BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 30th July 2021)- “I’m persuaded that the vast majority of our young people are in fact responding positively, and I would hope that those few who continue to have criminal minds and continue to be bent on criminality that those individuals would cease and desist from this activity.”
These were the sentiments expressed by Premier Mark Brantley during his opening statement at his monthly press conference held on Thursday 29th July 2021, in wake of recent gun violence with a most recent shooting incident taking place hours before daybreak, leaving a young man wounded.
“This morning I woke [to] very sad news that we have had a shooting incident on the island of Nevis, and that a young man even now as we speak is getting medical attention, and it is our hope that he will survive the wounds that he would have suffered inflicted by gun firearm,” he told.
According to Brantley: “At the end of the day, I have said time and time again from this rostrum and elsewhere that crime does not pay, and whatever short term gains that people think that they’re getting ultimately ends in long term pains.”
He made reference to criminal activity leading to either imprisonment or death.
“It really does not pay and I think that over the last two and a half to three years we have ushered in… an environment in the country which is far better for us all and so I’m hopeful and prayerful that this young man survives,” Brantley remarked.
He continued: “I would think that given an opportunity for greater hope, given an opportunity for our people, particularly our young to live more full some lives, given an opportunity for the island and country to be at peace, given an opportunity for us as a government and in the private sector to create the environment in our country for growth and development that our young people would respond positively.”
“The public would know that we have made considerable effort and some progress in the fight against crime, particularly violent crime but events of the last two or three weeks have caused some consternation as we wonder what again are our young people engaging themselves in.”
Brantley extended concerns and condolences to family and friends of the latest wounded individual with hope “that those who would have involved themselves at almost 3:00 AM today in this type of criminal behaviour that they will be swiftly brought to justice.”
He mentioned a deadly shooting that took place two Fridays ago, and noted that through the assistance of public and many civic minded individuals the police have had an arrest and feel that they have solved that particular crime.
“Of course while we commend the police for solving crime, I would much prefer to commend our society for there being no crime in the first place but nevertheless let me commend the police for their continued efforts and out superintendents Sutton and his team who continue to work hard to keep Nevis safe,” Brantley stated.
Information from the Police Public Relations Department indicates that police on Nevis are investigating a shooting that occurred on Thursday 29th July at Pump Road at about 3:00AM that morning.
Shot and injured is a male resident of Stove Grove.
Premier Brantley Further Calls On Young People To Stop Criminal Activity
Public Urged To Not Breach Restrictions During Long Holiday Weekend
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 30th July 2021)- Superintendent Cromwell Henry, a member of the COVID-19 National Task Force is calling on members of the public to comply with the restrictions even though a long holiday weekend is approaching.
“As we approach the long holiday weekend, we are reminded again that social activities are restricted, and only with the permission of the Commissioner of Police should such activity take place and we ask persons to exercise extreme care and caution not to put yourself at any risk of being infected with COVID-19.”
Superintendent Henry made the appeal while speaking at the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing held on Wednesday 28th July 2021.
“Avoid crowds, avoid crowded events and always wear your mask and follow all the other protocols,” he added.
Superintendent Henry, during his presentation, talked about the new one-week curfew period that took effect on Monday 26th July that is expected to continue until Monday 9th August 2021 with the timeframe of 11:00PM night.
“We continue to see an easing of restrictions in this new iteration of the Emergency Powers COVID-19 regulations SR&O 31 of 2001.While most of the provisions of this new regulation remain the same as previous versions. This latest version which commenced on July 26th has allowed for more time before the night curfew begins. The night curfew now begins at 11:00 PM nightly and ends at 5:00 AM the following day, and this will continue until August 9th.”
Additionally, he said restrictions on social activities remain in place and that they continue to require permission from the Commissioner of Police.
“Mass gatherings are still prohibited, and only limited social activities are being approved at this time. We are reminded that we are not yet out of the woods as we are still seeing new cases daily which indicates that the virus is still in the community. As such, we encourage all to get vaccinated to reduce your risk, and to follow all the non-pharmaceutical measures to further protect yourself.”
Superintendent Henry highlighted that Regulation 14 of the new regulations provides some restrictions on travelers entering the Federation.
