FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 2021 | ISSUE 266 | WWW.POINTVILLE.AG CHILDREN CAN NOW BE VACCINATED! ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, 12 August 2021, a donated supply of the only vaccine against COVID-19 that has been approved for use in minors arrived in Antigua. The 17,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, a gift from the US government, landed at the V.C. Bird International Airport. Authorities here have indicated that all holding facilities are in place to store the shipment – a precondition set by the US for this gift, which Washington, understandably, does not want to see wast- ed for want of shelter. The aim is to inoculate close to 9,000 students within the 12-17 year age group. Consultations with parents, teach- ers and school administrators are planned so that the students can be vaccinated before the new semester/academic year begins next month. Photo shows Health & Wellness Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph (fourth from right) with other officials, receiving the vaccine ship- ment upon arrival yesterday. WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 PAGE 2 GUEST EDITORIAL Are people in the Caribbean becoming architects of their own destruction? (The writer is An- tigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fel- low at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the Uni- versity of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) The question has to be asked: Are some people in Caribbean countries becoming the architects of their own, and the region’s, destruction? There is clearly an organised anti-vac- cination campaign throughout the re- gion. Who is behind the campaign is un- clear, but what is ev- ident is that opposi- By Sir Ronald Sanders Cont’d on pg 3 WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 GUEST EDITORIAL PAGE 3 tion political parties programme against benefits for their pop- United States to six and criminal ele- the pandemic, that ulations – will now be CARICOM countries, ments in Caribbean march is now being set back, if not gravely has enhanced their societies are taking halted. reversed. capacity to immunize advantage of the an- The process that The people of Ca- their people against ti-COVID-19 vacci- was taking many Ca- ribbean countries the lethal coronavi- nation sentiment ribbean countries to where this situation rus. for their own narrow ‘herd’ or ‘communi- takes hold will have The six countries purposes. ty’ immunity is now no one to blame but that are recipients So, while great being derailed. This themselves. Vaccines of Pfizer doses so far strides had been means that the coun- now exist, and are are: Antigua and Bar- made in countries tries, particularly available, for most buda (17,500); Baha- such as Antigua and tourism dependent countries to inoculate mas (397,000); Bar- Barbuda, Barba- ones that were head- 70 percent of their bados (70,200); St. dos, and Guyana, to ing toward opening adult population. Kitts-Nevis (11,700); suppress the coro- their borders and re- The provision of Pfiz- St. Vincent and the navirus and curb its covering their econ- er vaccines – suitable Grenadines (35,100), spread through a omies – with the for children – by the and Trinidad and To- vigorous inoculation obvious attendant government of the bago (305,370). Other Cont’d on pg 4 PAGE 4 GUEST EDITORIAL WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 Caribbean countries will also the inoculation programme. some sort of warped evidence be beneficiaries as soon as But this initial enthusiasm, by that it was better to contract it they settle requirements for people who recognised the than to prevent it. storing and distributing the value of being immunised Consequently, there has vaccines safely. from a deadly disease, con- been a recent resurgence The US donation forti- cealed the anti-vaccination of COVID-19 infections fies supplies of vaccines that movement that had already throughout the Caribbean. have been delivered through taken hold. It is so bad in Martinique, a the COVAX facility, admin- Oddly, the success of many French island neighbouring istered by the World Health Caribbean governments and St. Lucia and Dominica, that Organization (WHO) and the health authorities in sup- the authorities have locked Pan-American Health Organ- pressing the coronavirus and down the country again and isation (PAHO), as well as gifts curbing its spread, also con- asked all tourists to leave. from India, Russia and China tributed to the propaganda While Martinique can af- to several countries. that the virus would not kill ford this drastic step – because Caribbean countries, prin- and that greater risk exists it is politically and administra- cipally Antigua and Barbuda from inoculation. The an- tively a part of France which and Barbados, enjoyed great ti-vaxxers seized upon the gives it budgetary support – success in the early stage of containment of the disease as should CARICOM countries WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 LOCAL NEWS PAGE 5 take similar action, they would There are also 34 patients that the head of 75-year-old Prime immediately suffer even fur- are currently on ventilators Minister Ralph Gonsalves, ther economic decline. This and 21 of them are COVID-19 wounding him, but could time, economic recovery and sufferers. have possibly killed him. a return to any semblance According to the US Cen- Political parties that irre- of normal life would be ex- tres for Disease Control & sponsibly align themselves tremely prolonged with long- Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 with the anti-vaccination term unemployment and se- cases are rising in nearly 90 campaign, particularly to vi- verely reduced social welfare percent of jurisdictions in the olate the law and confront programmes. Many regional US, with outbreaks in areas of Police carrying out their role economies would simply col- low vaccination rates. to protect the wider citizenry, lapse. Politics played a huge part are playing with fire. Not only Additionally, the strain in the anti-vaccination cam- are they exposing people to on health systems – that are paign in the US, started by for- disease and death, they are only now being eased from mer President Donald Trump. also risking killing economies COVID-19 cases – would in- It was adopted by right-wing which, even if their political tensify beyond their capac- religious and political groups actions help to topple govern- ity to cope. Further, other who have exposed their own ments, will leave them with non-communicable diseases congregations and support- countries so ruined that the such as diabetes, hyperten- ers to illness and death by majority of their populations sion, kidney failure and can- encouraging gatherings of will never forgive them. cer, would take many lives as unmasked persons at which COVID-19 remains a threat resources are diverted again they rail against vaccinations. to human life as great as atroc- to persons infected by the Political parties in some ities resulting from terrorism coronavirus. CARICOM countries have or war. The fact that, unlike Anyone who doubts these taken a page from the Trump leprosy, the disease is not ob- real possibilities should check playbook. They have jumped vious until it has ravaged its the situation in parts of the US on the anti-vaccine senti- victims, only hides its lethal where medical resources are ment in the expectation that effects. much greater than any CAR- protests and marches against All leaders of Caribbean so- ICOM country. For example, inoculation would galvanize cieties, including politicians data from the South Caro- a mass movement to top- who want power, should put lina Department of Health ple governments. They have the wellbeing of their peoples and Environmental Control gone as far as to encourage and their countries first. shows that hospital occupan- violations of the law and con- cy in Horry County is at 93.3%. frontations with Police. In St. Responses and previous The report reveals that 94 out Vincent, this emboldening of commentaries: www.sirron- of 98 beds in intensive care lawlessness resulted in a sup- aldsanders.com units are occupied, and 44 of porter of an opposition po- them are COVID-19 patients. litical party hurling a stone at PAGE 6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY 11 AUGUST 2021 Tribute to Sir Lester Bryant Bird by Sir Ramez F. Hadeed and family With profound sad- velopment & Energy, ness I learned of the and proudly became passing of Sir Lester our Prime Minister in Bryant Bird, Knight of 1994 till 2004. the Order of National He did his best to in- Hero and former Prime volve not only govern- Minister of Antigua and ment’s technocrats, but Barbuda. knowledgeable indi- He was a towering viduals who had the in- leader, a superior man- terest of the country at ager of the national ar- heart. I can also say he Ambassador Ramez F. Hadeed. chitecture and one who was a people’s person looked out for others as and a lifelong lover of he dedicated his life to cricket and athletics. the people of Antigua As Deputy Prime and Barbuda. Minister and later Sir Lester’s national Prime Minister, Sir Les- journey to transform ter remained focused the country started on the interest of Anti- with his appointment gua and Barbuda and in 1976 as Deputy Chief he made it the most Minister and Minister successful country in of Economic Develop- the Caribbean. ment, Tourism & Ener- My family and I are gy. deeply moved by his In November 1981, passing. May his soul as we attained our in- rest in perpetual peace. dependence, Sir Lester We wish comfort, Bryant Bird became peace, and blessings at Deputy Prime Minister this time of mourning and Minister of Foreign to all Antiguans and Affairs, Economic De- Barbudans.