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Submitted by Observing
Barbados Covid 19 Numbers

In the silly season we tend to look only at politics, but it is also Covid season.  A look therefore at the recent election call through the eyes of a pandemic situation is necessary

The charts above show statistics  for Covid Cases and Positivity Rates in December. Remember we came from highs of 400 and rates of 20+% in October and November

Since then we have learned about Omicron which was first recorded in November, spread around the world by December 1 and reached the Caribbean a week or so later

What did Barbados do?

We relaxed the policy at the airport without consulting BAMP, botched the rollout of Safe Zones without consulting the Unions, started home isolation and stopped contact tracing without initially letting the public know.

Now on December 27, 2021 snap elections are called.  18 months early.  Let that sink in.

The government holds ALL medical information, projections and forecasts.  He/she is aware of all potential national security and health issues.  They more than anyone, know what the attached charts and regional situation is showing. Yet, despite this, there was a mad unilateral rush to Republic and now another mad unilateral rush to an election 18 months early.

But, just for comparison, let’s look at a few other recent elections regionally

  • St. Lucia, held July 26, 2021. 7 day Covid average at announcement = 7
  • St. Vincent, held November 20, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 0.86
  • Jamaica, held September 3, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 18
  • Trinidad, held August 10, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 1
  • St. Kitts, held June 5, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 13
  • Barbados to be held January 19, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 72…and climbing

 I think we get the picture.

In the above cases, constitutional constraints mean elections HAD to be called soon. In Barbados’ case, no such demand existed other than political or individual calculation.   A Prime Minister asked once when will leaders lead.  Leaders do not plunge their people into a state of uncertainty, in a pandemic, in the season of Advent, before the start of school with not even their own people being aware just because “they felt like.”

  • Leaders bring people together of all stripes and loyalties to heal divisions real, perceived or created by themselves.
  • Leaders go beyond just talk and live up to the ideals and values that THEY said they would.
  • Leaders take care of home drums first then worry about attention abroad after.
  • Leaders build trust through transparency and honesty. 
  • Leaders focus on all persons, not just a select few.

I think we all know that this election was not called based on national goals or unity. The general public and the electorate are clearly secondary considerations. 

Keep safe whenever you campaign or wherever you vote.  Long live the Republic.

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97 responses to “Do they Care?”

  1. John Avatar
    John

    Back in November/December I figured looking at the halving time that we would be into double digits if not by the end of December then early January.

    I found the fall rather fast during December and wondered if it was manufactured.

    For sure there has been a rise in December and all I got to do is look through the window and watch the planes coming in to understand a likely cause.

    If it was manufactured it was a calculated gamble by the GOB that there would be little community spread but cases would to a large extent be in the tourist population. That population has gambled that once vaccinated, they will not be too sick if they catch it, plus, England is a hell hole.

    If I am right the rise will level out and the GOB’s gamble will pay off.

    The tourists will get some sun and a break from the hell of the UK and not have put themselves at significant risk.

    We’ll see!!

  2. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Observing,

    You should read carefully the statement of the General Secretary of the BLP on Barbados TODAY. Between the lines you can clearly hear that the election campaign and the elections are intended to naturally immunise the population against Omikron. We have about 50 per cent superstitious anti-vaccinationists on the island. If we are to finally end all Corona measures and ramp up tourism to 100 per cent, these savages must somehow be immunised. Through the back door, if necessary.

  3. John Avatar
    John

    But, just for comparison, let’s look at a few other recent elections regionally

    St. Lucia, held July 26, 2021. 7 day Covid average at announcement = 7
    St. Vincent, held November 20, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 0.86
    Jamaica, held September 3, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 18
    Trinidad, held August 10, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 1
    St. Kitts, held June 5, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 13
    Barbados to be held January 19, 2020: 7 day Covid average at announcement = 72…and climbing

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    The thing you need to realise and you would see it from observing the Country characteristic curves is that not one country is in control … except perhaps Bhutan and a couple of countries in the pacific that seriously restrict travel.

    Most likely controlling factor is the weather … rain … over which no country has control.

    Our country depends on travel for a living so I really can’t blame the GOB if that is what they did.

    Got to experiment and find a way out.

