How St Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda failed in COVID-era

Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia: Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia are among the nations are suffering major devastation caused by COVID-19 due to dilapidated medical infrastructures and primarily the country's management of the pandemic. Not only is the opposition pushing the matter, but citizens of both countries have also come up to revolt against the government's handling of COVID-19. People are attempting to put up light on the shady hidden mismanagement of the country. Caribbean countries are known for their particular population and well-management in the time of challenges. The coronavirus pandemic brutally destroyed the islands' management and compelled the public to ask their leaders questions. To embark on, Antigua and Barbuda confirmed more than 443 active cases, 205 recoveries, and more than nine deaths. On the other hand, St Lucia recorded more than 2,519 active cases, 1,778 recoveries, and shocking 23 deaths compared to its population.

Instead of handling the country's health and economic crisis, the St Lucia government led by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is confronting the aggression of opposition parties.

Paul Harris, a resident of Castries, said why the government is attacking the opposition and not working hard to make people safe and secure.

"The hospital conditions are miserable, there are no beds for the patients, and we are suffering the economic crash since COVID-19 came into existence. This is unfortunate that our government has failed us all."

The opposition party, St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), political leader, and 1st Deputy Leader, Ernest Hilaire, strongly condemned the current government's management in St Lucia during his parliament speech.

Ernest Hilaire demands to check the welfare of the people of the nation. Hillary stated that St Lucia is handling COVID-19, the worst in the eastern Caribbean region. Despite having prominent facilities, including quarantine centers and proper testing polls, St Lucia is facing the worst by a coronavirus.

Ernest Hilaire revealed that the experiences of St Lucians with COVID-19 is 'a story of repeated failure of the current government'.

St Lucia experiences almost one death related to coronavirus in just forty hours, which shows high death rates in the country, added Ernest Hilaire.

The opposition of St Lucia claims that "The administration has failed to ease the suffering of the farmers, fishers, barbers, hairdressers, hospitality workers, taxi-drivers, small business owners, and the unemployed facing the economic repercussions of COVID-19."

The Prime Minister claimed last year that the administration had "no more money" for social and economic relief, yet it took loan over $300 million for COVID, most of which has not been spent on coronavirus; the government would have had the needy fiscal space if its priorities had been aimed at securing lives and not non-essential concrete and steel projects.

Kevin Johnson, a student of St Lucia, said that the government has spent over $2 million on road construction that stretch for about 2 miles. "The unnecessary spendings by the government are proof of their mishandling of the country. We need more funds for the health sector, not roads or infrastructure. The government must understand the need of the hour."

St Lucia has all the fundamental amenities, yet it failed to manage the country's crisis systematically. The government was busy refurbishing rather than focussing on the situation.

Antigua and Barbuda experienced a sudden spike in coronavirus cases because of no curfew in the nation.

The reopening of schools was a disastrous decision for the citizens of the country. In the first week of February, the Ministry of Education revealed that 14 students and 2 teachers are under quarantine as they have tested positive for coronavirus.

However, the farrago in both the nations is proof of failed government in both of the nations. People will always remember the collapsed management of the current government in both countries.

Consequently, St Lucia, Antigua, and Barbuda are enduring an economic crisis, and in simple words, the country is broke. As far as other sister nations are concerned, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Barbados and Grenada have handled the COVID-19 situation very efficiently. Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis, till date has not reported a single death due to COVID-19. Barbados and Dominica are both among the first nations in the region to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to the population.