The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

Read with interest your brief article on East Grand Bahama and Finance Minister Peter Turnquest’s health status. Was relieved that the deputy prime minister tested negative for the COVID-19 virus. His personal decision to self-quarantine bespeaks his willingness to lead by example. Turnquest represents a constituency on an island that has been designated a COVID-19 hotspot, for all intents and purposes. Just eleven months removed from Hurricane Dorian, Grand Bahama can’t seem to catch a break. The criticisms levelled at Turnquest for being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case is not only unfair, but borders on the irrational. There’s no way he would’ve known the health status of the individual in question.

The COVID-19 pandemic transcends political, racial, ethnic, social and religious barriers. It impacts all of us. Rather than just sit around all day and complain in the newspapers and on social media, we should all do our part in helping to curb COVID-19 by following the instructions of the World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control. The Free National Movement administration cannot do it alone. The same could be said for the Progressive Liberal Party, had that party been in high office today.

I am not surprised that the Minnis administration has made mistakes. The past 10 months have presented unprecedented challenges to the Bahamian people. No other administration has ever faced such daunting challenges.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport,

Grand Bahama

July 21 2020.