PM Rowley, Chairman of CARICOM secured 25 million vaccines for the Caribbean
On Thursday, June 3, discussions were had with Vice President of the United States, Kamala D. Harris and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and Chairman of CARICOM, Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley to secure a portion of the 80 million vaccines the Biden-Harris Administration intended to distribute globally by the end of June, for the Caribbean.
There were a series of discussions between the CARICOM Chairman and the Biden-Harris Administration leading up to this decision. In a Facebook post, Dr. Rowley stated "This is the very latest in a series of high-level contacts which the Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Rowley has been having with high-level officials of the US Administration in recent weeks."
The discussions were held with Latin America Leaders as well as Prime Minister Rowley on behalf of CARICOM. Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice President, Sabrina Singh stated the Vice President notified each leader that the US administration will begin sharing the first 25 million doses of vaccines to their countries.
"(The US Vice President) this morning, in separate calls, spoke to PM Narendra Modi, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President Alejandro Giammattei, and PM Keith Rowley, notifying each leader that the admin will begin sharing the first 25M doses of vaccines to their countries."
In a statement, the United States Chargé d’Affaires in Trinidad and Tobago Shante Moore said the US Embassy in Port of Spain worked closely with regional counterparts, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and officials in Washington DC to ensure the region would be included in this donation.
Moore said: "This is an example of what we envision as a strategic bilateral partnership working together to address and resolve issues of mutual importance to the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and the region."
"We are sharing these doses not to secure favors, extract concessions, or pursue hidden agendas. We are not imposing conditions the way other countries are doing. The vaccines are being donated, free and clear. We are giving them for a single purpose - to end the pandemic and save lives," Moore continued.
Moore added: "We are working on the regulatory and logistical issues of transporting the vaccines and will provide more country-specific information soon."
Seventy-five percent of these vaccines, a combination of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, were sent to COVAX to be delivered equitably.
The United States made the final selection regarding the distribution of the vaccines, but six million doses were given to Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Vice President reiterated that the Administration’s efforts are focused on achieving broad global coverage, responding to the increased number of cases and other urgent situations and public health needs, and helping as many countries as possible who requested vaccines.
The four leaders thanked Vice President Kamala Harris and pledged to continue the alliance to address COVID-19 and advance mutual global interests.
Liz Myke
Reporter
0 Comment