The Barbados government says it has not yet made a policy decision as it relates to making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for citizens, underscoring the importance of consultation as the island seeks to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Acting Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams, addressing the first of a series of town hall meetings sought to dispel misconceptions that the Mia Mottley government is trying to impose the vaccine on residents.
He said persons were speaking about “forced vaccinations”, stressing that “nothing could be further from the truth.
“No one can hold you down and stick a needle in your arm. You have rights with respect to your body, but equally other persons have rights with respect to theirs, and business owners have rights with respect to that as well,” he told the public consultation.
But he acknowledged that Barbados needed to develop policies that would ensure the continued development of its economy, the safety of citizens including their way of life and their rights.
Abrahams said while there may be varying views on the subject matter, the town hall meetings were being held to hear suggestions from the public.
“The government does not have a policy position as it stands now in respect of mandatory vaccination of anybody,” he said, noting that while officials may have an idea about what they wanted to do in the situation, there may be other opinions that could be heard to put together a combination of factors.
“I would prefer that at this point in time that we take suggestions; we take full discussions; ask the questions that you want to ask to put you in an informed position…to come up with a solution,” Abrahams said, urging people to weigh as many factors as possible to come up with the best decision for the majority of people.
Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw said it was important for the consultations adding “when the decision was taken at the last Social Partnership meeting a few weeks ago to host these consultations, there was consensus amongst government, employer and employee representatives that the views on the issue of vaccination and testing are so diverse and so complex that no firm positions or even decisions should be taken without extensive consultation with the general public.
“We are not here to preach to anyone; we are not here to sell one position over the other. We are not here to tell you that one side is right and one side is wrong, but rather, we are here to listen. We want to know what the positions are that you all have on this matter, and we want to know them because we want to make sure that people are comfortable in making decisions which affect them.”
Bradshaw said that the officials were aware that many people had given thought to COVID-19 and its impact, and might have alternative ideas on how the issue of vaccination and vaccinating others to get the economy moving again could be addressed.
“We certainly look forward to the very next session, where, hopefully, more stimulating thoughts can come through and perhaps even more recommendations, as we move forward,” she said.
CMC
