Hunter Hastings, a Democratic candidate for Sussex County Council’s District 1 seat, currently held by Republican Michael H. Vincent of Seaford has called on Governor Carney to rescind the thirty-day extension of the State of Emergency in an open letter.
Dear Governor John C. Carney:
We the people of Delaware are very considerate to your voluntary efforts and appreciate your work regarding the Covid-19 coronavirus issue as it is a serious public health threat for the entire world and for the state of Delaware. The entire world along with our state is in a state of emergency and our government has been providing the best opportunities to their inhabitants in this regard.
Our letter may kindly be considered in light of the Fourteenth Modification: State of emergency declaration and be given weight as a voice of the society collectively. It is also requested that efforts may kindly be done in the greater interests of public as provided in the constitution.
We also appreciate your efforts while combating the COVID-19. However, we demand you pay attention to the matter that the economy of the state is at stake and the people have been quarantined and locked down for an indefinite period. We abide by the laws of the state and want to contribute to your efforts as well. In fact, the initial state of emergency announced by your honorable office was needed at the time, but any indefinite period of emergency will inadvertently harm and affect the lives of the people of the state as well. The people are observing social distancing to prevent any mitigation of COVID-19. Social media is also trying to help your cause by giving awareness on the matter of social distancing. We all should join hands with each other to combat COVID-19 and make a policy to combat the situation in collaboration with each other.
The state of emergency is not the only solution to combat COVID- 19 unless we are unsuccessful in bringing awareness among the people. There are other ways through which we can face this problem and provide opportunities for people to face the hazards of unemployment, which is currently, and will be, the most dangerous issue after the dissolution of COVID-19.
As your administration knows, and most of the people of the state, are aware fates of business of owner, families, and the entire state’s way of life are at stake due to the current situation of the mandated quarantine and lockdown for an indefinite period. The entrepreneurs and businessmen are in contract with each other in the shape of different agreements and those contacts are not able to be fulfilled due to this “Act of God” and resultantly “The Act of Government” in the shape of your emergency order. The rule of Force Majeure will be the most important issue after the dissolution of COVID-19. Many parties would indulge themselves in baseless and frivolous litigation in the disguise of Force Majeure, and consequently, will disturb the economy of the state
In fact, it is an act of God and we should face this problem with great zeal and zest to save our people and economy. It will be beneficial for the state to get the views of the public, at large, before committing to extend the current emergency order for an additional 30 days. The councils and levy courts of the county are also representative of the people and they should be given the choice to determine the current state of affairs as they closer to their constituencies. It will be more appropriate to indulge the representatives of local counties, towns, and cities to determine the methods to combat COVID-19 instead of a shutdown of all businesses and restricting activities that are beneficial to the spiritual, mental, and physical health of the people.
We are aware the United States of America has a maximum number of COVID-19 affected patients throughout the world, but still we all are effectively fighting for people and for their future as well. This is the time that we should develop policies to both combat COVID-19 and provide opportunities to the people of the state to earn their living and provide for their families.
The people are under control and are observing the precautionary measurements as well. The state can enforce the prohibitory laws for the people who are failing to observe and are violating the rules for preventing the precautionary measurements.
It is not out of place to mention here that the world is trying to relax the emergency and trying to impose different laws to observe the rules and regulations to prevent COVID-19 in their relevant countries instead of a complete lockdown.
The people are very conscious and are taking precautions to avoid coronavirus and aware of the consequences and results of this pandemic. Our mantle is high and wants to be more enthusiastic in the future with your kind help. Our morale is totally dependent upon you taking the necessary steps that benefits the people of Delaware.
At last but not least, we humbly request you the steps, as deemed appropriate, combat covid-19 incorporate the views of the public, at large, in the decision making about the emergency order, and also get the reviews from the councilors of the counties, levy courts, town, and cities about the current situation, so that the voice of the common person can be reached to the hierarchy of the state and due consideration may kindly be given to them in policy development. It is with humility we pray and request that the extension of the emergency order for an additional 30 days be rescinded and the people be given their rightful opportunity to earn their living for their families that continues the state’s economy.
Hunter Hastings