Full statement of PM Timothy Harris on Leadership Matters April 27, 2021

Leadership Matters Opening Remarks by Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Let me begin by extending best wishes and greetings to all watching and listening, this edition of Leadership Matters.  I am encouraged by informed reports that Leadership Matters Programme continues to be the most comprehensive, interactive and informative discussion program on the policies, actions and performance of the people’s Government. I shall endeavor and indeed commit to make myself available regularly to host this quintessential example of democracy and good governance at work.  I thank the thousands here and afar who tune in regularly to be informed on serious matters of state. My fellow citizens and residents we are now approaching six months since the reopening of our borders fully to commercial, regional and international travel. As a Government, acting on the advice of our experts, we believe we have taken the measures necessary to provide us with the best possible protocols for our continued safety in light of the ongoing dangerous threat of COVID-19. As a result we have the least number of COVID-19 cases and all COVID-19 cases are fully recovered. We recorded no deaths owing to COVID-19 and our health system is functioning well.  I encourage us all to continue to do our part to be as safe as possible.  Please get vaccinated if you are yet to do so. From the full opening of our borders on October 31, 2020 to April 24, 2021 passenger throughput was 10,994 from 3191 flights.  Global travel is down as a consequence of COVID-19. Tourist arrivals will recover when more persons get vaccinated and confidence in the safety of global travel is restored.  Vaccination is a key factor affecting safety and confidence in travel. We rolled out our vaccination programme on February 22, 2021.  Over 12 thousands persons have had their first shot.  There is a global shortage of vaccines and some powerful countries are stock piling vaccines beyond their needs.  America has 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines which it does not need and contractual arrangements are reported to be in place for 300 million more doses.  The USA recently shared 4 million doses with Canada and Mexico.  CARICOM has asked that we in the region be accorded some of that stock pile.  Vaccines are scarce globally and of short shelf life. With the countries producing the vaccines insisting that they must get priority attention, it has become very challenging for small island states like those in CARICOM to access enough vaccines in the timeframes we need to secure them. I record my thanks to the Government of India for its generosity in supplying us with 20,000 doses of the vaccines.  We stand in solidarity and friendship with India now being rocked by the upsurge in COVID-19 cases, and we urge those countries that can, to be generous in their support to India. We have vaccines available I urge our people to get vaccinated.  The longer you delay, it is likely that vaccines may not be available when you decide that you are ready. Now is the accepted time.  Do not wait until you contract COVID-19 at home, at work, at an event to get vaccinated.  Protect yourself now.  The vaccine is free.  In the UK, Canada, and USA persons are waiting anxiously for their appointment.  Here in St Kitts and Nevis there is no waiting.  You can go to any of the 17 Health Centres from Monday to Friday between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. to be vaccinated.  Fortunately too every Saturday between 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon you can go to Health Centres in McKnight, Newtown, Tabernacle, St Pauls and Sandy Point and some Health Centres on Nevis are open on some Saturdays to be vaccinated. The recent lockdown in Anguilla reminds us that we are not safe until we get vaccinated.  Anguilla was doing well until recently it had a cluster spread.  School children, teachers, and parents are all affected there.  To date they have 80 confirmed cases. As of yesterday there were 51 newly diagnosed cases linked to the cluster.  Anguillans are now rushing for the vaccines.  We in St Kitts and Nevis know that COVID-19 kills.  It has caused the death of more than 3 million persons around the World and over 9,000 deaths in the Caribbean.  Do not take a chance with a deadly disease.  Protect yourself.  Get vaccinated.

Vaccination provides the pathway to the stronger and safer future of job growth, high incomes and increased opportunities.

Many persons here are part of the 255 million persons around the World who lost their jobs or are forced to survive on reduced incomes as a consequence of COVID-19. For us to put them back to work on a permanent basis we need them and every adult vaccinated.  The sooner we do this, the better and stronger we will be and the more resources we will have to put our Country on a stronger and safer path to recovery. I offer commendations to the 12,224 plus persons representing 37 percent of our target population who took time to get the vaccine as of yesterday, Monday April 26, 2021.  Come the first week of May, thousands of others will step forward to take the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Beneficial Changes To COVID-19 Protocols We have listened to the calls and requests for some changes in our COVID-19 protocols for persons who are fully vaccinated, that is those who have taken 2 doses of a 2 dose regimen vaccine.  Based on the recommendations of our health experts, my Cabinet has approved the following beneficial changes for those who are fully vaccinated as part of our phased response to the evolving COVID-19 situation:

1. Reduced quarantine period.  Our medical experts have recommended that we reduce the quarantine period for the fully vaccinated inbound air travelers to St Kitts and Nevis from 14 to 9 days effective May 01, 2021.

1. Effective May 20, 2021 - fully vaccinated spectators can access venues of amateur and recreational sporting events (football match, basketball match, athletic meets etc). Our CMO will address the conditionality for this.  
2. Fully vaccinated cultural/entertainment events can be favorably considered, whereby only fully vaccinated patrons are allowed entrance. Recommended start date week of - July 19, 2021. 
3. Mixed (vaccinated and non vaccinated patrons) cultural/entertainment events must adhere to existing protocols.
4. Weddings, funerals and church services will be mixed events (vaccinated and non vaccinated) therefore must adhere to existing protocols.
5. Additionally, it is anticipated that the first cruise ship will return to St Kitts and Nevis in July 2021. This means opportunity for our fully vaccinated taxi operators, restauranteurs, etc. 

A speedy path to vaccination can yield much economic and broader societal benefits for us here in St. Kitts and Nevis. Just as our being low risk for COVID-19 brought our Federation 2 movies so far and 5 more to be filmed, so can we being fully vaccinated yield other economic benefits. Being the first to be fully vaccinated can put us at the top of the list for cruise, and other tourism segments. How well it would be for us if because of our status as a fully vaccinated State, people felt safe and everyone wanted to vacation here in St Kitts and Nevis.  Imagine it! Hotels filled. Taxis will have a bonanza. Brimstone Hill, Scenic Railway, Sky Safaris again taking booking months in advance. Operators of water taxis, catamaran, fishing excursions will all be doing well. Foreign exchange being well earned and our people back to work. We can make this happen! What if we can reach our threshold (or close enough) earlier and there be crowds and revelers close to what we are accustomed. Am sure Wasim Richards can put together something extra special for his 4-in-1 fete. (currently not on the calendar). If we were all vaccinated we could think about a healthy crowd of enthusiasts at the Nevis Athletics Stadium for Culturama Games. Imagine us in September, back to gathering at Warner Park in St. Kitts and the Elquemedo Willett Park in Nevis to watch the parade and celebrate our Nation’s Independence. Think of our upcoming Sugar Mas 50! We can have the return of Cooler Fete, Inception, Jouvert! All these and more are doable if we meet our target for herd immunity.  Let us approach this with that same sense of shared responsibility and National purpose that have made us the envy of the region. We as a country have been able to avoid costly borrowing, and run thus far on the savings that we had set aside in the precious years of plenty, but it is time for the country to start earning again. It is in your hands, in the hands of all of us.  Tonight we have with us our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Hazel Laws, our Medical Chief of Staff, Dr Cameron Wilkinson, they have both given yeoman service to our Country in this most taxing time of COVID-19 and the CEO of our Tourism Authority, Raquel Brown.  Our tourism plant is the last key sector of our economy to get on the path to sustainable recovery. We will learn more from Ms Brown’s presentation. In closing, I say thank you to all who have been praying for me, my family, our people and Country.  I pledge to do all that I can do to keep my people and Country safe.

God Bless You.