Unvaccinated taxi drivers have been barred from operating at Argyle International Airport, the main airfield in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“With respect to taxi drivers, as of July 23, 2021, only fully vaccinated taxi drivers can operate at the AIA,” Minister of Health, St. Clair “Jimmy” Prince announced on WE FM’s Shake Up on Thursday.
The health minister said that of the 350 total registered authorised taxi drivers in St. Vincent, 31 are fully vaccinated, and 13 on Bequia are fully vaccinated on Bequia.
“And these are the two main destinations for cruise ships that we have,” the minister said.
He said that health officials are encouraging taxi drivers to take the COVID-19 jab, adding that taxi drivers would also need to take the vaccine to transport cruise visitors.
“And, when the cruise ships come, the drivers will have to be vaccinated otherwise they will have to go elsewhere and ply their trade. But we are encouraging them, please take the vaccine. It is in your interest to do so, not just in your health interest but equally in your economic interest,” Prince said.
Health officials in SVG have been combating deep-rooted vaccination hesitancy and had hoped that the July 13 arrival of 50,000 doses of the Russian vaccine, the Sputnik V, would have boosted uptake.
The government has said that some people had indicated that they were waiting for the Russian vaccine, as opposed to the Indian AstraZeneca seeing that Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and other senior government officials had taken the Russian jab in February.
However, Prince said that so far, just over 1,048 doses of Sputnik V had been administered, as people are “not exactly rushing” to take the jab.
The situation obtains even as a further 20,000 doses of the Sputnik V are yet to be delivered and 21,000 doses of AstraZeneca already in the country may have to be given away to another Caribbean country — as had been done before — if spoilage is to be avoided, should the hesitancy continue.
The minister said that the ministry of Health has proposed “and which was carried” protocols for cruise lines arriving in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“And there are a number of issues in the proposal that we will have to act on,” Prince said.
He said that fully vaccinated local vendors, port of entry personnel and designated sites will allow for safe, vaccinated bubbles.
The minister said that the entry protocols for arriving cruise travellers mandate that the crew or passengers must arrive with a negative PCR test done 24 to 48 hours prior to boarding the ship.
The ship must submit the cruise manifest, maritime declaration of health and negative PRC results at least 24 hours prior to arrival, and passengers and crew arriving by air to join the cruise will be subjected to protocols for entry by air.
“When they come off the ship, they go directly to a taxi, with a vaccinated driver, a tour guide or whoever the agent is will have to be vaccinated also. And they go, let’s say, to Gardens, the Gardens will be closed for other people, for other traffic and they do what they have to do there and they go back to the taxi and back to the cruise ship,” Prince said, adding that this will also apply to all other tourist sites, including beaches.
“It has to be controlled. Absolutely. Because you don’t know what is coming in. this is really to protect people, protect Vincentians so people can’t say well, ‘Wha’ yo’ close Gardens for? We wah go Gardens.’ Yeah. We close it for your protection. So there will be bubbles; cruise bubbles we call them…
“I think it is in the interest of the taxi drivers to get vaccinated,” the minister said.
Dam right. You cannot expect people to be vaccinated and showing a negative PCR, only for us to sit in a taxi with a unvaccinated driver. I would go further, that all drivers carry a photocopy of their ID and proof of being vaccinated.
I took a taxi on Sat 24.07.2021 and demanded a vaccinated driver, after being advised we were required to quarantine for 48 hours in a hotel. Driver step forward, pinning ( I-have been vaccinated badge to his chest) I informed him that anyone can pin a badge to his chest, that means nothing. The driver did eventually show me his vaccine card of which he had a picture on his phone.
What I would like to know is when it becme the government business to tell an individual what is good for their health?
Darn right if we have to come into saint Vincent vaccinated then the taxi drivers we are going to take should be vaccinated.
Very soon we will hear that the vaccinated people will be those that are the problem., its only a matter of time. Why are people being bullied and harassed to take this experimental jab that companies have distanced themselves from all liabilities and law suits? its not easy to live in third world countries. God forbid, who here will take any responsibility for anyone who may have any adverse reaction?
Obviously, Machine is malfunctioning…BADLY!!!
I trust all customs staff and immigration staff and any other staff at AIA who may come in contact with incoming guests are also fully vaccinated. Otherwise, the idea of quarantining incoming visitors once they leave the airport makes no sense at all.
In this instance, I don’t believe the government is telling taxi drivers what’s good for their health, rather they are relaying what incoming visitors expect and will demand. It’s purely business – meeting the cusomer’s expectations. Taxi drivers and others have the right to choose for themselves whether they will be vaccinated or not. Then they have the responsibility to face the consequences of the choice they’ve made. That’s just life. It’s not all about anyone’s rights alone; with any right comes some responsibility.
Very disturbing! What is just as shocking is that so very much of the public has been brainwashed into fake science supported by fake news or news just unreported. This includes what is reported from the Department of Health in SVG! Any of us with a science background could write a very long article with real facts, but, alas, we would be censored and canceled. SO FAR, only 1% have had serious problems from the experimental vaccines, although LESS THAN 1% have had serious problems from Covid-19; most of those are elderly. I do not know Kenton’s opinion on all this, and that means he is doing a good job. Political people from both sides have accused him of supporting the other side. That tells you he is doing great as a reporter. I wish I could say the same about Global news. The goal seems to be to push as many as possible to get vaccinated. It does not matter if you have had and recovered from Covid-19 AND ARE THEREFORE IMMUNE FROM COVID-19!
THE GOAL IS NOT YOUR HEALTH. THE GOAL ARE THE VACCINES THEMSELVES! ASK YOURSELF: “Why is that?”
Read the following article and consider the bible quote:
https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/minnesota-woman-loses-both-legs-and-both-hands-following-second-pfizer-covid-19-shot/
I demand that they all get tested for HIV and Herpes. Over 99% that get Covid-19 make a full recovery. Not true from HIV. Am I asking too much? This should be true of all doctors and POLITICIANS too; because politicians shake alot of hands. I do not know if the politicians cheated on the test, or anyone, so I demand everyone wears gloves when they leave their homes! Antony Fuchi said that masks are useless so I demand everyone wears NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) masks with filters changed DAILY!
Right now I am very afraid living in my basement wearing a mask and peeing my pants in fear of Covid. We are all gunna die!
I hope we also ban all unvaccinated person from travelling to our shores
Well if this don’t bring all vincentians together for once nothing will to let these big head potbelly politicians know where to get off nobody can say why a person that’s vascinanated should be afraid of some person that’s not utter nonsense I wonder what’s the agenda for them to get everyone vascinanated what’s in it for them could only be one thing what every politician eat and breathe for $$$.
So does that mean only vaccinated people can go to the beach? I mean, tourists might visit the beach.
Machine I hope you end up with Covid..I don’t want you to die just suffer..and a shortage of vaccine at that time.. then your ass will be singing another song
Evie, words have power, it can happen to you, never wish anyone bad.
While I made a personal choice to get vaccinated, I do not condone forcing or coercing other people to take it. Persons should be properly educated on the effects and side effects/pros and cons of this vaccine so that they can make an informed decision if they want to take it or not. At the end of the day this vaccine has a lot of side effects which can be accentuated if it meets other potentially serious conditions within a persons body. So the decision to take it should be of a free will.
As to the question of who can access where if they are vaccinated or unvaccinated, people need to practice the habit of always wearing a mask and practice good hand washing/sanitizing. At the end of rhe day, that is what will reduce spread of COVID-19, NOT THE VACCINE!!