Hon Penn slams Hon Malone for ‘undocumented COVID-19 cases’ comment
The Territory has reported 47 COVID-19 cases, with some 38 active.
"We believe that we are seeing the tip of the iceberg and there are more person possibility infected in the population who are asymptomatic and can readily spread the disease. Which means that we may have many undocumented cases of who are transmitting the virus," Hon Malone said during a September 1, 2020, COVID-19 update.
‘Totally irresponsible’
In a statement today, September 3, 2020; however, Honourable Penn said while he commends the Government for its continued efforts to manage the ongoing crisis, “I found it to be totally irresponsible for this administration to announce unsubstantiated information of almost 1,500 undocumented cases of COVID-19 in the public space.
Hon Penn claimed that the comment has engendered fear and panic among residents.
“Additionally, the reported high numbers can create negative perceptions of our residents and the country as a whole…, not only regionally but on the international stage. These perceptions bring into question our ability to manage the virus and create an unavoidable stigma as it relates to the Territory as a whole.”
Mass testing
The Opposition Leader urged the avoidance of speculation and to do mass testing throughout the Territory so that an accurate conclusion can be arrived at.
“I implore, our Minister of Health, to ensure our hard working health officials have the necessary support, resources and test kits…, to administer mass testing throughout the entire territory and ascertain accurate data on the territory’s COVID-19 circumstance, based on evidence and, not speculation.... although these suggestions may seem minuscule, they will bring much needed comfort to our population and renewed confidence in our economy,” Hon Penn stated.
So far, confirmed cases have mainly been discovered on Tortola, in Huntum’s Ghut, Lower Estate, Long Bush, Cane Garden Bay, Hannah’s, Purcell Estate, Fat Hog’s Bay, Sea Cows Bay, Lambert’s Estate, and Road Town communities.
"While we don’t exactly know how much spread is caused by our asymptomatic group, current estimates place our undocumented cases at approximately 1, 482 persons at a minimum," the Minister for Health had said.
While Government has not made COVID-19 testing mandatory, it has invited persons who believed they may have been exposed or experiencing symptoms to get tested for free.
45 Responses to “Hon Penn slams Hon Malone for ‘undocumented COVID-19 cases’ comment”
how can a responsible member of the government publicly make such a rash and unsubstantiated comment such as this.
having done so very well in managing the health team it is very odd that he would say something like this.
respectfully submitted
I believe that Hon Malone did what was necessary to bring home the point the only way he could. He is out there in the frontline and hav
ve much better grasp on the reality. The reality though is that his point will hit the hard heads when dead bodies starts the count. In urgency amid a crisis such as this Gov member should be supporting each other and not attempting one up manship with juvenile tattle and tug of war for personal attention.
https://www.facebook.com/1441913616125188/posts/2703706249945912/
We the people are doing the best that we can concerning the circumstances. But when politicians has to bullY us and over reach into our lives and business and even go as far as to threaten the PEOPLE with a lockdown like it’s only our fault.
I REMEMBER THE TERM TRANSPARENT - BUT THAT WAS FOR ELECTION PURPOSES ONLY - NOW IT IS MY WAY OR YOU GET LOCKDOWN. I WONDER IF WHEN THEY WAS GROWING UP AS CHILDREN THEY EVER DREAM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO SHUT A COUNTRY DOWN BECAUSE THE PEOPLE GIVE THEM THE POWER TO.
The equipment for life saving in this COVID is a ventilator. A ventilator for each COVID patient. Approx 40,000 people in the VI and
there are 8 ventilators. Hospital beds, nurses..Ambulances?
If there ever was a time for a wakeup call in the bvi, it is now.
The la de da attitude in this place needs a big adjustment.
For instance if United States president had taken the suggestion of president Obama and prepared the country for the pandemic many thousands of lives would have been saved. The Ministry of health is working on a statistical model that makes forecast and that is how that projected figure came about. After Hon. Penn made that statement more cases were discovered in the territory and God forbid we may have more and the figure keeps increasing.
Should we wait until that figure is realize then we will take precaution. Certainly, I don't think so. It is not a matter of creating fear on the population but it is better to prepare than to be sorry. If president Trump had taken the warning in 2017, over 7,000,000 cases would have been avoided and almost 200,000 lives would not have been lost. Hon. Penn you are not thinking of your people and as such I will encourage the voters of the Eight District to vote you out at the next General Election. You sheltered under the NDP administration and now you are exposes.
Hon Penn
Suddenly you care about Tola people when you sat with your political friends who for 8 years stole our tax money:
1. Man fully paid school wall not complete
2. 40 million overrun pier park not done
3. 8 million gone sewage not corrected
4. Over 10 million gone and we still have to fly on LIAT
The people of the territory have been hit hardly by an unforeseen circumstance however your political leadership intentionally stole our tax money
Mr Penn
Those millions you and your crew mismanaged when in political office for 8 years our people could be using right now(talk to me)
The issue is speaking about:-
All our tax money gone under your party and WE have nothing to show for IT
The entire universe have been devastated by COVID 19: little BVI have been impacted
Hon Penn
Stop pointing fingers and stop letting NDP use you like a clown to speak poorly about where you were born.....join hand in hand///stop the talk