“Sub regulation 5 states: All arriving travelers who are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus shall remain in a government quarantine facility for a period of three days and be tested for the COVID-19 virus on day four. Sub regulation 5 (C) continues: ‘The person shall only be released from quarantine upon receiving a negative PCR test.
He revealed that a couple were recently arrested and fined for breaching their quarantine.
“On Wednesday 21st July, [Farakhan Assagay] and Natasha Robinson arrived in the Federation from the USA and were in quarantine at the Montpelier Hotel in Nevis.”
Superintendent Henry continued: “On the morning of Saturday 24th July, the couple left their quarantine without authorisation and journeyed to St.Kitts via a ferry. They were eventually located at a residence in Frigate Bay that night and were taken to the government quarantine facility at the OTI to complete their quarantine and to be tested. Their test results returned negative, and they were released from quarantine on Tuesday 27th July.”
According to him, they were taken back to Nevis where they were arrested and charged for breaching their quarantine, and they were taken before the Charlestown Magistrate Court where they were convicted and fined US$500 to be paid in one day.
As reported, the fines were paid and they were allowed to leave the Federation.
“The police have taken a zero tolerance approach to breaches of quarantine as this puts the entire community at risk. This includes persons who are required to remain in self-quarantine at their homes on the instructions of any medical officer,” Superintendent Henry encouraged.
Furthermore, he asked for full cooperation of all residents to adhere to all the COVID-19 protocols.
“Whatever instructions or directions are imposed by any medical officer as these are all intended to keep us all safe.”
SKN Welcomes First Cruise Ship During Pandemic As Season Begins
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 23rd July 2021)- Service Providers within the sectors of the cruise tourism industry are being encouraged to their part for the nation’s road to economic recovery.
On the eve of the arrival of the Seabourn Odyssey, Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force Abdias Samuel made an appeal at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 21st July 2021.
The arrival of the Seabourn Odyssey anchored at Friars Bay in the vicinity of Carambola Beach Club at the South East Peninsula on Thursday 22nd July has signaled the reopening of cruise tourism in the Federation St.Kitts-Nevis since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Samuel had described the cruise ship’s arrived announcement as “part and parcel of our roadmap to economic recovery in St.Kitts and Nevis, and in this regard we are asking all persons who provide services in these sectors to please adhere to the protocols, and also we want you to continue the part of getting vaccinated as we also prepare for another arrival within a week’s period of a larger cruise ship.”
He continued: “We want to make sure that we have services to offer to these tourists so please continue to prepare and do the necessary things so that you can also be a part of the recovery road map.”
A press release from the St.Kitts Tourism Authority on Thursday 22nd July said “A symbolic ship to ship salute, live steelpan performances and the renown drummers greeted the Odyssey, her passengers and crew as it docked at South Friars Bay.”
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris was quoted as saying: “Today is indeed a wonderful day for people of St. Kitts and Nevis as we warmly welcome the luxurious Seabourn Odyssey to our shores. Tourism is one of the main drivers of the economy, and therefore our plan is to reopen the destination for tourism and travel responsibly. We have implemented a phased approach to rebuilding the cruise sector aimed at supporting our local economy and providing our visitors with a safe and positive on-island experience.”
Tourism Minister Lindsay Grant said: “We are pleased to welcome the Seabourn Odyssey to St. Kitts and Nevis for the highly-anticipated restart of our cruise tourism sector. St. Kitts is a destination that remains in high demand amongst travelers and I want to thank our cruise line partners and our stakeholders here on island for working so diligently with us to ensure that all the necessary requirements were met to allow for the successful return of cruises to the Federation. This is indeed a propitious occasion as we begin rebuilding towards our preeminent cruise port position in the region.”
According to the St.Kitts Tourism Authority, St. Kitts is looking forward to the number of ships increasing steadily over the summer, with the following arrivals: Thursday 29th July, 2021 (Celebrity Summit), Wednesday 11th August, 2021 (Allure of the Seas), Thursday 12th August, 2021 (Celebrity Summit), Tuesday 24th August, 2021 (Celebrity Equinox), Wednesday 25th August, 2021(Celebrity Summit and Allure of the Seas) and Thursday 26th August, 2021(Symphony of the Seas).
