The lockdown dilemma

The agonising question in the minds of most governments today is to lockdown or not. The problems seem to be clouded priorities and mixed-up objectives. After all, isn’t the main priority of a government to ensure the safety of the people they represent. If the answer was that simple the course of action to be followed would be a “no brainer”! Governments would go into total lockdowns and support their people with state funds and hope that the funds would last until the virus was defeated.

It isn’t that easy, is it? The secret seems to be early and clear decision-making. The government of New Zealand made its decision early. They went for a lockdown and chose a strategy that entailed eradication of the virus in the community. They stuck to their plan in the face of howls of protest from the opposition and assorted others representing business and industry. That plan has worked well, and the citizens enjoyed a “near normal” lifestyle. However, the virus is back in the community in NZ. One case has been identified and that person has travelled out of Auckland when he could have been infectious. The whole country has been put into a level 4 lockdown (highest level) for 3 days and Auckland where the case lives has been put into a level 4 lockdown for 7 days at this stage Lockdowns in the past were adhered to in a very responsible manner, but any future lockdowns may not have the same unstinted corporation from the public.

The decision in Aotearoa was relatively easy to make. A small population, a rich country with surplus funds, and a mainly farming community with plenty of food to go around. Exports are still in demand and some revenue streams still functioning. A labour government in power and the fat cats of big business kept at an arms-length may also have helped. Tourism has been terminally affected but the unemployment numbers are at an all-time low, something which defies logic but is supported by the statisticians. One undeniable fact is that the government must be praised for sticking to their original decision and being guided by science at every turn.

Our beloved pearl seems to be the opposite. There is the same sort of two-thirds majority in parliament that the labour government of Aotearoa enjoys. There are much more draconian laws and a very powerful executive president in place. It seems to be the decision-making and leadership combined with not taking advice and guidance from the correct sources that have led to the current situation. The Government of Lanka could have done whatever they wanted to handle the pandemic, but they seem to have blundered badly. It breaks my heart to see the terrible pictures coming out of the hospitals and I wonder why those who post them on the internet do so. Is it to inform the public or is it to cause irreparable damage to our motherland? We debate this matter fiercely among the expatriate community in New Zealand and cannot reach an answer that everyone can agree to. Must we degrade ourselves to this extent? Must we drag ourselves and our country through the mud like this? Will we ever recover from the damage that has been caused to our country and its reputation and ability to handle disasters and uncertain situations? We have dug ourselves a huge pit and have sunk into the depths of the third world or even lower to a fourth world if that was possible.

What have we done to deserve this you may say? Where do we go from here? The first thing would be to decide if we are going for eradication in the community or herd immunity. It seems that the first alternative doesn’t exist and therefore only the herd immunity option exists. The best way of doing this is to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. Of course, there are logistics involved, logistics of supply of the vaccine and then administering it. Vaccinating under a lockdown may be an alternative to limit the spread of the virus. Doubtfulness on the efficacy of the vaccines is not something worth debating at present. Procrastination and vacillation will make the situation worse. The Army seems to have initiated a good programme but has been faced with logistical issues. Accusing the health ministry of sabotage etc is not the answer. The answer is to learn from the mistakes made, and not do it again.

Meanwhile, what of the economy you may say. Despite the panacea for all ills seemingly printing more and more money, we all know that is nonsense. We need to strengthen our exports and develop domestic tourism. The hotels and guest houses will have to lower their rates and market the beauty and diversity of our country. Beauty and diversity that many city dwellers have not had the opportunity to enjoy in the correct manner. A rushed weekend here and there mostly filled with the male members of the party in an alcoholic haze and the women either cooking or simply sitting around and possibly gossiping is not the way to enjoy our country. Do something you have not done before. Go to places you have not been before, places outside the beaten track, after all, we can now access all parts of the country, can’t we?

Our staple agricultural product tea needs much work in the fields. New vegetative propagation tea plants need to replace seedling plants that are decades old and way past optimum bearing. Why not employ the unemployed daily paid labourers, house them on the estates and pay them with printed money?! Replant the tea fields and strengthen something that we already have and a product that is world-famous. The same can apply to Rubber and Coconut, the mainstay of our economy in the past. I am sure various schemes for such courses of action have already been tabled. They should be auctioned, and the people encouraged to participate in saving the economy.

Simply posting photographs of the chaos and suffering and dragging us into depression and panic not to mention destroying our reputation internationally seems to be all we are doing at the moment. Having said that it doesn’t mean that matters should be hushed up and the mismanagement and sheer idiocy of some of the people in charge of running the Pearl should be shoved under the carpet. A token Cabinet reshuffle seems to have achieved nothing with people who could have done better jobs in the health ministry for example not getting the job.

Maybe, the public has taken to the internet because they have no confidence in the mainstream media? The damage caused by a controlled press and media should be looked at by those running newspapers and TV and radio stations with their own agendas and in sycophantic servitude to the government! You are more than responsible for the mess we are in.