  4. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    Only a ruthless self-serving demagogue would activate actions to.place their citizens in harm way
    The most unnerving being the yardfowls sent out to the public forums expressing views that the PM made a right decision along with Walcoot asinine pr talking points indicating that other countries did so as well
    Well folks think of what is best for yourself and don’t let govt officials think for you

  5. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    At this point, 2 years into a pandemic, we have to stop using COVID-19 as an excuse to stall the restart of pre-pandemic activity. We need to get in our heads that Covid is not going anywhere. I will fault government though for not properly implementing MORE risk mitigation measures in general society before calling the Jan 19 2022 general election. It isn’t rocket science. We have the vaccines, the knowledge of how vaccine and natural immunity lasts, we have the ability to test for Covid-19, we are still using the secondary virus spread prevention measures. A “safe zone”, testing\ proof of vaccination concept does not have to be “watertight” in every case, just good enough for the specific purpose of reducing spread of a virus that has a 90%+ recovery rate.
    We navigated a fairly debilitating Delta wave without using lockdowns. We can use that experience to help navigate and reduce the impact of the Omicron wave when it comes. We look at the daily dashboard, and knowing the nature of this virus, cannot reasonably assume that the number positives detected cannot be all the positives in Barbados for that day .in other words there may be people in wider society that have Covid but have not been captured in the testing.

    To the specific process of casting a ballot, IN MY OPINION there was was a far higher risk catching Covid-19 while shopping in the crowded supermarkets during the Xmas period. Lining up on the outside then going in the actual polling station for a minute tops should be a low risk activity for the voter. The risk may be higher for the polling stating officials
    To the actual campaigning, holding of party meetings, once those are held outdoors or online the risk is greatly reduced.

  6. David Avatar
    David

    @DL&P

    Your comment is riddled with contradictions.

  7. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    John,

    If i wanted to know about UK i would speak to someone in UK about UK

    How many showers did you have in 2021 Mr BO

  8. Bentley Avatar
    Bentley

    From the moment I heard the announcement of the election date for January 19 I thought it was a really bad decision as I’m expecting daily Covid cases to be upwards of 500. Election lines could easily turn out to be super spreader events. Three or four months delay would make absolutely no difference and the Omicron peak would have already passed.

  9. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    We all know that Preliminary voters list are available online

    but does Barbados have the science and technology for postal voting yet

  10. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV January 1, 2022 12:44 PM

    No, no protocols at all for the election campaign and for the voting booth. We should allow the Omicron virus to naturally immunise as many unvaccinated savages as possible.

    We have had enough vaccine since the autumn. How much longer are the vaccinated and the economy supposed to be driven by ùnvaccinated savages? Those who also think that garlic and hot showers are a protection against HIV/AIDS? Or should we follow the crazy BAMP doctors who still blather about freedom of choice in vaccination, possibly because they themselves are unvaccinated?

    The collateral damage of my advice is absolutely tolerable. Those who are unvaccinated and suffer permanent issues or die have only themselves to blame.

  11. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    COVID positive people not allowed to vote on January 19

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/01/01/chapman-covid-positive-people-not-allowed-to-vote-on-january-19/

  12. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Ronald Chapman is absolutely right that Corona-positive people should not be allowed to vote.

    However, he falls short. We need a single Corona protocol in the election (as an addendum to my last blog): unvaccinated people are not allowed to vote because they are potential virus carriers and they lack the necessary integrity and loyalty to Barbados.

  13. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    A way must be found for ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS to vote.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    The Covid-19 case surge is altering daily life across the US. Things will likely get worse, experts warn

    https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html

  15. David Avatar
    David

    @Hants

    A way must be found for eligible voters who want to vote to do so.

  16. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    COVID positive people not allowed to vote on January 19

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2022/01/01/chapman-covid-positive-people-not-allowed-to-vote-on-january-19/

    Cccccccc
    Another bold faced self serving policy hell bent to undermine the Constitution and take away the people Constitutional rights
    Rather than Mia think of all.the factors involved with making such an important decision she demonstrated her power to dictate and mandate how her rights supersedes the rights of the people
    History one day would analysis her decision and like the Heroes of the past her name and recognition would be placed amongst those who have become demagogue using pretense and symbolic gestures to blind sight and pull a political scarf over the eyes of the people

  17. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ David agreed.

  18. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    These fast and quick decisions always puzzle me. The objective should be to give people an opportunity to vote instead of denying them their vote. Some version of mail-in/early or voting online could be planned for in the future.

    Mail-in(@555)
    The size of the island means that votes cast in St. Lucy can be in Christ Church or any other constituency in a matter of hours. This could quickly be explored.

    Online (No, no, no)
    Based on the events of the past few days, this may require a little more technology than what is readily available. In addition, the recent data dump containing personal information now rules out online voting.

