Vaccination will not be made mandatory in Dominica.
This was according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit during an interview recently.
There have been major protests in some countries in the region against mandatory vaccination in the fight against Covid-19.
Members of the Dominican public are also engaged in debate as reports show persons who are vaccinated can still contract the virus and contribute to its spread.
“Let us go out and take the vaccine, it is not mandatory and all this talk about mandatory, I am not in that thing about mandatory vaccination,” he said. “Though we have clear legal advice that the constitution allows this to happen and this is done from legal luminaries outside Dominica, but I am not going to get into this.”
Skerrit believes that everyone has an obligation to each other, “this is a public health emergency and we have to take the vaccine.”
Meantime, His Lordship Bishop Gabriel Malzaire has reiterated the call for Dominicans to get vaccinated.
He was speaking with State-Owned Radio station DBS.
“We have gone through crisis, we have gone through difficult times, but we have concurred and we have always done that together,” he said. “There are certain things laid down by the health personnel, first of all the question of vaccination
At the time of this report Dominica has recorded 203 active Covid-19 cases.
Bishop Malzaire said it is important to understand that vaccination works.
“Of course we are faced with many conspiracy theories and sometimes people choose to listen to this, but if we are going to succeed in dealing with this terrible virus among us we must do it together,” he urged.
He continued, “We must follow the protocols, we must be obedient to what the authorities are telling us that we ought to do, but to do it together.”
Well said Francisco and well said Man Bites Dogs. Many people have taken the Vaccine and we believe in that it needs to be done. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, only that it will address the weakness in every person who receives it. It’s a Must. I and my family have taken it and to this day All’s WELL 😊 with everyone. Thanks all for your comments
Mr. Skerrit, only a coward is afraid to face the PRESS. The coronavirus is raging like a wild fire on a dry, hot, windy day. Many citizens have concerns and questions they want answers to.
Is the Delta variant on island? Does the country have the requisite resources to handle this sudden and colossal increase of the number of citizens with the virus? By law, don’t those citizens adversely affected by the curfew and restrictions deserve compensation from their government?
This is unconscionable. Mr. Skerrit and his unaccomplished, underachieving wife, deprive the government treasury of approximately $90 000 every month for rent of the palace, 24/7 security, two salaries, perks and allowance while thousands of Dominicans get NADA.
There is no justification for this wrong. It’s simply atrocious. No right thinking person would ever condone this anomaly..
Gary, wake up and stop exploding Disgusting blind Loyalty thoughts of this Failed Incompetent Irrelevant Visionless PM Skerrit and Failed Labour Government of yours. Our Nature Isle Dominica and it’s people comes FIRST and please be reminded of that.
With an oversized Government we have a population where our people are poor, struggling, unemployed and as we are this formidable Agricultural Country we need to focus on our Assets and opportunities. Do you think that your FAILED incompetent Skerrit is aware of this and able to raise the profile of our Government and people? We really don’t think so. Why..? Because Skerrit is just this NOT Socio-Economic Focused. It’s all about loose talk, The Red Clinic and we recall the Bin Bobol Fiasco and this on going Passports Sales that we await the results of these sales. We heard it’s all about the elevation of these foreigners and while our Dominica & People continue to live in poverty with no jobs to offer.
We need decency in Our…
the sameway one has to be vaccinated in order to provide service to tourist…smh… is this not mandatory?
Roosevelt the best thing you can do for Dominica right now, is to make the vaccine mandatory, in addition to shutting down the country!
A few short days ago the claim was that there were 45 cases, of the virus, it went from 45 cases to over three hundred. Can’t you see the disease has begun to multiply rapidly?
Guy we have a very small and vulnerable population, refusal to shut down the country and make it mandatory for people to get vaccinated, you are risking the complete annihilation of the population.
If you want you can take the number of known cases of sick people and play politics with it but your need to review how this sickness behaves, in view of that I can tell you there might be thousands of people on the island at the moment infected!
Make it mandatory for every person on the island to be vaccinated; and shut the country down: We are dealing with a new deadly strain, “the Delta Variant, now affecting the very young, even baby’s.
Shut the country for…
We are not talking politics now this is facts some people is taking this Delta Variant, for a joke because they are ignorant thinking that they are clever.
For that reason I support all that Francisco, has to say, and if a section of the population continued to disobey the law jail then they are murderous! “Mandatory is a must go for it Pm. our population is too small to let that nonsense go on time to take action on ignorance!!!
