and evidence behind the government’s current domestic travel policy to Grand Bahama and Abaco compared to its international travel policy in and out of the country.

He added: “The Opposition awaits the consultation meeting with PAHO/WHO on Tuesday of this week as the PLP expects to be extended every courtesy and opportunity to become fully engaged in the discussions with the representatives of PAHO/WHO on any number of issues surrounding the country’s policy response to COVID-19, a courtesy denied the Opposition in a previous COVID-19 briefing with health experts.”

About Ava Turnquest

Ava Turnquest is the head of the Digital Department at Eyewitness News. Her most notable beat coverage spans but is not limited to politics, immigration and human rights, with a focus especially on minority groups. In 2018, she was nominated by the Bahamas Press Club for “The Eric Wilmott Award for Investigative Journalism”. Ava is deeply motivated by her passion about the role of fourth estate, and uses her pen to inform, educate and sensitize the public.