    A work around would have people in isolation facilities provided with a unique/ secret number and then access a portal to vote. But I cannot see Bajans rushing to vote online.

    (Just ideas)

  19. John Avatar
    John

    Here’s why the tourism gamble is worth taking.

    Just look at last year.

    The peaks around Christmas back then were not dissimilar to what we see now.

    The gamble is we will be no worser off this Christmas and New Year.

    Could backfire, but worth the risk.

    There was a second peak in February.

    https://imgur.com/rv2cfF9

  20. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    If Mia was in the business of addressing good governance
    He decision for the called of election would have waited until all the problematic issues were taking care off
    Instead she closes doors in Parliament that lends itself to country and peoples issues
    Now what most of what is being rolled out by PM after her footloose decision. Is a cart loaded of political poop by her Ministers and yardfowl loyalist .to stop the bleeding because of an arrogant PM serving the public a plate loaded with self-serving pies
    Barbadians were warned about her selfish nature and her attitude to make decisions form on gimmicks
    This call for election falls into the gimmicky category

  21. Critical Analyzer Avatar
    Critical Analyzer

    @Tron January 1, 2022 2:14 PM

    Ronald Chapman is absolutely right that Corona-positive people should not be allowed to vote.Ronald Chapman is an idiot.

    Ronald Chapman is a complete joker to say that and compare COVID home isolation or isolation facilities to being in boarded at the QEH or home sick.

    A caring PM would have passed sunset early voting legislation applicable only to COVID Isolated persons leaving it to the discretion of the EBC on how best to facilitate them in an early voting process and placed in 30 secure boxes on a constituency basis.

    That press conference was a total farce with both him and Leslie Haynes trying to secure their picks after January 19th by covering for the PM calling a snap election before their departments were even ready.

    Everyone knows EBC and COVID Monitoring Unit scrambling to figure out the protocols and get enough personnel in place. I am willing to bet most of the usual people who volunteer to work will not this year.

  22. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    What is bothersome is that they would make a ‘final’ pronouncement without scoring all the different scenarios. The pronouncement is then trotted out as gospel by some.

    At some stage we will see this final pronouncement reversed. The believers will easily move to and spout the new pronouncement.

  23. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    Re:- David January 1, 2022 12:52 PM

    @DavidBU How so?!?!? the original poster is stating that the Covid-19 pandemic is making it “unsafe” to hold elections now. I am stating that there will never really be a “safe” time to hold elections if we hope to mute the pandemic in the short term. Covid-19 will be here in 2022 it will still be here in 2023 it will continue to be here in 2027 it will most likely be still be here in 2032. In March 2020 and 6-12 months after, mankind was still uncertain with this virus. I am stating that after nearly 2 years, the epidemiology of Covid-19 resembles influenza. In short, for mankind, Sars-COV2 is the coronavirus equivalent of the influenza virus. The variants comes in waves with peaks and valleys. Some deaths are expected but the recoveries are far greater in comparison. I’m am stating that even though I wanted govt to implement more disease spread prevent measures, the pandemic does not involve a “doomsday virus”. I am also stating that the basic voting process does not exposes us to risk any more than when go about our daily activities. In comparative terms we are more at risk catching/spreading coving lining up inside an enclosed supermarket, inside a bank, inside the BRA at the Licensing Authority. The secondary disease prevention measures should an adequate bare minimum

    The Ministry of Health, via the Covid Monitoring Unit, has stated that those that tested Covid positive are not allowed to vote. That is a simple and straight-foward risk mitigation measure making it “safer” to vote on election day. The reality is that persons that have TESTED positive would have to be positive possibly up 10 days before the test. It means they COULD be spreading the virus all of that time. That is a reality we have been living with even before General Elections was declared. We cannot test all the population at any one instance in time. This is the reality that will cause a pandemic like this to fester. even more so if there are asymptomatic carriers of Covid-19. That is the point of vaccinations, mask wearing, hand sanitizing etc. That is the reality that justifies vaccine mandates. Measure like these will not stop a pandemic stone cold in it tracks. The more people that are vaccinated/immunized the greater chance it will reduce the severity of these waves and cumulatively over a shorter time period a pandemic is muted.

    I do not support the absurdity that those that are Covid positive cannot vote period. The same way that security and emergency personnel along with election officials are allowed to vote early, the same can be done to the Covid positive. We must remember that partially and fully vaccinated can still catch Covid. It is simply that they, in general, would be spared from the most severe effects of the disease .We have come too far to stigmatize the Covid positive to the extent that they are totally disenfranchised

  24. John Avatar
    John

    I wonder which party will suggest “mail in” ballots!!

