by Clive Bacchus
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): St. Kitts and Nevis Labour Party(SKNLP) and St. Kitts and Nevis Trades and Labour Union(SKNTLU) have issued a joint statement condemning “mandatory vaccination”.
SKNLP leader Dr Denzil Douglas and the executive of the SKNTLU expressed the view that attempts at forced and mandatory vaccination of private-sector employees and public servants by employers and Government respectively must be strongly condemned, according to a media statement.
“Dr. Douglas, a physician of many years experience, fielded a lot of questions on the COVID-19 vaccination program after addressing residents of Constituency #6. He again reaffirmed his support of vaccinations, outlining the historical importance of vaccinations, generally in combating contagious diseases and specifically, the coronavirus COVID-19 disease,” the release added.
According to the SKNLP release, Dr. Douglas was again critical of the government for “politicizing the management of the pandemic from the very beginning, in excluding the Opposition as a stakeholder”.
Dr. Douglas, also the leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition argued that the vaccination rollout program was ill-conceived as it did not provide citizens with the appropriate awareness and education exercises to combat the misinformation that is readily peddled in social media.
He stressed that the population, properly educated, will make the right informed decision to take the vaccine but contended that citizens and residents must exercise their right of choice of the vaccines available, and to take or not take it.
The SKNLP and SKNTLU positions were articulated at a town hall meeting in Newton Ground “in solidarity with workers and advised them of their rights even under the stress of threats of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination by government and private businesses”.
Residents were reportedly updated on recent Party activities in readiness for its Conference of Delegates next month; personal achievements of Constituents, empowerment developments being pursued especially by farmers and fishers in improving livelihoods, and special recognition of women’s valiant efforts to deal with the severe social and economic challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other speakers at the event were Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Mr. Crios Freeman, National Treasurer, reporting on Finance and Communications Reforms within the Party; Meshach Alford, Deputy National Chair, and the SKNLP party leader Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Vice President of the SKNTLU, Larry Vaughan, seated at the head table, ventilated the union’s views on the issues and fielded questions from participants.
