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Opposition Leader Godwn Friday.  (File photo)
Opposition Leader Godwn Friday. (File photo)
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Opposition Leader Godwin Friday, on Tuesday, stated his opposition to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but encouraged people to take the jab.

His comments come as Parliament is expected to amend two pieces of legislation passed earlier this year in response to the pandemic.

The Medical Officers (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, both tabled by Minister of Health St. Clair Prince, are slated to have their first reading in the national assembly on Thursday.

Photographs circulated on social media purporting to show the intended amendment, claim that it will delete “a voluntary” and, in its place, insert “an” in the following section of the law:

“(2) Where the Minster has declared a public health emergency, the minister, on advice of the Chief Medical Officer, May implement special measure to mitigate or remedy the emergency including –

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“(a) Establishing a voluntary immunization programme for St. Vincent and the Grenadines or any part of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines;”

Speaking at a virtual public meeting of his New Democratic Party, Friday, who took the jab a few months ago, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the “biggest problem that we have now”.

He, however, said that the government, “quite frankly, has made a mess of it.

“They were talking out of both sides of their mouths. Behaving, on the one hand, as if it’s something to fear, and then, on the other, they want to force people to take a vaccine,” the opposition leader told media audiences.

“I am for vaccination but not for compulsory vaccination. As Keith Mitchell said, I not for that. But we have to encourage our people to do what they must, that is, to inform themselves and to take the recommendations of these persons who have the knowledge and the information and make the right decision. And I believe that is to be vaccinated,” Friday said.

“But Ralph and the ULP, they have talked all around this issue and now they are in a situation where they want to force people. And that will only create a worse situation, as there will be a backlash. So we have to find a way forward in this terrible situation that we have found ourselves in and I know that our good people will look at it seriously and do what is right for themselves and for our nation,” the opposition leader said. 

8 replies on “Opposition against mandatory COVID jab as Gov’t moves to change law”

  1. I am still awaiting the quote that indicates the government is moving towards a ‘mandatory’ Jab.

  2. The reality is that if all the government supporters took the vaccine, SVG will have had at least 50 vaccination.

    The government can’t even convince their own supporters to take the jab.

    Clean your house first!

  3. Now tell me honestly, if this is the plan then we’re no longer in control of our lives nor our destinies. When will stop? Do we need to take to the streets and manifest in order for them to hear the silent cries of our people? When will the government and we as a people understand and make it known, they work for us and we have a say in what they want to force upon us. This just makes me sick, I’m tired, I’m fed up of them going along with this agenda. Let us be free and stop trying to punish us unnecessarily. We will rise up, trust me, if not now, but believe we will.

  4. sensible person says:

    Somehow!
    I am just hesitant of getting a vaccine MOST OF WHICH ARE FINANCIALLY SPONSORED BY A BILLIONAIRE THAT HAS STATED HE WANTS TO REDUCE THE WORLD POPULATION BY BILLIONS..THROUGH VACCINES! Somehow that does not sit well with me!
    Today it takes courage for a leader to let their people choose instead of forcing them. There was a plot uncovered to kill the leader of Belarus on May 8th, and in the past year how many leaders that oppose vaccines have died or been killed?
    Our Department of Health in SVG says no one here has died from the vaccines, but… How many people have died within 72 hours after getting the vaccine?
    If anyone died in 2020, they died from Covid-19, If anyone in 2021 dies after getting vaccinated,…they die from coincidence!

  5. Leonard Slater says:

    I can see the the leader of the opposition does not have the wisdom , knowledge, and understanding to be a leader or govern Svg’. It is for this reason that the NDP” will always be an opposition party’. Mr. Friday will’ always be frightened.

  6. This is the manifestation of the mark of the beast the Bible spoke about,,I see 5he churches are very silent

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