    As we have seen in the US, election fraud is a result.

  25. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV January 1, 2022 12:44 PM “We need to get in our heads that Covid is not going anywhere.”

    Covid19 is going to go…eventually. YOU need to get that in YOUR head. ALL pandemics DO END eventually, even smallpox, although granted it took about 3,000 years and a whole lot of effort, money and cooperation to end that one.

    But I guarantee everyone.

    Covid19 WILL COME TO AN END, sometime between today and 5022.

  26. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “As we have seen in the US, election fraud is a result.”

    You are tripping again Norman Bates.

    Nut jobs like yourself are a clear and present danger in politics.

  27. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    The pandemic could end in 2022 — here’s what ‘normal’ life might look like soon, according to medical experts.

    Published Wed, Dec 15 202112:20 PM ESTUpdated Wed, Dec 15 20211:45 PM EST

    Almost two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, an end might finally be in sight.
    Experts say that Covid will likely lose its “pandemic” status sometime in 2022, due largely to rising global vaccination rates and developments of antiviral Covid pills that could become more widespread next year.

    Instead, the virus will likely become “endemic,” eventually fading in severity and folding into the backdrop of regular, everyday life. Various strains of influenza have followed a similar pattern over the past century or more, from the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 to the swine flu pandemic in 2009.
    Covid will probably remain dangerous once the pandemic ends — much like the flu, which killed as many as 62,000 people in the U.S. between October 2019 and April 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    But barring any major developments, “normal” post-pandemic life could arrive soon. Here’s what you can expect from the next year and beyond:

    Covid could become much more seasonal
    Once endemic, Covid won’t dictate your daily decision-making as much, as billionaire health philanthropist Bill Gates described in his end-of-year blog post last week: “It won’t be primary when deciding whether to work from the office or let your kids go to their soccer game or watch a movie in a theater.”
    Endemic illnesses are always circulating throughout parts of the world, but tend to cause milder illness because more people have immunity from past infection or vaccination. You might get a cough and sniffles, but if you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations, you’ll be protected enough to prevent severe illness or hospitalization.

    Like other respiratory viruses, there will be times of year when Covid infections peak — most likely the colder fall and winter months, meaning Covid and flu seasons could regularly coincide going forward.
    When sick, you’ll be advised to keep wearing masks and staying home
    If the virus does become more seasonal, wearing a mask on public transit and indoors during Covid season could become the norm — potentially even in offices, says Shaun Truelove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and member of The Covid Scenario Modeling Hub, a team of researchers who make Covid projections.
    Other familiar prevention strategies, like regularly washing your hands and maintaining distancing practices in high-risk settings, could also stick around.

    “We don’t necessarily have to come up with new interventions [to prevent Covid],” Dr. Timothy Brewer, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, told CNBC Make It last week. “It’s just that we’ve got to do a better job continuing to do the things we know that work.”
    To that end, Truelove hopes people “take a little bit more personal responsibility and stay home when they’re sick,” he says. That could mean working from home if you’re symptomatic but still able to work, or taking a sick day when you know you need to rest, he adds.

    Let’s be more optimistic, People…

  28. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    JohnJanuary 1, 2022 7:19 PM

    I wonder which party will suggest “mail in” ballots!!

    As we have seen in the US, election fraud is a result.

    Ddddddfd

    Stop talking rubbish
    But then again u in favour of disenfranchising the voter
    Another step to suppression of their rights
    What next

  29. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    “But I guarantee everyone.
    Covid19 WILL COME TO AN END, sometime between today and 5022”

    World leaders have got contingency plans for extinction events such as space travel with enough selected humanoids to breed and set up new a colony like with extinct species of fish

  30. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    @ Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    “@DavidBU How so?!?!? the original poster is stating that the Covid-19 pandemic is making it “unsafe” to hold elections now. I am stating that there will never really be a “safe” time to hold elections if we hope to mute the pandemic in the short term. “

    Xxxxx

    De word (pandemic) is a convenience ….?

  31. Dirt Farmer Avatar
    Dirt Farmer

    In Bim ?

    “I wonder which party will suggest “mail in” ballots!!”

    Xxxxxx

    Fallacies argument..

