FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2021 | ISSUE 190 | WWW.POINTVILLE.AG COVID-19 VACCINES ARRIVE SEE PAGE 4 PAGE 3 PAGE 5 Police officer dies in the US Visa renewals now Photo caption: Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph line of duty made easier accepts 5000 doses of the Oxford-AstroZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, a gift from the Commonwealth of Dominica. Editorial: A standing ovation for India! Page 2 FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2021 EDITORIAL PAGE 2 EDITORIAL A standing ovation for India! The previous two editori- borne by his government. improprieties, India has never als published on Monday and What is striking about this sought to threaten or other- Wednesday in PointeXpress ex- timely intervention is that the wise coerce this country to pressed strong condemnation it represents the polar opposi- comply with its wish to have of and disappointment in the te of what is being advanced that person extradited. At all actions of Europe and North by Europe and North America. material times, the government America in their attempts to Make no mistake, this gesture of India has shown respect hoard the world’s vaccines sup- by the government and people for our justice system and has ply for themselves. The editori- of India is a seminal moment acted accordingly. One can als were, we believe, critically in geopolitics and internatio- contrast this with the bullying appropriate and appropriately nal relations. India is rightfully tactics against the Caribbean critical of the philosophy that asserting itself as an emerging and Latin America that is the White is Might is Right. leader, and this is what lea- modus operandi of Europe and While the West is behaving ders do: they seek out those North America. in what is now to be consi- in need and help to save them Like in cricket, the govern- dered par for the course, the from perishing. ment and people of India are government and people of In- If one were paying attention proving to be a leader and dia have demonstrated what to history, this move by the go- an inspiration. It is little sur- can only be considered to be vernment and people of India prise that they have produced tremendous leadership, gene- is not surprising. In many ways, the likes of Bishan Bedi, Sunil rosity, and the kind of huma- India shares a common histo- Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, nitarian spirit that the world ry with the English-speaking Sourav Ganguly, Virenda Seh- desperately needs. High praise Caribbean, as they too were wag, and Virat Kohli, just to and commendation ought to colonized by Britain. The go- name a few. Just like the In- be given to the government of vernment and people of that dian Premier League (IPL) has Prime Minister Narendra Modi country understand the harm provided jobs and hope for a and High Commissioner of In- that colonialism has wreaked better future for many interna- dia to the Caribbean, Dr. K.J. on its people and the peop- tional cricketers, the initiative Srinivasa. les of other regions where the by the government and peop- According to recent media British dominated. It was the le of India to provide vaccines reports, the Government of In- example of India to demand free of cost to the Caribbe- dia will be making an initial full independence from Britain an will provide the region with donation of 500,000 doses of that served as the model for hope—hope for a better future, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vac- the English-speaking Caribbe- hope that the world will con- cine to Guyana and sever- an to follow. In that sense, In- quer COVID-19, hope that the al other Caribbean countries, dia has always been a moral vaccine Apartheid as practised with Antigua and Barbuda leader and an inspiration for by Europe and North America slated to receive 40,000 do- the Caribbean. will not be permitted to pre- ses. The word ‘initial’ indicates Undoubtedly, India is a na- vail. Truly, by its actions, India that it is the intention of the tion that views other nations is proving that, despite the ra- Government of India to make as equals, no matter our size. pacity of some, there are still further donations in the future. Nowhere is that more clearly those who are prepared to be More than that, the Prime Mi- demonstrated than in the case their brothers’ keeper. nister Modi administration has of Antigua and Barbuda. Even indicated that all costs asso- though there exists an ongoing The government and peop- ciated with shipping the vac- issue regarding one of its ci- le of India deserve a standing cines to the Caribbean will be tizens implicated in certain ovation!! Well done!!! PAGE 3 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2021 Police officer dies in the line of duty The Royal Police of St. John’s Police Force of Antigua and Station’s compound, Barbuda has been there were several plunged into mourn- loud explosions and ing after No. 500 people believed to be Corporal of Police police officers, who Clifton Common died arrived to transport in the line of duty on the youngster, were Thursday afternoon. heard shouting. All The law enforcement this happened before officer sustained in- two vehicles exited juries, allegedly at the yard and sped the hands of twenty- away. year-old Vurel Simon, Mobile phone video who is said to be of later emerged show- unsound mind. ing Simon shackled Reports are some- at the ankles being time around 1:00 p.m. led by police into the Simon, who was be- MSJMC. ing held in a cell at A relative of Simon the St. John’s Police explained the young Station, asked to use man suffered his first the bathroom and mental breakdown was about to be es- around this time last corted to the facili- year. He was taken to ty when he alleged- the psychiatric hos- Corporal of Police Clifton Commom ly attacked Corporal pital, but was never Common by slamming institutionalized. On the cell door on his Thursday morning the head, causing him to relative said he hand- fall. The mentally de- ed over Simon to the ranged man then re- police, after he was peatedly slammed the behaving in an er- metal door of the cell ratic manner on St. against the officer’s John’s Street. head. He was reported- Corporal Common, ly calm in the po- who celebrated his lice vehicle, but after 51st birthday on 11th driving off the police December 2021 was pickup collided with rushed to hospital by another vehicle at his colleagues and Cross and St. John’s died around 2:25 p.m. Streets. At least two while receiving treat- officers were injured ment at Mount St. and were treated and John’s Medical Centre discharged from hos- (MSJMC). pital. The twenty-year-old Family and friends was later removed say Simon is not vio- from St. John’s Po- lent and are shocked lice Station, but it is at the news that he unclear where he is is now responsible for being held. Behind the death of a police Police outriders escort body of fallen officer to the funeral home. the closed red gates officer. FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2021 LOCAL NEWS PAGE 4 COVID-19 vaccines arrive Minister of Health Sir past several months, the Molwyn Joseph was air- frontline workers have side at V.C. Bird Interna- done an outstanding job tional Airport on Thurs- and they deserve to be day to accept 5,000 the priority at this time,” doses of the Oxford-As- Sir Molwyn declared. traZeneca vaccine, a The vaccine doses gift from the Common- will be stored at a se- wealth of Dominica. cure facility operated The vaccines arrived in by the Medical Benefits Antigua on a Regional Scheme, until the distri- Security System aircraft, bution programme be- less than twenty-four gins. According to the hours after the an- minister, when the 40,000 nouncement was made doses arrive from India during a post-Cabi- next week, these will be net press briefing on stored at a new facili- Wednesday. ty being erected at the With this first batch former Air Force base. of Oxford-AstraZeneca, This will be the perma- healthcare workers will nent facility for vaccines be given priority. storage, according to “For the past several Sir Molwyn. months we have been The health minister fighting the transmis- noted that a plan has sion of the disease and been carefully crafted now we have to take that will guide the inoc- the additional step of ulation programme na- inoculating our popula- tionwide. tion. This is an important The government is step because it gives predicting it will have in us now the capacity to its possession at least take care of our front- 85,000 doses of the Ox- line workers. I want to ford-AstraZeneca vac- say publicly, throughout cine within the next two my experience over the weeks. PAGE 5 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2021 US Visa renewals now made easier Antigua and Barbuda expired within the past nationals wishing to re- twenty-four months. new their United States Ambassador Tagli- entry visas received alatela said the change good news on Thurs- comes in recognition day when the US Am- that the COVID-19 pan- bassador to the Eastern demic has severely af- Caribbean announced fected the ability of changes to the process. people to travel and this United States Ambas- was a move designed to sador to Barbados and make it easier for these the Eastern Caribbean, individuals.