@Francisco, I totally agree. I say bite the bullet for at least 2 weeks. It will be a bit ruff but absolutely necessary at this point. Not very often I agree with you Francisco you but I see it necessary to put away our differences in a show of support when it comes to our island, our people or the continent.
Hotep!
“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.” ― Frederick Douglass
Hence; where it pertains to Dominica, and the welfare of the nation, I Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque, will join forces with even foes who rallies towards truth and reason; than to be associate with a pool of hypocritical sidewinders who are blinded by politics; so much so, they are unable to see the threat of a precipice in their path.
In my world, politics matters nothing; I support what I believe to be right; if the idea of an individual is right, and could be beneficial to the country:
As my late father would say; ” if it is legal I for it; if it is not legal eh-eh.”
He used that term in regards to anything he disagrees with!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
I support everything I believe is good for the country!
Sorry Francisco I listened to PM and min. Of Health’s rational and I now agree they are on the right track and sensible enough to weigh & measure the impact. However, they need our support now more than ever to get a handle on this. We owe it to our country to cooperate fully with their efforts and assist any way we can. It’s ruff, I think together we will make it through.
Well then wisdom; don’t you think the best resolve is the shutting down of the country in order avoid close encounter with other?
There is no known treatment or cure for COVID-19 nor the mutated Delta Variant. By now you know the vaccine, face covering and shutting down the country is the only hope.
That is the method used all over the world where the virus is contained; and unless Dominicans follow along by doing what the rest of the world has done; and is doing; not even you will like the outcome of this by the time it is all over!
Boy I know, who were here one day, and the next day when asks about them including a mother and son in their prime of their life, only to be told they are dead, killed by COVID-19, its not fun to hear.
Man bite dogs, I am with you here, as well.
I do not understand what is the fear about side effects from the vaccine, those side effects will go away, but the immune system will be stronger to fight–that is the first reason for the vaccine.
Besides that, what medicine which has been taken for the first time, does have a side effect? Stuuuuupes!
To Whom It May Concern:
The true; and most relevant purpose of Vaccines are to reduce the risks of getting a disease by working with humans body’s natural defenses to build protection!
When one get a vaccine, the immune system responds to it; causing it to recognizes the invading germ; such as the virus or bacteria; and produces antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by the immune system to fight disease.
I support those calls for some stimulus package for all Dominicans. It’s unconscionable to ask people to stay home twice and not provide some relief for them. The government could find $64,000 monthly to pay for the lavish lifestyle for Skerritt and his acquired taste for luxury. Skerritt could find $400,000 plus to pay Dennis Byron for something which would have cost less had he taken the advice of the various organizations which consulted with the people and presented their findings and Skerritt dismissed them saying it would cost too much for voter id cards. Skerritt found money to pay “some” bus drivers after he proclaimed that “no one” would hold a gun to his head. Not only bus drivers who have bills and families to care for, what’s he thinking. It’s malicious not to give the citizens some economic relief. The businesses could get some form of assistance even if it’s tax breaks. Show you have a conscience and I hope the Bishop has a conscience too and speaks for a…
Did the bishop actually say we should be obedient to what the authorities are telling us ? F him.
PM making such a statement, putting it on record, shows great leadership. True leaders are recognized for their decisions made in a crisis, it may not be comfortable, but it shows how pragmatic you are, truly a trailblazer in the region which you have always been you seem to always avoid confrontations.
Yes, Gary, you may not live long enough to see the result of his stupid pragmatism; to people like you it is all about politics; but with CPVID-19 and the new Delta Variant, along with a few other strains, we are talking about death.
If in America, almost seven (7) hundred thousand people have died due to the virus, in less than one year, in a population of over three hundred million people, think of what might happen in Dominica.
I am sounding the alarm, there is still no absolute cure for the disease, hospitals in the United States are overwhelmed again, people are dying.
I know that you believe you are resilient or invincible, as Roosevelt claims after hurricane Maria.
So, you can go ahead and talk crap, but more than thirty thousand people can die in one day!
Okay Telemaque, you don’t have to speak that kind of exaggeration–30 000 people dying in one day? Is that what you want?
Also, 700 000 is 7 tenths of 1 million, as you said it and we all know, the population of the USA is 3 hundred million.
With 50 States 700 000 is only 14 000 people per an average of 6 million per State. How many of those 14 000 people died in 1 day?
I am not with the PM idea this time, but let us be logical.
Elizabeth, I have not exaggerated anything!
Look at it this way; within one year more than( > 630,000) six hundred thirty people died in America from the virus: If there are 365 days in one year; and you divide 630,000.00 /365 = 1,726; that means an average of one thousand seven hundred twenty-six people died each day.