  32. David Avatar
    David

    Enclosed are the charts for the week ending 31st December 2021. I’ve added one chart on total isolations / deaths and removed one on test positivity. As we go into the first days in 2022 the outlook is uncertain. Omicron is here, possibly for over 1 week as the major uptick started just about a week ago. Omicron will bring new management challenges and possibly opportunities. All the best for the New Year to the BU family and all Barbados as the silly season is also upon us. May we choose wisely amidst the Trump-inspired tales being told by partisans – Source: Lyall Small

    See BU Covid 19 Updates Page

  33. David Avatar
    David

    The rising numbers from Lyal support the view voter turnout will be negatively affected by the snap call. Can we call this another threat to democracy? It brings into play the need for fixed term legislation. This is the kind of issue we need to be interested in as a people. Instead we continue to be easily distracted.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    De Peiza: Resist voter suppression

    https://www.nationnews.com/2022/01/01/de-peiza-resist-voter-suppression/

  35. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    I hope we can discuss some real issues seeing Lyal’s stats as well.

    This is not “business as usual” as the Prime Minister often says.

    At the height of Delta we had approximately 2500-3000 people in isolation. On top of that many people will opt to stay home rather than stay in a line for 2-3 hours or risk being infected. The lines at Popular and VAT free Monday were much more attractive

    The BLP and the PM knew where this was heading and would have had to known that Omicron was here. Is it a case of political expediency over national health and democracy for all?

    Just observing

  36. John Avatar
    John

    If you look closely at the graph in the above comment on Daily Covid +ve cases, you will see the new cases plateauing.

    …. which is good but which no one seems to have noticed.

    History is repeating itself from a year ago and from that we can draw certain inferences.

    Many of the current cases are probably imported and asymptomatic.

    https://imgur.com/Soxms6L

    We can look at the graph for Daily Isolations and Death and see the isolations continue to fall.

    Even better.

    By election time we would expect from the graphs that cases are on the way down, approaching if not in double digits.

    What we have actually seen is the the effect of the floods which lasted about 4 months, September to December, and secondly the effect of tourist arrivals which we hope is a blip after the Christmas recovery after 4 months.

    We’ll know pretty soon.

    https://imgur.com/JJwb65A

  37. David Avatar
    David

    It seems Garth Patterson has undergone an epiphany and has decided to become a social commentator.

    Voters in a bind

    Lawyer: Omicron spread could exclude some from polls
    By Colville Mounsey colvillemounsey@nationnews.com
    One of the island’s constitutional experts is warning that should the highly infectious Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus spread in communities ahead of the January 19 General Election, a significant number of Barbadians would be legally denied their right to vote.
    Garth Patterson QC is also putting prospective voters on notice that there was little legal recourse under the Constitution of Barbados should people find themselves in this predicament.
    Patterson explained that while there was no electoral law prohibiting COVID-19 positive people from exercising their franchise, the protocols and directives for people in isolation dictate that it was against the law to breach quarantine or isolation. He argued that no amendments had been made to the Emergency Directives to allow people to leave isolation or quarantine to go to the polls.
    During a press conference hosted by the Electoral & Boundaries Commission yesterday, voters were told that even though there was no decree prohibiting COVID-19-positive people from voting, they could not go to the polls. Head of the Covid Monitoring Unit, Ronald Chapman, further disclosed that no provision was made for patients at the Harrison Point Isolation Facility to vote.
    “The law prohibits people with COVID-19 from leaving isolation or quarantine and so the one follows the other. If you can’t leave isolation, then how are you going to exercise your right to vote? The directives under the emergency legislation are clear and those legislations have not been amended to facilitate voting. So, in the same way that you cannot break quarantine or isolation to attend a funeral or wedding, you can’t go out and vote,” Patterson said.
    According to the regulations for home isolation, a positive person can leave home isolation only when directed by the Chief Medical Officer. The isolation period is usually ten to 14 days if no illness develops. If you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result, you must stay at home until you return a negative result. If you return a positive result, the Medical Officer will advise you of the next steps. Breaching quarantine or isolation may incur jail time for up to one year or a monetary penalty of up to $50 000.
    Patterson told the Sunday Sun that the right to vote was not covered under the Constitution but rather under the Representation Of The People Act, adding that this could not supersede the public health consideration regulated by the emergency powers.
    Not constitutionally guaranteed
    “The right to vote which is not a constitutionally guaranteed right but a right which exists by virtue of the Representation Of The People Act, is subject to the broader provisions which allow
    the Government to restrict movement of persons in the interest of public health and safety,” he said, noting that under the law the Prime Minister has the power to postpone the elections by an additional 30 days. However, he made it clear that once the election writs are completed, under the Constitution, the country must go to the polls 90 days after.
    “We saw just a few days ago that it was reported that we have Omicron here and we know the rate at which that variant is spreading. Who knows what the state of the country will be in the next two weeks? We could have a massive outbreak like what we are seeing across the globe. If we start seeing numbers climbing up to 500 or 600 daily cases, that’s a significant chunk of your population that cannot vote,” Patterson said.
    The Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) spokesperson on health, Andre Worrell, contended that this was further proof that the timing of the election was ill-conceived.
    “This just underscores the concerns that persons have with the timing of the elections because of the pandemic. This is a very serious reality that with over 200 people testing positive daily, and that number expected to double or even triple, in the next two weeks heading into the election we will be looking at a major problem.”
    “We are likely to have hundreds maybe thousands of persons in quarantine and persons should not be denied their right to vote because Government failed to plan for this possibility. These are things that should have been taken into consideration ahead of the decision to call elections,” Worrell said.
    The Sunday Sun made several attempts to reach Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) campaign manager The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott for comment but was unsuccessful. Calls to Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley for his views on the matter also went unanswered.
    On Friday the BLP stoutly defended the decision to hold the General Election this month, even as the country learnt on Thursday of the first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in Barbados. Walcott was adamant that the elections could be conducted safely.
    He said that throughout the pandemic elections had been successfully conducted regionally and internationally.

