Brandix made scapegoate

It would appear that both print and electronic media, as well as the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 ( NOCPCO), in the past few weeks have been relentlessly engaging in a vicious media campaign to place the origin of the second wave of COVID-19 at the doorstep of the Brandix garment factory, Minuwangoda, probably with ulterior motives. Reams of articles and electronic media news have gone to the extent of naming this second wave as a Brandix Cluster epidemic, suggesting that this particular garment factory is instrumental in originating and spearheading this epidemic, which has

now surpassed 2,000 mark. There have been hardly any articles or news in support of the company, except for the paper advertisements published by the Company stating their genuine stance intermittently, but media messages appear to have made a lasting impression among the public that the company in question is totally responsible for the origin and the spread of the virus. How far is it true and genuine!

It is in this unsavory background that Dr. B. J. C. Perera, Specialist Consultant Pediatrician, in a recent thought-provoking article published in The Island has narrated a balanced view and the true behaviuor of the virus. In a hard-hitting note at the commencement of the article, this learned physician says that Sri Lankans had a lackadaisical and complacent attitude over the virus, in that Sri Lankans totally disregarded lockdowns, curfews and quarantines in defiance of health guidelines for the last few months. However, all hell broke loose with the emergence of the so-called Brandix Covid cluster, initially with an infected factory female supervisor. It came to such a pass that the authorities had the audacity and blamed the company in question for installing and spreading the virus like a headless chicken. Sadly, it is now reported that employees of this manufacturing facility, over 1,000 and their associates, had inflicted the disease in lock, stock and barrel whereas the responsibility for neglecting this unfortunate situation should be placed before the respective authorities and not at the Brandix.

The learned Physician suspects that the blight was surreptitiously lurking around, not only within the factory premises but also within the adjacent villages and immediate environment, for some time before the emergence of the so-called Brandix cluster until the unfortunate victim was detected from the factory. This highly respected physician is of the view that the factory girls have been made scapegoats in this process. There have been fabricated ruses that the Brandix workers employed at their Visakhapatnam facility who were brought in three flights, and Indian businessmen who visited the Minuwangoda plant, would have brought this deadly virus en masse and the Company’s efforts to convince the authorities and the general public otherwise proved futile. The authorities have so far failed to ascertain the source of its origin and they are groping in the dark. Even now in the news telecasts, the authorities have the temerity to pinpoint that the latest detections are the associates of the Brandix family, which is not the factual position and this argument will have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Are we going to buy the argument that the detection of 49 Covid cases reported at the Peliyagoda Fish Market today and the Colombo Dockyard are the intimate associates of the Brandix cluster? Has the authorities heeded attention to the article in which it has conveyed a strong message that Brandix did not manufacture Covid?

How, Lt. General Shavendra Silva, a highly respected decorated officer and Head of the NOCPOC, justifies this stance at the cost of the damages inflicted to the reputation of the factory. He should have borne in mind that Brandix is an international brand that has generated foreign exchange to the tune of billions of rupees for the country, and provided gainful employment opportunities to the unprivileged female workers in remote villages. Surely, the Company would have been financial resources to the adjacent villages and towns by way of emoluments of the factory employees, and the quality of life of these innocent employees have had an appreciable impact after the factory was established at the Minuwangoda facility. It would appear that the NOCPOC totally lacked its vigour and direction with the removal of the former Director General of Health Services who successfully managed the first wave of coronavirus on a scientific basis. To add insult to the injury, the former Director of the MRI has also been removed on frivolous grounds at a time that both ends of the candle are burning at a faster pace.

An unfounded outcry initially doctored by the authorities that the visit of the Indian businessmen had led to the spread of the virus among the Brandix factory workers has now found no basis. That was an illusory stand that has now been rejected. Notwithstanding the firm assurance given by the Company that no Indian businessmen visited the factory, a wide publicity was given that their visit would have a nexus with the coronavirus. The Island, recently quoting a statement made by Industry Minister, Wimal Weerawansa has told at Parliament that not a single Indian national had been allowed to the country as an employee or any person to obtain technical assistance since the outbreak of COVID19, having verified facts from his ministry, BOI and the Controller of Immigration and Emigration. Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarchchi too confirmed this stance at the Parliament.

Commenting on the social lives of the factory workers, Specialist Consultant Pediatrician, further contends that the factory workers are made to work in enclosed, air conditioned, virtually packed surroundings. Their lodgings are overcrowded, sometimes quite a number of them sharing a room. They are going through all that through necessity and certainly not by their own choice. They are just trying to make an honest living. They are working and living in environments that are the most favourable of conditions for human to human transmission of the coronavirus. This candid expression of this erudite scholar is food for thought for the authorities concerned. In view of what he says, the constant interaction of the workers with the public outside the factory premises, may have had a great probability of contracting the virus. That cannot be discounted at all. Should the Brandix be held responsible for their interactions with the society after working hours. There appears to be great possibility that few workers would have brought the virus to the factory from the outside environment, for which the management of the Brandix could not be blamed for. The physician says the virus could remain viable for even 28 days, especially on certain types of surfaces. As to how realistic these findings are in our hot and humid climes are not yet known.

Now, the virus has spread throughout the Gampaha District, the need of the hour is a committed compliance with health guidelines by the Sri Lanka people, and perhaps this is the only proven and tangible way to protect ourselves against contracting virus, as per the advice of the Consultant Pediatrician. There has to be an unwavering and steadfast effort on the part of the entire population of the country to abide by the rules of the health guidelines. Hence, the mode of government approach hither to adopted i.e. running with the hare and hunting with the hound, must be stopped. We would expect the authorities to extend its unqualified apology to the Bradix management for the humiliations it suffered, and help the company to rebuild its brand and reputation.

J.A.A.S. RANASINGHE

Productivity Specialist and Management Consultant

(These are writer’s own professional views with malice towards none. athularanasinghe88@yahoo.com)