“We are in a pandemic. Could you imagine there are people who have families who are dying? There are people who have families who are so concerned, their mind, they cannot focus. They are wondering who has this thing. They don’t want to get out of their home. They are so anxious they are becoming mentally-troubled, socially-affected. You don’t even want to speak to someone. You’re afraid, you get frightened and scared.”
Pastor Kelron Harry of the Arnos Vale Church of the Nazarene made the comment as he delivered the sermon at the Independence Church Service at the New Testament Church of God at Wilson Hill, Kingstown, on Sunday evening.
Pastor Harry’s comment came at a time when St Vincent and the Grenadines is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 positive results, increasing deaths and the government’s implantation of legislation which has paved the way for mandatory vaccination.
It is no secret the devastating psychological impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on small island developing states like St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Amid the worsening global economic devastation, paranoia is setting in as families experience financial loss through job-cuts and the looming threat of further financial woes should family members end up on the breadline because they resist mandatory vaccination.
The Government recently issued an ultimatum demanding that chairpersons and members of certain state entities take the Covid-19 vaccine by October 15, 2021, or demit.
A letter dated September 27, 2021, and signed by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves following a decision by Cabinet on September 22, 2021, states: “Chairpersons and Members of the Boards of Statutory Bodies, State-Owned Companies, and Public Enterprises Generally are afforded the choice to take the first dose of one of the available vaccines against COVID- 19 or to demit the Office which they hold on those Boards, subject to a Medical Exemption only.”
The government has further issued another ultimatum, this time for front line workers including nurses, police officers and teachers. Those workers have been given until November 19, 2021, to take the vaccine. If they fail to do so in the interim, they will be barred from entering their place of work and will be given ten days to take the jab or find alternative employment.
Pastor Harry further spoke of the state of paranoia in his sermon.
“People are really worried. And I’m not saying they don’t have reason to be … they have reason to be worried. But what do we do in such a time? How do we respond as a nation?“ he asked.
Pastor Harry also stated: I should not treat anyone like they’re an outcast because of such a conviction. So our nation is being divided, our churches are being scattered because we are taking positions and standing on them and we are pushing away people.”
He said at independence time he wanted to remind the nation of what God expects. He referenced Malachi 6 verse 8. He said God say you ought to do justice. He said the world, the nation is in a cul-de-sac and there is need to get out of it but God is saying ‘have you been doing justice? Have you been acting justly? Have you been doing what is right?’”