Leader of the Opposition, Godwin Friday is urging Vincentians not to lose sight of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the ongoing explosive eruption of La Soufriere volcano.
He noted at a New Democratic Party Press conference last week that the country has recorded its 11th COVID-19 death.
“That’s 11 more than there should be. So it is important that we not lose sight of this serious problem that has crippled us, [crippled] the economy, has caused risk to life and health, that even in this crisis with La Soufriere erupting, that we not lose sight of the danger this poses and continue to do the things that we have done to protect ourselves and to protect one another,” Friday said.
The opposition leader said that he had taken his second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine and felt good having done so.
“I did it for my personal safety and I think and believe it is also good for national recovery and gives us the best chance of returning to normalcy, however we define that after COVID, sooner, rather than later,” Friday said.
There is deep-seated vaccine hesitancy in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and a significant number of the vaccines that the country has received are at risk of spoiling.
The government has said that if Vincentians are unwilling to take the jabs, they will be given to other Caribbean countries that want them.
Need to work toward getting the Grenadines reopened to foreign travel without quarantine. Those dollars are needed. Vaccinated people only