Established October 1895 Homeless shelter closed due to COVID-19 case PAGE 3 Wednesday February 10, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive DELAYED REACTION DEMOCRATIC Labour due to the COVID-19 pan- January. responses to levels one, two and “What has happened is that Party (DLP) Spokesman on demic. Gibson made reference to the three COVID-19 threats. It indi- they have failed to lockdown and Health, Paul Gibson, be- He stated this during an inter- ‘2020 COVID-19 Playbook/ cates “that when you hit level as a result of that, we are find- lieves that had government view with The Barbados Management Protocol’ that three of COVID cases which ing ourselves in the first week of issued a national lockdown Advocate yesterday, where he gives guidance to the response means that the system is over- February trying to pull this earlier, it could have suggested a national shutdown to escalating COVID-19 num- whelmed, as it is, that we lock- whole pandemic back because avoided the system being should have been announced in bers in the country. He said the down.” However, he said this the horse is out of the stable, the clogged and overwhelmed late December or in early document directs the relevant was not followed. DELAYED on Page 5 THE VACCINES ARE HERE: The long awaited Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived on island, ahead of a National Vaccination exercise, as the country ramps up its fight against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (left) led the welcome party at the Grantley Adams International Airport, and was accompanied by Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on COVID-19 and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott; Dr Mohini Harris, Honorary Consul, Honorary Consulate of India; Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George; and Maryam Hinds, Director of the Barbados Drug Service (partially hidden). Some 100 000 doses were made available by the Government of India. (See also Page 3) Comissiong: Skilled nationals needed now more than ever CARICOM Member States COVID-19 with more integra- it is one of the best ideas there’s no place in this 21st cen- our people recognise there are should not allow the COVID-19 tion, not less; we would be CARICOM has developed since tury world for an educated, un- opportunities that exist right pandemic to stop them from making a fatal error if its inception. Comissiong bol- trained or uncertificated young here in the region and they are pursuing the skilled nationals we turn inwards from our stered his position, indicating man or young woman. Also, it growing. programme. CARICOM brothers and sisters. that skilled persons can play a says to our young people that “So the challenge to us, is to so That’s the view of Barbados’ I think our best bet of riding pivotal role in the development the entire region is open to you develop our region that we Ambassador to CARICOM, through this crisis is collectively, of our various countries and to find your destiny,” he said. can deliver to our children and David Comissiong. He is it is working together as a should be given the opportunity Comissiong noted that more grandchildren similar opportu- adamant that instead of being a region,” Comissiong said in a to do so. than six decades ago Caribbean nities, but regionally.For hindrance, the pandemic should recent interview with The “To me, it does two things – people were “running” to Britain example, Guyana is going to be be seen as an opportunity to Barbados Advocate. first of all, what it does, is it and the United States in large developing a petroleum indus- propel the free movement of per- As such, he is suggesting that sends a message and it offers an numbers looking for greener try.There are young Barbadians sons who fall within any of the the programme is one that all incentive to our young people, pastures and opportunities for with technical skills, who might approved categories of skilled CARICOM Member States all across the region, to take employment. However, those want to experience a career or nationals. should fully embrace. He made their education and training se- avenues of migration have been employment working in the field “We need to respond to the point while contending that riously; to understand that cut off and it is important that SKILLED on Page 5 2 • Wednesday February 10, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Long lines at supermar- Despite a recent raise in the price of petroleum products, gasolene and diesel kets continue to be a remain in high demand. common feature. Barbados on pause – Busy supermarkets and shuttered shops SHOPPING for food remains high on the list of priorities for Barbadians as the island rolls to the end of the first week of the national pause. This lady awaits her transportation after her With most businesses supermarket run. closed for the two-week period, supermarkets continue to be heavily pa- tronised as they remain open on weekdays under limited hours. With supermarket staff surely grateful for the gift of this past weekend after being open almost everyday for the better Swan Street is a veritable ghost town. part of a year, regular traffic has resumed at Stark contrast they have to leave, the types of businesses, espe- the major food stores As everyone is urged to stark contrast is pain- cially in what is a usu- across the island. remain at home unless fully visible at other ally busy Bridgetown. Barbadians are stocking up on the essentials. Eateries remain closed. The popular Bar Cutters on Beckles The recently-renamed Bridgetown Duty Free department store remains quiet. Road has ceased churning out its treats. The Barbados Advocate Wednesday February 10, 2021 • 3 Vaccines here and ready to be rolled out BEFORE this coming weekend, country has given to Barbados. She indi- Trinidad.The latter two, she noted, came sary, we are in a position to also be able Barbados is expected to start the cated that last November, India donated to the assistance of Barbados in our time to store some of the more rigorous ones next step in the fight against the US$100 000 to assist with the purchase of need. that require minus 80 degrees. This one, COVID-19 virus, with the rollout of a of personal protective equipment, and has “...Nobody has gone through this with- however, is stored at temperatures that national vaccination exercise. since agreed to give US$675 000 to pur- out seeking assistance, and therefore both we are accustomed to in our country,” she That’s according to Prime Minister Mia chase additional materials to assist of us have agreed that some of the vac- said. Amor Mottley, who said that co-coordi- Barbados in the battle against COVID. cines which we have received will go to Meanwhile, on the rollout of the vaccine nators of the national COVID-19 vaccina- That money is being made available our brothers and sisters in those territo- locally, she is urging Barbadians to start tion campaign will be revealing the de- through the India-UN Partnership ries within the OECS, with Dominica tak- to have the necessary discussions with tails soon. Development Fund, she explained. ing care of some, Barbados doing some their family and friends about the vac- She was speaking last night from Ilaro The PM said this first shipment is hope- and Trinidad and Guyana,” she stated. cine, especially given the high incidence Court in a joint virtual press briefing with fully the first of a batch of 200 000 doses With that in mind, Mottley spoke to of non-communicable diseases in this Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt that the country is seeking to obtain from the decision to choose Covishield, explain- country.Mottley said the vaccine will min- Skerrit, after she returned from the India. She said they are hoping to pur- ing it is a “highly safe and effective vac- imise the risk of death and the risk of se- Grantley Adams International Airport chase the remaining 100 000 doses from cine”. The PM said that it has gone rious hospitalisation. where she accepted a shipment of 100 the Indian Government soon. Her com- through the most rigorous testing and To that end, she maintained that the 000 Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, com- ments came as she noted that India had approval protocols and is currently being only way to beat the virus is if enough peo- monly called Covishield, from the also sent a shipment of 70 000 doses to safely administered to thousands of peo- ple are willing to be vaccinated.That will Government of India. She stated that Dominica yesterday, and that country is ple across the world. create herd immunity in the population. these doses will vaccinate 50 000 also hopeful that they can get a second “We do believe that of all the vaccines “I cannot tell you that I've received all persons – and out of this shipment the batch in about six to eight weeks. PM out there, this is one of the most suitable the vaccinations that we need yet. But I members of Cabinet and doctors who pre- Mottley said that she and her Dominican ones for Barbados and other tropical na- can promise you that every day and every viously got a first dose will receive their colleague worked closely to obtain the tions like our own, because the tempera- night, we are going to work hard to get as second one. vaccines and will be making some avail- tures required for storage are not as rig- many vaccines necessary to protect our Mottley explained that this donation able to other countries within the region, orous as some of the other vaccines.