It is said that currently, the minimum protocols for any cruise ship visiting in St. Kitts & Nevis include: All crew and all passengers over the age of 18 must be vaccinated; All passengers, crew and children under the age of 18 must present a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of homeport embarkation and Only bubble vaccinated tours and attractions will be offered to cruise passengers.
Additionally, it is said that passengers and crew are not permitted to interact with the general population, All Tours will leave the dispatch area within the secure perimeter and return as well as All personnel interacting with cruise vessel operations including ship agents, port staff, taxi and tour operators must be vaccinated.
Seabourn Odyssey is expected to visit every week.
Organic Vegan Vendor: Watch What You Consume
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 23rd July 2021) – “You have to get serious with your foods. Select the ones that nature creates.”
Such is public health advice offered by a Rastafarian and food truck entrepreneur, Sheldon of Lifespan Organic Vegan Food, who is encouraging members of the public to boost their immune system naturally by way of enabling the body to maintain a healthy pH balance in getting the right nutrients from alkaline foods.
He made the disclosure during a recent interview with this media house as he talked about eating the right type of foods so as to naturally boost one’s immune system for overall health.
Sheldon is of the view that: “A lot of people need to tap into that more; get involved with more alkaline food because alkaline means electricity. I’m saying this for the nation to understand- and you can do your own research-so change your food!”
He added: “I am just voicing my opinion on this. I’m just saying something that I know. You cannot inject any immunity in any human being; your body develops that naturally. You have to be careful of what you put into your mouth. Watch what you consume.”
Fruits and vegetables included in the alkaline-promoting food group are coconut, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, kale, avocado and almond nuts.
Health and nutrition experts often encourage individuals to stay away from acidic content found in alcohol, soda and processed foods among other items and beverages.
A pH scale measures the alkaline or acidic value of foods with greater than 7 being alkaline and above being acid while 7 is neutral.
Parent Accompanies Murder Suspect Into Police Custody Day After Deadly Shooting
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 23rd July 2021)- Four days after 36-year-old Travis Clarke of Newcastle in Nevis was gunned down, police have charged a man in his 20s for the criminal act.
Charged by police for multiple offences is 26-year-old Patrick Howell Jr. of Cane Garden, for murder and for Robbery and Larceny all committed on Friday 16th July 2021.
Police say he was also charged for the offence of Escaping Lawful Custody which occurred on 18th July 2021. Howell has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison.
One day, after the deadly shooting (17th July), police had informed that “a person of interest who was being sought by the Police, in relation to the death of 36-year-old Travis Clarke, turned himself in on Saturday (July 17) accompanied by one of his parents.”
The shooting which took place in Charlestown on Friday 16th July 2021 claimed Clarke’s life.
Information coming from the Police Public Relations Department revealed that sometime after 3PM that day, police responded to a report of a shooting incident.
Upon arrival, they found Clark’s motionless body lying on the road. Preliminary investigations so far have revealed that the victim was sitting on a step in the Happy Hill Drive area when an armed assailant pursued him and shot him several times.
Police say Clarke ran and eventually collapsed. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
According to the local authorities, additional reports indicate that the armed assailant threatened a female driver who was also in the area and took possession of her vehicle in which he made his escape.
It is further reported that on the following Saturday morning (July 17), the vehicle was recovered by the police at Indian Castle.
Personnel from the Forensic Services Unit processed the scene and several items of evidential value were taken into custody.
An autopsy performed on Clarke’s body on Tuesday 20th July 20, 2021, by Resident Pathologist, Dr. Adrian Nuñez, concluded that death was due to hypovolemic shock as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Persons with information about this incident are urged to contact the Charlestown Police Station by dialling 469-5391, the nearest Police Station or the Crime Hotline at 707. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Richards: Gov’t Aware Of Food Truck Vendors Complaints
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 23rd July 2021) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Urban Development Shawn Richards has indicated that apart from the North Independence Square Street spot, the government is also looking at two other areas for the relocation of food truck vendors who have been doing business in Basseterre.
On the morning of Thursday 22nd July 2021, this reporter interviewed Richards while he was making a visit to the area where groundwork is being carried out. He shared that the government is fully aware that the vendors have been complaining.