In a population as small as ours, what do you believe could happen if we commence loosing a thousand people per day?
If my assumption is correct, that there are just a little over thirty thousand people resident on the island, at one thousand people per day, within thirty days; you and I will be the only two Dominican left eh!
Seriously now; reality sometimes breads fear; but rather than being fearful you need to caution Roosevelt to do the right thing, and that is to make the vaccine mandatory; and shut down the country for a brief period of time.
Note: some business, offices have voluntarily closed their business; that’s good!
Elizabeth, I don’t know what are you calculating; I do not know from whence you derived such figures, since I did not make or get into any mathematical calculation with you eh!
But I suspect you are trying to do something like this: % / 100 = 7.2 / 700000. Cross multiply: % x 700000 = 7.2 x 100. Divide by 700000 to get the percentage: % = (7.2 x 100) / 700000 = 0.0010285714285714%.
A shorter way to calculate x out of y or x. You can easily find 7.2 out of 700,000, in one step, by simply dividing 7.2 by 700000, then multiplying the result by 100. So, 7.2 out of 700 000 = 7.2 / 700000 x 100. So, let me blow your mind 7.2/700,000 =1.029e and that is 1. 029 exponent -5 x 100 =.001
Now I am not in any competition with you, but if you are testing my academics and educational background, I already have you whipped; don’t try that; I can mesmerized your mind; now I know you can spell and write better than I can, but be careful how you challenge me!
Hahahahahahahahahahahah!
Gary, wake up and stop exploding Disgusting blind Loyalty thoughts of this Failed Incompetent Irrelevant Visionless PM Skerrit and Failed Labour Government of yours. Our Nature Isle Dominica and it’s people comes FIRST and please be reminded of that.
Leadership? Travelling to a Covid hot spot (Venezuela) for a few days and then return and not quarantine shows very strong leadership as well. You and your PM have lost all credibility. As of today you should shut up and hide somewhere but preferably not in Dominica. You and your PM are the king of hypocrites.
Skerrit has no leadership skills. Skerrit violates all laws, and is an embarrassment to the country. Both he and some of his purchased ministers are responsible for where we are now, re the rise in the number of Covid cases.
The questionable occupant of the prime minister’s office is a most selfish, egomaniacal, uncaring Dominican (mis) leader who has ever lived.
Imagine this. In the heart of the pandemic, when businesses were closing down, thousands were losing their jobs and going hungry, Mr. Skerrit chose to take up residence in a $29 000 000 building at $64 000 monthly, paid for by tax payers.
If that wasn’t galling enough, he purchased two extremely expensive, luxury vehicles to match his kingly lifestyle. Unbelievably, not a cent in the form of a stimulus package for the hungry tens of thousands of famished residents.
The question is this. How can people and NGOs with influence (bushmen/women, the news media, clergymen/women, etc.) remain stoically indifferent when so many citizens’ existence is precariously in danger?
Translation: I doh want my head to burst
You is a man that does say one thing and do something else! We will see!
Ok, so now get back to your desk and finalize the Covid -19 relief package some of you colleagues have been pressuring you to do. Yes the people are broke and need it. Also, secret food delivery is not what we want, but rather cash money so we can buy what we want just like you are doing. For a start, use the basic salary paid to police constable as a guide for every single Dcan. Not household. Yup, the partner in Dubai have our money so bring it on.
The hospitals in Dominica are not equipped or staffed to manage the influx of covid patients needing hospitalization or being placed on ventilators. The skilled staff needed to care for these critically ill is daunting. Vaccines will eventually become mandatory but hopefully not when it too late. This pandemic will be here for years because of the multiple variants. I have retired as a nurse and would love to help, but with the latest lock down and state of Emergency that will not be possible.
Vaccines generally works. Even though it is not mandatory, I urge every one to take the vaccine for Covid 19.
All the conspiracy theories about the Covid 19 vaccines are just conspiracy theories; nothing more.
The Covid 19 vaccine can help save your life and that of others. I had my jabs and proud i did. I encourage you to do likewise, but’s it’s your choice .
I am asking the government of Dominica Festival season will be with us not to long from now, they should cancel Independent, day Christmas, Carnival, Easter holidays and many other partys those disorders should be jail and made to pay heavily! What really hurts me when some black people like we have in Dominica goes to a white man country they follow there rules like sheep no question asked another thing we have too many evil people in Dominica such as that so-called Pastor on Q 95 ugly Lenny, and his Halfwit Dribblers!!
