Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines has Strict COVID-19 Guidelines for Government Worker
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told teachers ahead of the schools re-opening that a government-approved coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test is required otherwise they would be asked to leave the compound.
Gonsalves made the announcement on a radio programme, as he continued to defend his government’s vaccination or test policy for public sector workers. Under the policy, all employees of the central government or statutory entities are required to submit their COVID-19 vaccination report or be tested at least once every two weeks for the virus.
Prime Minister Gonsalves told listeners “we are asking the teachers across the whole of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the areas where you are from, go to your clinic, take the test. If everybody could take it, fine. You take the test, or you take the vaccine. Preferably, you take the vaccine. If all of you go and you take the vaccine, that is fine.”
Gonsalves added that 331 teachers or 17 percent of the nation’s educators have taken the vaccine.
“When you go into the principal on the 12th [of April] you say, ‘well, listen, I am vaccinated or I am tested.’ No big thing. If you are not, you will be asked, ‘listen, you can’t stay on the compound until you go and get vaccinated or tested’. On the 12th, I am informed that the Ministry of Health would have health personnel available to go also to test,” Gonsalves said, adding that getting vaccinated or testing is “a matter of solidarity.”
Last Saturday, President of the Public Service Union Elroy Boucher said that public sector workers have adhered to the COVID-19 protocols so well that there have not been any outbreaks at any government department or agency since the shift system ended on March 17.
Liz Myke
Reporter
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