    Source: Nation

  38. David Avatar
    David

    Harder to justify excluding unvaccinated

    Israel was the first country to introduce the green pass that allowed only fully vaccinated people to patronise certain locations. This occurred in early 2021 after Israel became the first country to vaccinate a large portion of its population with a vaccine that had shown effectiveness in preventing transmission of the early variants of COVID-19.
    Since the vaccine stopped the transmission of those variants, I understood the communal benefit of limiting access to certain venues to only the fully vaccinated, even if I didn’t agree with it.
    But a vaccine has no communal benefit where it cannot stop transmission of the virus. Instead, it only has the personal benefit of reducing the severity of symptomatic disease in the vaccinated individual.
    When the vaccines showed reduced efficacy against transmission of the Delta variant, they had lost much of their communal benefit, especially since their effectiveness against transmission and symptomatic disease waned almost completely after six months. Having venues or workplaces with only fully vaccinated individuals could no longer be justified based on science or existing data since fully vaccinated people, especially those whose second dose was more than six months prior, were just as likely to catch and transmit the virus as an unvaccinated individual.
    Based on the Ministry of Health dashboard for the week ending December 27, there were more vaccinated people (76) than unvaccinated individuals (39) who had tested positive for the virus and were in isolation. This was a first. However, there were more unvaccinated people in primary isolation (20) than fully vaccinated (two). So, when the Barbados Turf Club restricted the Boxing Day races to only vaccinated people and when Republic Bank published an advertisement last week advising that its third-party service providers must be fully vaccinated, what do they hope to achieve when the data is clearly showing that vaccination is not stopping transmission?
    In comes Omicron. The Omicron variant has been wreaking havoc across Europe and the United States and the data shows that the Omicron variant is being discovered in mostly fully vaccinated individuals (see NHS data for week 46-49, where positive cases among the fully vaccinated, even with a booster, more than doubled those among the unvaccinated).
    Several studies out of South Africa and England have shown that the Omicron variant escapes the majority of neutralising antibodies provided by the vaccines. However, each vaccine performs differently against the variant, with the Pfizer vaccine being the second most effective and showing a meagre 30-35 per cent effectiveness against transmission. AstraZeneca and Sinopharm performed poorly and the J and J vaccine gave zero effectiveness. Most worrying is new data from the United Kingdom Health Security
    Agency which shows that a booster increases protection against symptomatic disease from the Omicron variant, but the booster loses its efficacy against symptomatic disease after ten weeks.
    This is frightening.
    The Omicron variant has now been confirmed in Barbados. Even the vaccinated will have limited protection against this variant with a booster providing only ten weeks of protection against symptomatic disease but almost no protection against transmission.
    So how can we still be speaking of excluding the unvaccinated from events, venues and the workplace?
    Will employers require workers to get a booster every ten weeks even though the booster provides almost no protection against transmission and short-lived protection against symptomatic disease? Some Israeli scientists have warned against giving a fourth booster, saying it may cause immune system fatigue, compromising the body’s ability to fight the virus. So what then? Will employers continue to base these workplace mandates on outdated science and data?
    On a final note, the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago recently ruled in favour of seven unvaccinated employees who were banned from their workplaces and denied their salaries.
    The court granted an injunction against the employers and ordered that the employees be allowed to return to work and receive their unpaid salaries pending the determination of the substantive matter. I will be watching this ruling closely.
    2022 is shaping up to be an interesting year.