Asked why he was there, he had this to say: “I’m basically here to see the work that is being undertaken to prepare the site to accommodate the food truck vendors. This site was actually looked at by the ministry [of Urban Development] that I have responsibility for as a possible venue for the food truck vendors. However, we know that the government has taken a decision to relocate the food truck vendors, and so it has become necessary to ensure that the site is properly prepared to be able to accommodate the vendors. Hence, as I said earlier I am here to see the progress of the work that is taking place.”
Richards continued: “There are plans in place as to how we will want the final product to look like so the preliminary work is being done to get it to that particular look. We are fully aware that the vendors have been complaining, and the government being a government that is sensitive is ensuring that we’ll be able to accommodate as many vendors as possible.”
According to him: “It is not all of the food vendors who will be able to accommodate here but we are also looking at additional sites to accommodate some other vendors.”
This media house reached out to Sheldon of Lifespan Organic Vegan Food who has been operating at the Ponds Pasture area since Friday 16th July.
“I want to see what the outcome is going to be,” he expressed in talking about the government plans.
For him operating at Ponds Pasture has its challenges since “there is no restroom and no running water” among other concerns that comes with the relocation from South Independence Square Street where he had been operating since 2015.
Sheldon said that he “is just gonna cool and see who will get in and who will get left behind.”
A concerned citizen speaking anonymously with this media house about that area chosen for relocation described it as not being suitable for food business.
“I’m talking hygiene…it is a vagrants’ bathroom area and it gets worse during carnival time when people go there to use the area because it is close by and it is an area that is not policed so to say so I don’t think it is an ideal spot because of things have been there but the vendors will just have to make it do.”
Meanwhile, a worker of the clean-up crew at the area is suggesting that a tall tree at the entrance of the chosen site would need cutting because it could be hazardous. That worker also wondered about spacing for bathroom facilities.
On Tuesday 20th July, a delegation which included Prime Minister Dr.Timothy Harris visited the area that was an overgrown lot.
The end of July 2021 is the target timeframe for food truck vendors to begin operations there.
Dr. Wilkinson Comments On Unvaccinated Children Attending CPL
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 15th July 2021)- Herd immunity protection for children provided from fully vaccinated adults at a CPL (Caribbean Premier League) mass setting is the level of reasoning as to why unvaccinated minors will be allowed to attend the cricket sporting event in August-September 2021 at the Warner Park Stadium in Basseterre.
“We also know that children cannot be vaccinated but they can go under the umbrella of their parents or their guardians, and so if you have a family of five adults who are vaccinated and there is a child who is 14 and wants to attend the game, they can go and they can obtain the herd immunity protection from the family and other persons who are there who are vaccinated to ensure that they may not get infected.”
Such an explanation has been given by Medical Chief of Staff at the Joseph N. France General Hospital and member of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson.
He was at the time responding to a question about alleged segregation and discrimination among vaccinated and unvaccinated at entertainment and sporting events while speaking at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 Daily Briefing on Wednesday 14th July 2021.
At present in St.Kitts-Nevis, the AstraZeneca vaccine is only given to individuals 18 and over.
About unvaccinated CPL players, Dr. Wilkinson stated: “As it relates to the players, they are in a different bubble, and there would be no communication between the players and the spectators.”
In addressing concerns over discrimination regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, he expressed: “First of all let me start by saying that there is no discrimination against the unvaccinated and we need to stop speaking about unvaccinated as if it’s a race or gender that cannot change. Our fight, as I said all along, has been for the unvaccinated.”
He continued: “We have been trying to get as many persons who can be vaccinated [to get] vaccinated so that we can protect those who cannot be vaccinated, and those who cannot be vaccinated include our young folk who are below the age of 18, and so there’s no discrimination at all. We are encouraging you who are above the age of 18 and can be vaccinated to get vaccinated so that you can protect these persons. Our fight has also been for the pregnant mother and the unborn child who cannot be vaccinated, and so there is no discrimination against those persons at all by us encouraging you out there who can be vaccinated to go forward and get vaccinated is so that you can protect those persons. Our fight has also been for the elderly and frail who cannot be vaccinated, and so there’s no discrimination against those persons. We are encouraging you again who are out there and can be vaccinated to go forward so that you can protect these persons.
In talking about mass events, he pointed out that such can be done safely with vaccinated adults.
