North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has challenged the Welsh Government today over its refusal to hold an event to mark Covid-19 Day of Reflection at the purposely created Memorial Woodland at Erddig in Wrexham.
Speaking in today’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru have criticised the Welsh Government for ignoring the day, and said it is insulting to all those that died as a result of the Pandemic, and their families.
Calling for a Statement on the Covid-19 Day of Reflection, he said:
“Sunday 9th March is the Day of Reflection across the UK for the Covid-19 Pandemic, marking five years since the Pandemic began. However, despite the Welsh Government creating a Covid Memorial Woodland on the National Trust's Erddig Estate in Wrexham, which recently opened, I'm advised that the Welsh Government refused to mark the day with an event at the woodland.
“As the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru state, ‘it's bad enough that the Covid bereaved have been denied a Wales inquiry and are almost invisible in the UK one, but to then ignore the day is truly insulting to all those that died and their families’.
“They added that the Welsh Government aren't having events at the other two Covid Memorial Woodlands they created either, but they have been told that someone from the Welsh Government will attend the private event for them in Caerphilly.
“Although the Welsh Government have issued a short announcement for the Day, the families comment that stating that the Day is for people ‘to mark the day in Wales in ways that feel meaningful to them’ is incorrect. If the Welsh Government had consulted the bereaved, they would have told them that they wanted a formal commemorative event run by them.
“I call for a Statement accordingly, in response to that concern so expressed.”
In her response, the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt MS, said she would be attending the event in Caerphilly, but failed to explain why events had not been arranged by the Welsh Government at their Covid Memorial sites in Wales.