The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

The unfortunate illness of Brave Davis and the dramatic rise in deaths and hospitalizations convince all reasonable observers of the Bahamian society that COVID-19 is a serious virus. Frankly, I don’t wish to engage with anyone on this topic who believes otherwise. My advice to such people is that they have private conversations with others who might be able to help them think through this.

In light of the severity of COVID-19, we need a coherent, aggressive and singular approach. We need to give the Prime Minister our fullest support as he leads this charge.

And the Prime Minister needs to work hard at restoring our trust and earning our confidence. To do so, I would suggest the following:

1. Cease deploying dramatic “gat ya” lockdowns. They have people on edge. If lockdowns must be imposed, give ample notice.

2. Cease the use of national lockdowns as a primary strategy. Consider whether lockdowns by geographic areas might be effective. However, if national lockdowns must be imposed, do them fully to assure the best results in the shortest period.

3. Deploy more robust and scientific protocols on our Family Islands in particular and eventually do the same on NP and GB.

4. Conduct more tests.

5. Select a non-political and perhaps even a non-medical person to serve as CEO of the COVID-19 response. That individual should be supported by the current team and several others from a few other disciplines as well.

6. View options through the prism of the broad economic and social impact of COVID-19. For instance, we should see this as a $10 billion problem and therefore spare no expenditure to address it. In other words, stop putting bandaid on a patient with a heart attack. Please.

7. Improve quality of statistics and other information.

Whether the Prime Minister does any or all of the above, we need to give him our fullest support. In a crisis such as we have, the only thing worse than an incomplete strategy is non-adherence.

LYNDEN R. NAIRN

Nassau.

August 23, 2020