“…CPL is a mass event, we know that mass events can be super spreaders, and so in the first instance as we’re moving forward with mass events, we’re saying that they can be safely done with vaccinated adults, and if one wants to go to the CPL and you can get vaccinated then you can simply go forward and get vaccinated so that you can attend the CPL games. There is no discrimination at all, and so by having a crowd or spectators attending the CPL who are vaccinated, we know that the chance of getting a super spreader event from this is significantly decreased.”
Notably, for CPL games, there is a cap of 50 % capacity of fans in attendance to the 8000-seat venue.
Food Truck Vendors Dish On Word Of Mouth Notice To Stop Business
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Thursday 13th July 2021)- The in-person order by police officers instructing food truck vendors in Basseterre to cease and desist operations has created a recipe for disaster for business owners-particularly those around Independence Square- who say they were not properly informed by government via a letter to do so.
On Thursday 15th July 2021, this reporter spoke with two business owners who are licensed to work on the street in that area, namely Sheldon of Lifespan Organic Vegan Food and David Heyliger of Samantha’s Diner who said they were not aware of any new measure made about their line of work.
Both opened up about being told on the spot the day before (Wednesday) by police who gave no specifics about the reasoning for such an order. The two separate businesses are run by husband and wife management.
Sheldon, who has been in that area since 2015, stated: “I was there doing my business as normal yesterday, a lady came to me said she want to have a word with me… said she was an officer. She didn’t introduce herself to me in the first place. She said ‘Do you know that you have to close this business; you cannot operate here anymore’. I said ‘No’ [and] she said ‘You don’t listen your radio?’ I said ‘No’ and she said ‘You should listen your radio’ so I said to her “I don’t understand ya nuh…when I was getting my licence, I didn’t go to the radio, I go to the government so [if] the government has an issue with me here, you all should put it on paper or you call my number or you call a meeting and we discuss it; somebody from the government should come. So she kinda get upset with me. I don’t know if anything in that should get anyone upset…”
Sheldon said the female officer then called for backup and three other officers came.
“and I was explaining myself and they didn’t want to hear me. They didn’t want to hear nothing that I had to say about my next source of income after you close off this business, where is my next location or where I could get a job or what is the purpose of what ya’ll are doing…no answers.”
According to him, the response he received was ‘You have to move. It’s a state of emergency.’
A cell phone recorded video capturing a piece of the interaction was widely circulated on social media and has been publicly debated.
Sheldon talked about takeout options that have been made available for food places.
“I know that they said if you’re doing a takeout it is ok, and I offer that kind of service even before they came in with this corona ‘plandemic’ thing so all I see there is just greed and power; no love in it.”
He said a different location has been suggested which he plans to explore.
“Well they appoint me to a location, am gonna check it out and see how I could set it up and work with it but at the same time they will have to change my business licence address because I have a license…that is what I use to operate here; it says Independence South Square Street, Basseterre. I’m not illegally doing my business.”
Before moving to the Independence Square area, the business operated from the Bay Road since 2012.
In speaking about the situation, he said “Basically what is happening right now I don’t think we can do anything about what is happening because let me show you something…a lot of people say they have love but they don’t know anything about love .This is about power and control, and when you put a man in power and control, he can do whatever he wants to do and this is what is happening right now.”
He added: “My take on the whole thing, it’s love still. I and I no inna no war with anyone because if I was inna war, I and I wouldn’t be here …My mediation [is] different. I deal with love, trust, respect and loyalty. If you want me to move, put it on paper and you give me a notice, and so I know within a certain time, I will have to move; don’t come do the bully [vibes] and dem ting dey…”
Samantha’s Diner has been in the area at West Square Street in the vicinity of National Bank for about three years but the business itself has been in existence for about five years having operated from their Buckley’s village home prior to such.
Heyliger had a placard which read: I DON’T BELIEVE THIS “CARING” LOVING GOVERNMEN[T] IN ST.KITTS & NEVIS IS WILLING TO ARREST ME FOR TRYING TO EARN AN “HONEST” LIVING
When asked why he chose protest action, he replied: “Because of the injustice of the move by the government because even though it’s the police officers, they are under instructions. How dare you come to small business [in this way].. we are not gang bangers, we not robbers, we are honest young people in an environment that is very difficult to survive right now but nevertheless we never miss a day, we get up at 5am every single day and we ply our trade.”
