EVERY single citizen of Saint Lucia has to take responsibility for the rise in COVID-19 cases, and we have to stop passing the buck and trying to blame others for what is going on.
It pained me recently to look at the updated travel protocols and see Saint Lucia being downgraded to ‘medium risk’ from having been ‘very low risk’ for so many months. It pained me even more to see that we have now recorded two deaths that are attributed to COVID.
The rapidly rising numbers attest to one fact, that persons are not taking the necessary precautions as outlined by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the CMO.
In fact, you still see persons walking along crowded streets with no masks on and continuing to congregate. Even in the supermarkets no one is observing social distancing and too many times I have had to walk away after people practically came up reaching over my shoulder.
The truth is that COVID is on the increase all over the world, and it was only a matter of time before it flared up once more in Saint Lucia. The disappointing thing is how rapidly we are seeing a surge in cases locally, which means that people are not taking the necessary precautions and practicing the proper health and hygiene standards.
This is no time for complacency, this is no time to be pointing fingers because as my granny used to say, ‘when you point a finger there are four pointing back at you…’ (Some may say three, but you understand what I mean).
One of the easiest places to point fingers is at the hotels, but you know what? One thing you are assured of is that every single guest in a hotel would have been tested and would have gotten a negative reading. Can you say the same when you walk into a grocery, or walk through the market or along the streets?
No, you can’t. There is no question we have community spread and instead of blaming the only group we know for a fact have been tested, we need to start looking at the person next door and wondering where did they go, who did they interact with?
I also notice that people have been pussyfooting around this issue of the virus having entered the community via the backdoor from places like Martinique. We have politicians and community leaders playing games and refusing to call a spade a spade.
These people are doing a disservice to the communities they profess to represent. Martinique has an explosion of cases recently and I for one have no doubt that the virus came in through the back door and I am not afraid to say so.
For four and a half months hotels were opened and there were zero cases, so suddenly that just changed overnight?
Use your Common Sense, people — and if you know anyone who has breached the borders, you should come forward and say so.
In the meantime, ensure you and your loved ones practice the highest levels of safety and hygiene.
May God bless us all and keep us safe.
Brian Rodney
Rodney Bay
Gros Islet