    Michelle M. Russell is an attorney at law with a passion for employment law and labour matters and a social activist. Email: mrussell.ja@gmail.com.

  39. David Avatar
    David

    Intelligence in the face of uncertainty

    These are times of uncertainty.
    Nuhbody ain’t know fuh sure. Not knowing can be very uncomfortable for human beings because we have this ability which seems to be unique, or at least, uniquely developed among living organisms. We have strong imaginations. So when we don’t know, we have the ability to imagine possibilities. This is a great strength of the species and also a potential weakness.
    Imagination is a strength when it allows you to see potential paths of action which may lead to success, improvements or progress. It is a strength when it can alert you to potential pitfalls, obstacles and dangers. But the key word is potential. Imagination becomes a liability when what is imagined as a potential is mistaken for a certainty. This often happens because we don’t like the feeling of uncertainty, of not knowing.
    We imagine a possibility or possibilities and, in order to ease the discomfort of not knowing, we convince ourselves that the possibility is a certainty. Certainty can be more comforting than uncertainty, even if it is a negative certainty. If your tendency is towards optimism, you may choose to focus on an imagined possibility that is pleasant. If your tendency is towards pessimism, you may choose to focus on a possibility that is unpleasant.
    Possible benefits
    There are possible benefits to both tendencies. The imaginer of an unpleasant possibility may benefit by taking necessary precautions in preparation for the potential fallout.
    The imaginer of pleasant possibilities has a sense of direction and a motivation to act in a way that may bring their imagined possibility to full manifestation. However, when either negative or positive possibilities come to be seen as certainties, imagination can lead fanaticism.
    There is a line of thought that says that intelligence is marked by the ability to hold two or more opposing views in mind at the same time and still be able to function effectively.
    In other words, you can imagine two very different possibilities, see them both as equally plausible, and not be paralysed by the uncertainty. The flip side is that, on the other hand, lesser intelligence is unable to function in the face of uncertainty. It is either paralysed by the uncertainty or has to relieve it by convincing itself that one of the possibilities is a certainty.
    Times of uncertainty send imaginations into overdrive. We don’t know what is going to happen. This is not a good feeling.
    We feel the need to know. Or, at least, feel like we know. In times of insecurity, if we respond intelligently, with wisdom and emotionally balance, and we have the resources, we will take precautions against the negative possibilities and faithfully work towards the positive possibilities, keeping in mind that nothing is guaranteed. Most of us will fall somewhere on the spectrum between believing extreme, doomsday, negative possibilities and believing extreme, utopian, positive possibilities. On the path to the edges of the spectrum is where fanaticism lies.
    Fanaticism lives in fear of doomsday possibilities and hope of utopian ones. Not knowing which will come becomes unbearable and it must convince itself that one of the two or both are certainties. But convincing themselves is not enough. They must convince others as well if the imagined possibility is to feel more real. This is more difficult when times are stable.
    But when things get unstable, people start looking for certainty. The fanatic who seems so sure of themselves, full of faith and confidence in their imagination, becomes very attractive.
    The challenge of intelligence in times of uncertainty is to maintain confidence or faith while accepting the uncertainty. This way you can take positive action and/or necessary precautions without the destructive delusions and tendencies of fanaticism.

    Adrian Green is a communications specialist. Email: Adriangreen14 @gmail.com

  40. Fractured BLP Avatar
    Fractured BLP

    David BU

    As chief general election strategist for PM Mottley , can update the BU family on the following ?

    After speaking to Barbadians on Monday night December 27 2021 , has the PM spoke to Barbadians since then ?
    Did the PM deliver her New Year’s Day message to Barbadians ?

