Last Updated on September 11, 2021, 4:03 AM AST by Renaldo St Juste
Prime Minister Gaston Browne warned Antiguans for the tougher steps the Government would be taking to mitigate COVID-19 spread. Antiguan Government would be mandating the vaccination on the island in future.
PM Browne said that the country had lost 47 people due to the infectious virus COVID-19. The Government would be now comprising strict health safety protocols on the island in the coming days. The island has reported a total of 2,047 COVID-19 cases since last March.
PM Gaston Browne said that the issue is very serious. He had already signaled the people of Antigua & Barbuda months ago that if they would be noticing any need of making vaccination mandatory on the island, their Government would be doing the same. He said he is not afraid to make vaccination mandatory.
PM Browne said, “We recognize, however, that as leaders we must be tolerant, and I am satisfied that we have exercised sufficient tolerance in this country, and the time has come for us to act. Browne warned opposition legislators that “we cannot put our political value…or interest above that of the national interest. There comes a time when we have to stand alone and make decisions in the national interest and the time has come.”
According to the newly approved measures in the Cabinet and Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, a public servant should get vaccinated. In case that person denies getting vaccinated, so they had to get tested for COVID-19 twice a month. If these measures will not adhere the person will not be allowed to enter the workplace, and if the person will not come to work, they will not get their pay.
PM Browne said, “I hope others in the private sector would follow,” he said. “We cannot continue to play with this debilitating and deadly disease. Time has come for us to call a spade a spade, and those who want to go and protest, fine, go, and protest, but respect the laws. The laws are very clear. No more than 10 people supposed to congregate, and if you break the laws, there are consequences. I know there will be a lot of hate speeches after this, but I will take the hatred.”
While concluding, PM Browne said that he was elected to serve in the House, and as the members on his side had shown enough confidence in him to serve as prime minister. He had taken an oath in the House to lead without fear or favor.
Renaldo St Juste, with his connection across the regions excels in providing all the regional updates from across the caribbean nation. His reporting majorly includes covering entertainment, crime and sports.