He highlighted that the business offers nutritious options using local fresh fruits and vegetables to provide tasty and healthy meals and beverages.
Heyliger explained that on the day of the incident, he was driving to his business place to pick up a young man who cleans up after work day when he realised police presence in the area.
“So when I was here I saw the situation that was going on by this food truck that we’re standing by (Sheldon’s)…so by the time I pull up to ask what was the situation, I looked up and I saw the police were also at the other food truck at the North Square Street so I asked the lady what was going on so when she told me that they’re telling persons to cease operation immediately, I got parking and I was lucky enough to approach [Superintendent] Cromwell Henry and he explained to me that ‘You just have to cease and desist operation’ and they will at a later date tell us where we could relocate.”
Heyliger expressed gratitude to all customers saying: “People really support us so I don’t be around the Square for more than two and a half hours tops and I serve every single day at least 100 customers every day.”
He said most orders are sold out even before they leave home because the afternoon or night before, people would call to find out what is on the menu and place orders in advance.
For the time being with the cease and desist order, Heyliger shared that business for Samantha’s Diner would be affected negatively since “foot traffic customers” is depended upon.
“We tried the delivery system for the open days but the problem with that is you can’t gauge it because how much persons you gonna cater for, you know what I mean?”, he noted.
Commenting on the solution he would like to see for this current matter, he replied: “I just hope that good sense prevails. First instance, they should cease the forceful removal of the food vendors from around the Square. Call us into a meeting. We are not animals; we have families, call us into a meeting, listen to us. You could tell us what you think because we have ideas also, and then before we leave that meeting place come to some amicable decision that everybody feels comfortable enough with.”
Heyliger said Bank Street is an option for food truck operations.
“I suggested Bank Street. You could give us a space there. Why I say Bank Street, the sidewalks are very wide so we’re not going to be in a situation where we are [affecting] foot traffic.”
He pointed out that there have been instances over the years whereby that street was closed off for the hosting of events including government ones, and so added “Bank Street could be locked off.”
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Heyliger said they had been conducting business according to health and safety protocols including him personally ensuring that customers to the food truck were standing six feet apart.
“We use social media to put out our information. At the bottom of our daily menu, we always emphasize that persons follow the COVID-19 guidelines. Since the last reopening, what I have been doing, I have been standing out in the hot sun to ensure that the customers are staying six feet apart, and I also have hand sanitizer right there…I even have a tent so the sun would not bother them too much…”
This media house recalls that at a NEOC briefing in June 2021, Superintendent Cromwell Henry said food truck vendors around the Basseterre area should cease operations by 9th July 2021.
Meanwhile, fruit and vegetable vendors who had been plying the trade on streets around Basseterre have been relocated to the Public Market following new regulations as of Friday 11th June.
UPDATE: This media house received an update after the interview that Lifespan Organic Vegan Food will be at Pond’s Pasture starting Friday 16th July from 12noon.
Opposition Senator Grades Gov’t Public Communication
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 16th July 2021)-Opposition Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke has criticised the public communication approach of the Harris-led administration in her questioning of “optics versus substance”.
“I don’t know what is the motivation behind this ‘wait wait wait’ approach to communicating with the people of St.Kitts and Nevis.Why do we always have to go to someone’s social media status, someone who we know is in the know to determine if Monday, for example, is not an lockdown day. Why should the Prime Minister come tomorrow to tell us that Monday is not a lockdown day. We have nothing else to plan for? We’re just waiting locked up in our homes waiting waiting on a government to decide what it’s going to do with its people?”
Dr. Clarke, who is also an educator, made the disclosure while appearing on a virtual panel discussion-via Zoom technology- organized by the opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party held on Friday 9th July under the theme ‘Living Under A COVID State of Emergency (The Right Direction).’
The other guests panelists were medical doctor and SKNLP Chairman Dr. Terrance Drew; educator and social and political commentator Glenroy Blanchette as well as social and political commentator Dwyer Astaphan who is a former SKNLP government minister.
Dr. Clarke has also shared her opinion about the government’s weekly Leadership Matters programme aired Tuesdays on ZIZ.
“I have always had a problem with the use of Leadership Matters to communicate official information. It is not right so that’s a huge communication flaw here, and we accept it here in St.Kitts and Nevis,” she stated.
Dr. Drew pointed out that the government has communications issues.
He recalled that the first type of briefing that took place regularly on COVID-19 in 2020 involved himself and other doctors including Dr. Patrick Martin, Dr. Caroline Lawrence and Dr. Dwain Archibald.
“And in those settings we asked that the government really look at communicating with the people on a regular basis and the NEOC [National Emergency Operations Centre] came in after and so I’m happy that they took the advice with respect to that. However, based on how it was constituted, they had issues with communication from the beginning even up to now that they have been communicating sometimes information that is false. [And also for example] where the Prime Minister and the Attorney General would have been seen in total contradiction to what the Minister of Tourism and Minister of Port Authority Lindsay Grant was saying with respect to forced vaccination and so forth.”
He added: “We have seen where you are told one thing and then the Prime Minister try to say he did not say that. The Prime Minister was the one who said to companies to insist that their workers take the vaccine and then he tried to backtrack it by saying he did not say that but luckily enough we had the tapes and both tapes were circulated and the Prime Minister was caught in a lie…”
The Opposition Senator accused the government of politicising the management of COVID-19.
According to her: “The politicisation of the management of COVID-19 in 2020 has been a big part of the electoral results from last year June, and it’s quite unfortunate. We realize that every strategy was used not to protect us [and] to ensure that we didn’t have community spread but rather to push the government’s agenda, and that agenda was getting back into government, and I say now because we know that the SKNLP was polling and leading, and it is their (the government) wicked management of COVID-19 then, the politicisation of the management which resulted in where we are now and now everybody has now realized that this is the case because of their hesitancy when they were supposed to be proactive and simply close the borders or simply put us into 24-lockdown or go into Cabinet and do the State Of Emergency in March… but they delayed, and did they delay because they had their own agenda.”
Dr. Drew talked about the government’s refusal to involve the opposition and members of the opposition in the management of the pandemic. He also mentioned the government’s condemning his rapid test kit donation to the Ministry of Health and personal bashing.
The right to refuse the vaccine
- Kim Boodram (Source: trinidadexpress.com) 13th July 2021
A group of citizens concerned about the constitutionality of mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 have begun to advocate for the Government to recognise the rights of individuals to decline taking ‘the jab’.
The Covid-19 Transparency Advocacy Group of Trinidad and Tobago (CTGATT) launched its concerns via press statement last week and is seeking to “prevent Constitutional changes that mandate vaccines for any citizen regardless of age, physical constitution or occupation”.
Comprised of a variety of professionals, CTGATT is also calling on the Government to assemble the appropriate experts and interest groups to investigate alternative solutions to vaccines and to explore treatments for Covid-19, including the much-touted drug, Ivermectin.
CTGATT has described itself as “a group of concerned citizens representing a wide cross section of the citizenry of Trinidad & Tobago”.
It also stated that, “We strongly advocate the sovereignty of the human being and the right to choose what we put into our bodies. In order to make informed choices we believe that citizens must be made aware of the risks versus the benefits of the various measures currently being employed locally and internationally in response to the SARS-Covid-19.”
Spokesperson for the group, environmentalist Cathal Healy-Singh, in the statement underscored CTGATT’s assertion that, “Government must not mandate any investigative pharmaceutical or Covid-19 vaccine.”
CTGATT further stated that:
“Vaccination cannot be seen as the only solution to the pandemic, and patients should be given the choice of other emerging prophylactics and other therapeutics.”
The group has noted that its intention is not to infringe on the right of any individual to choose Covid-19 vaccination but to call for better informed choices and to prevent any citizen from being discriminated against or in any way penalised, as a result of choosing not to be vaccinated.
“Government has a duty to assemble a team of local experts and appropriate interest groups to explore the use of alternative approaches including preventive and early treatment protocols, such as Ivermectin and the use of repurposed antivirals, which have shown to be effective in treating Covid-19.”
CTGATT has referred to developments in Barbados, where that country’s Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations announced in May that “it is not mandatory for an employee to take the vaccine”.
According to an article on the Barbados Government Information Service website, the Labour Ministry there has said that “the employee determines whether he/she wants to be vaccinated and is not to be treated unfairly nor discriminated against by the employer, if he/she chooses not to take the vaccine”.