  41. Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV Avatar
    Disgusting Lies & Propaganda TV

    Observing January 2, 2022 12:27 AM
    “On top of that many people will opt to stay home rather than stay in a line for 2-3 hours or risk being infected. The lines at Popular and VAT free Monday were much more attractive”

    Much more attractive to risk catching Covid in a Popular or Cherish line?!?!?!??! (lol..im joking) Also in Barbados do we typically stay that long in a line waiting to cast a vote? I did not hear the Covid monitoring Unit stating that waiting in lines was a major spreader of Covid
    In Barbados what I am gauging is that most people AT THIS STAGE OF THE PANDEMIC are ambivalent towards Covid-19. People are more afraid of the stigma of being placed in state isolation facilities that the effects of Covid-19 itself. There is still some level of concern but it is not an primary factor in deciding in how they go about their daily activities. In my opinion this is partly reflected in the declining vaccination rate.
    Will it have an effect on voter turnout in this election? In my opinion it will be a minor factor. It think the timing of the election….the “strength” of the opposition parties and the perception of the individual candidates would have a bigger impact on the voter turnout

  42. John Avatar
    John

    How many people in Barbados are in the “Active Cases” group? – 1,390.

    Which constituencies are most impacted? – Minister of Health says most cases in Southern Corridor so looks like most of these cases will be in Christ Church and St. Michael.

    What do the representatives of these constituents have to say? – Nobody knows!!

    The press needs to get far more specific.

    Next three weeks will be worth watching.

    If I am right, the ohmigod variant will be no big thing and common sense will prevail.

    For sure the levelling off in cases is apparent from Lyall’s data.

    Cases may fall or turn out to be tourists who can’t vote.

    The GOB needs to be specific about the status, the number and the constituency of these cases.

  43. John A Avatar
    John A

    Folks if we wait for covid to disappear to go on with the process of life, we will be waiting for years to come it’s that simple and all must accept this.

    Until a TRUE vaccine is created that works on covid the way the small pox vaccine did on small pox or the polio vaccine did on polio, this will be our life for 2022 and beyond.

  44. GP Avatar
    GP

    re This is the kind of issue we need to be interested in as a people. Instead we continue to be easily distracted.

    WELL ISNT A RUM SHOP JUST A RUM SHOP?
    I DONT KNOW SINCE I AM NOT A RUMMY OR A RUM SHOP ATTENDEE………..BUT WHO DOES NOT GET DISTRACTED IN A RUM SHOP?
    IT HAS OFTEN BE SAID ON BU THAT WE HAVE A FAILED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
    SINCE THE BU RUM SHOP ATTENDEES WERE THUS EDUCATED HOW DOES ONE REASONABLY EXPECT THEM TO OPINE SCHOLARLY AND NOT BE DISTRACTED.
    JUST ASKING, AS AN EX SCHOLAR WHO CAME UP IN OUR FAILED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

    QUESTION. WHO DETERMINES WHAT IOUGHT TO BE THE SSUES PEOPLE SHOULD BE INTERESTED?
    JUST ASKING,

  45. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    I am not impressed by the interpretarion of provisions in the Constitution and as these relate to international conventions.

    The Constitution does actually include provision on the right to vote. It is inferrred by a specifuc paragraph.

    If anyone is excluded from voting, thisvis a fundamental breach of human rights under both the Constitutuon and international convention.

    Wish Amused were here.

    Lawdy.

  46. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    So if say 30% of eligible voters were Covid positive and isolating, the election would be determined by only 70% of eligible voters?

    Absurd.

  47. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    It appears that the comment about ‘not being allowed to vote’ is being corrected/updated. It also appears that Mr Chapman was not the person who should make this call.

    It bothers me when we get these hasty decisions and they then have to be reversed. It also bothers me that someone who should know better could so easily make such a decision about disenfranchising voters. Our democracy is as strong as the Mr Chapman in various offices.

  48. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    @ David January 2, 2022 7:01 AM

    The labor courts and lawyers you cite are irrelevant. The judges are Aborigines who have rebelliousness and socialism in their blood. The fact is that Barbados has been in the stranglehold of unionists and people living on food stamps and social welfare at the expense of the business community since 1937.

    Therefore, I fervently hope that the IMF will soon order harsh cuts in the welfare state so that the masses will finally be emancipated and learn to think for themselves.

  49. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    “Wish Amused were here.”

    me too, he would put all of this into perspective….can’t believe anything the wimps pimps and dirty agenda purveyors say…

  50. Observing Avatar
    Observing

    @Theo
    “It bothers me when we get these hasty decisions and they then have to be reversed.”

    Isn’t that how this government has ALWAYS operated???

    @Crusoe
    “So if say 30% of eligible voters were Covid positive and isolating,”
    What’s more absurd is that NO ONE thought they may need a plan for this eventuality

    @DLPTV
    “Will it have an effect on voter turnout in this election? In my opinion it will be a minor factor.”

    We can only wait and see.

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