Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has told teachers ahead of Monday’s re-opening of schools that they should have a government-approved COVID-19 vaccine or have been tested for the virus, otherwise they would be asked to leave the compound.
Gonsalves made the announcement on a radio programme here, VC3, 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 up to once every two weeks for the virus.
He told listeners that on Thursday and Friday, “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 said, adding that 331 teachers or 17 per cent of the nation’s educators have taken the vaccine.
”When you go in to 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”.
Meanwhile, in a memo to principals of educational institutions, on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Myccle Burke, noted that the government, through a March 31, 2021 memorandum has communicated “a policy on vaccination and testing of the public sector workers”.
He said that consistent with the policy position of the government, all teachers and ancillary staff are required to submit to the Ministry of Education through their respective principal, a copy of their vaccination card or recent COVID-19 rapid antigen test results, no later than 1:30 pm on April 9, 2021.
“The Ministry of Health and the Environment has committed to providing the resources to execute this critical activity in preparation for the scheduled reopening of school on April 12, 2021,” Burke said.
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Why are teachers always ruled with an iron fist!? You don’t hear them telling police officers to get vaccinated or tested or else leave the station.
They should repay him at the ballot box next election for his ignorance. Our leaders have now all taken on the mantle of King and God!!!
Mek dem try this yah and arwe see what happen. Slavery was abolished ..PEOPLE WE BE FREE
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