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by pltm
(PLTM) - Host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme Claude Skelton-Cline has blasted members of the coloured community for what he is describing as vaccination-hesitancy in the British Virgin Islands among the ethnic majority.
"We expect the government to open the country, how is it that we need to prudently do that when we have all these vaccination-hesitancy, especially among us as black people because our white brothers and sisters, as I share with you, are out in droves; are standing in lines ready to become vaccinated,” he pointed out.
Skelton Cline, who is also a government consultant, said on his radio show on Tuesday, February 23, that the matter is also an issue with frontline workers.
“We have people in these Virgin Islands on the frontlines who are not intending to get vaccinated. We have officers who have not been vaccinated; we have immigration, customs who have not been vaccinated, police, medical service providers who have not been vaccinated. If you on the frontline, and you are not being vaccinated, for whatever reason, I am not debating your reason right now, but what I do want to say is this: it is not my right to risk other people’s health. It is not your right,” he reasoned.
He questioned, the reasoning behind someone working in the health care sector and not being vaccinated.
"Do you not trust the very science in which you practice? On top of that, I haven’t heard different; we are supposed to open this country on March 1st we are concerned about the life and livelihood of a country," Skelton Cline stated.
He continued, “On top of that, on the matter of education and our children, are we going to let our children die? Our children have been in a state of fear and fright, and flight since 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria. One disaster, one turbulent time after the other and now COVID-19 over a year ago. What is the issue with teachers in the education system?”
He argued that the matter of the vaccine is in the best interest of the country.
"So I am wondering out loud, I wonder if it is we have come to the place, given the time and circumstances in this country, where this vaccination should be mandatory for frontline workers,” Skelton Cline stated.
Vaccination Is A Blessing
Skelton-Cline said the AstraZeneca vaccines that are currently being rolled out is good for the territory. The Talk show host said frontline workers who are opting to not get vaccinated should ‘step back.”
He explained, “I think it is time to have an honest conversation about the state of affairs of this country as it relates to vaccinations. Because right now, all the hard work that we have done, all the sacrifices that have been made, we are now putting ourselves in peril if we open this country on Monday."
He added, "And, if it is the case that your personal conviction is to not be vaccinated, then what do we have in place that allows you to step back from the frontline to the back of the line so that persons who are able and willing can step in the front of the line and service our tourism product, and service our children. I think it is time for that conversation.”
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