St Kitts and Nevis Labour party opposes vaccine mandate for frontliners

The opposition St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party has been opposing the government's considerations to make vaccination mandatory for all frontliners.

Tuesday, 17th August 2021

St Kitts and Nevis Labour party opposes vaccine mandate for frontliners

The opposition St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party has been opposing the government's considerations to make vaccination mandatory for all frontliners. The party on Monday again released a major statement, condemning the action. SKNLP said Chamber of Industry and Commerce has been demanding the government to make vaccine mandatory for public sector employees and others associated in the tourism industry. Full Statement of St Kitts and Nevis Labour Party It appears in every sector; there is a push for the COVID-19 vaccine to be mandated in one way or another. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce is now encouraging the government to make it a requirement for “all frontline tourism stakeholders to be vaccinated to work and has a rigid bubble tour policy in the short-term”. They are asking for the government to enforce that all frontline stakeholders be vaccinated and the public sector. In their press release dated August 12, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce also urged the government to consider “a stronger stance on vaccination requirements within the public sector”. The private sector has been forcibly requiring all employees to be vaccinated or terminated, and the government has done nothing to address the matter. Now the Chamber has urged the government to enforce that the public sector and all frontline tourism stakeholders take the vaccine. This constant imposition on persons’ freedom of choice should be a cause for concern for all citizens. At what stage will the imposition end? Will imposition end when the entire country has been forced to take the vaccine? Or will it end when all rights have been restricted? As per to government releases, a large percentage of the population has already chosen to take the COVID-19 vaccine, and a portion has opted not to. Why is the freedom of choice validated for those who choose to take the vaccine and nullified for those who choose not to? We understand the vaccine reduces the effects of the COVID-19 virus, but it doesn’t prevent a person from contracting it or spreading it. Therefore, those persons who choose to either take the chance and develop natural immunity to the virus or simply adhere to the non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 protocols should not be punished for their choice.