Reply to "Govt made right decision in Sputnik V vaccine purchase – Harmon admits"

I take serious offence to a front page article published in today’s edition of the Guyana Times under the headline “Govt made right decision in Sputnik V vaccine purchase - Harmon admits”.

This article is based on completely false information. I did not issue any statement as quoted by the article. My office issued no such statement.

In fact I issued no statement to the media yesterday, nor did I conduct any interview or speak to anyone at the Guyana Times or anyone from any other media house for that matter.

This article is malicious and libellous and seeks to impugn my character and present complete falsehoods to the public as fact. It is despicable and is outside the realm of what can be considered any form of journalism - it is purely falsehood and part of what appears to be a desperate PPP disinformation campaign.

I have instructed my attorneys to take all action permitted within the law against the Guyana Times and all those responsible for the publication of this repugnant article.

It does appear as though the PPP has been caught in a cover up of a corrupt price-gouging deal to purchase vaccines and they are now desperately attempting to distract the public attention from their malfeasance.

I reiterate and reaffirm our position for the suspension of the administering of the Sputnik V vaccines which were procured from one Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum until credible information can be provided about the vaccines’ authenticity and safe storage.

I have articulated a single, unflinching and unchanging position on this issue since the shocking revelations were made in the National Assembly by the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony. I again repeat my call for President Irfaan Ali to address the nation in a coherent and responsible manner and provide clarity to the Guyanese people that their lives and health are not being jeopardized by the PPP’s questionable purchase of over-priced vaccines from Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum for which more than $600million was over-paid based on the world market prices.

This matter is a most serious one which directly relates to the lives and health and wellbeing of the Guyanese people who deserve transparency and credible information and not dismissive, arrogant and flippant treatment. The PPP must provide clear answers and not believe they can casually dismiss the genuine concerns of our people.

We now further call for an independent forensic audit of this transaction with Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum.

Will the PPP and the Guyana Times were concocting their evil, wicked deed yesterday, I was, on behalf of the people of Guyana, writing to the Director General of the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation asking questions to confirm: