BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 23rd April 2021) — The St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Constituency Six Branch reports that its recent general meeting held on Thursday 15th April 2021 was a success, with presentations for residents of Newton Ground, Saddlers and Harris’s Villages. Speakers included Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke, National Treasurer Crios Freeman, Deputy National Chair Meshach Alford, SKNT&LU First Vice President Larry Vaughan, and SKNLP Leader and Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas.
Vaughan addressed the COVID-19 vaccination topic, emphasising that while the Union supports vaccination, “threatening language is not the way to go about communicating to workers.” Dr. Douglas, himself a physician of many years, fielded numerous questions from the public on the vaccination programme. He reaffirmed his support of vaccinations, outlining the historical importance of vaccines in combating contagious diseases, but was critical of the government for politicising pandemic management from the outset and for excluding the Opposition as a stakeholder.
Dr. Douglas said the vaccination rollout programme was ill-conceived, as it did not provide citizens with appropriate awareness and education to combat the misinformation readily peddled on social media. He stressed that a properly educated population will make the right informed decision to take the vaccine, but emphasised that citizens and residents must exercise their right of choice — to take or not take the vaccine. Vaughan also delivered a presentation on workers’ rights and the benefits of SKNT&LU membership as part of the Union’s ongoing membership drive.