Protests Over Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Set For St. Vincent

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Fri. Dec. 10, 2021: The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) says it is hoping for a strong showing at its picket in Kingstown later today against mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies for teachers and other front-line workers there.

The union plans to hold pickets in Kingstown and Union Island, and the administrative building in Canouan and Bequia. The latest action follows the strike action on Tuesday and Wednesday. They have said they will sue if the government gives dismissal letters to unvaccinated educators.

The Ralph Gonsalves government has enacted legislation mandating COVID-19 vaccines for teachers and other “frontline” workers by November 19th and the 10-day grace period expired last Friday.

Meanwhile, at least 32 police officers have either resigned or retired from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police force, while 13 others have not taken the vaccine under the government’s mandatory programme.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, speaking on a state-owned NBC radio, said that of the estimated 1,200 officers including the Coast Guard Service and Fire Brigade, 32 had either resigned or retired before the mandate.

Some 76 people have died and 5, 645 infected by the virus since March last year.