Your the first one that likes to keep quiet whenever ur Pm or member’s of his party do anything wrong. Hypocrite
@Man bites dog, I agree with you, since the Prime Minister will not agree to mandatory vaccination for that deadly virus.
We are too small a population to have so many people getting sick from that virus, because they are choosing not to take the vaccine–his decision will not help the problem.
You want to call distinguished people all kind of names, ignorantly and stupidly. Where are you with your thoughts and Intelligent?
If you are so occupied caught up in a Dog’s pen House, please get the Hell OUT of there with your Barking Woof woof Ignoramous Stupidity Thoughts.
You have your name publicly Available as this ”
“Man ( You) who Bites Dogs”. How Disgusting.
Your thoughts and sayings are ridiculously Irrelevant and stupid. Stop Barking Nonsensical Dogs cry and behave as this Human Being.
We need to elevate our people y country and This Failed incompetent immnature Visionless Labour Party Out of our Government. It’s obvious that or Dominica’ has not promoted itself to the standard of being proud and dedicated to all to help elevate DOMINICA’s Socio- Economic Development.
This incompetent Labour Government under this Failed, incompetent immnature Visionless Skerrit must “Go to Hell”. ‘It’s our Damn Business..” Therefore we are not going to HELL with you”…
What Roosevelt Skerrit should be addressing Dominicans about is a STIMULUS PACKAGE to offset the dire individual financial situation of most residents. Mr. Skerrit, purportedly the richest prime minister in the Caribbean, gets a stimulus package of $64 000 every month. Doesn’t the poor man from Marigot, Portsmouth or anywhere in Dominica deserve a stimulus package also?
Just recently the ruling regime boasted about their masterful handling of the coronavirus. They compared themselves with the other Caribbean islands and declared that they were the best in the region.
This is my point. Many other islands in the Caribbean have given their people a stimulus package, some of them two packages. Why can’t the Skerrit-DLP led administration do the same since they like to compare so much?
This regime found money to import voters from every corner of the globe; to give ‘Kool Out’; for the Red Clinic; for mega gospel concerts; for expensive artistes. Why not at this crucial time?
@Ibo, Instead of braying like a donkey from a far distance put your hat in the ring come to Dominica and do something constructive for Dominica, but unfortunately people like you only have mouths and no balls!
The UK where I live has reached 75% (47’000’000 single dose and 39’000’000, full dose) of the adult population vaccinated. We have now removed most restrictions and though 20’000 people per DAY are being diagnosed with Covid, this has NOT translated to significant levels of increased hospitalisations and deaths. In fact the people presenting to hospital with severe illness are either very old or have not had their full course of vaccination.
It wont be mandatory in Dominica but society has a way of deciding for the foolish and ill-informed. It’s not just about YOU . . .
if all these leaders, who are advocating for the use of the covid-19 vaccine, claiming that we could only do it together and it is our responsibility, then why do these same leaders not advocate for a corruption free society, where the abuses we are seeing could be stamped out. you have abandoned us in our plight for justice and development as a people but sees it fit for our togetherness and social responsibility since your life may depend on it… our leaders are failures and we recognize this! it is about time we be proactive and do something about it, cause we can not continue like this.
…and why don’t they advocate for fair and free elections and why don’t they advocate for Skerrit to do his legal duty and account properly for the CBI funds and other state funds?
Stop the constant braying – “take the vaccine, take the vaccine” People need to know what is in that vaccine and let them choose
Gibraltar is fully vaccinated and yet COVID is rampant there. AA and you even got advice from legal luminaries?
Boss time to do as Chubby said – “bring back the milk and honey, cane juice and BUSH MEDICINE”
Lets get this straight, the only reason why we had vaccines rolled out so quickly to the public is because these vaccines were cleared under emergency use. The rigors testing other vaccines are subjected to, played no roll in these rollouts. Why would I take a COVID-19, when it is proven that I can still contract and spread the virus. In my opinion, I might as well continue to wear my mask, practice proper hygiene and social distance.
Another U-turn by a confused PM. What’s next?
He knew he wasn’t able to impress the mandatory vaccination on Dominicans, not even on his dunce supporters. However, the question remains, how is he going to control Covid going forward? Is he planning to coop up Dominicans for ever in their houses? Lucky for him, Dominica hasn’t got an Economy anyway, so he can’t destroy that any further. Is he planning to support everybody by the Red Clinic? It wouldn’t work because he couldn’t sell passports fast enough. Besides demand for Dominican passport is close to zero anyway. So what is Mister planning going forward? I believe we all will be waiting a long time for an answer on that. He will keep on making adhoc decisions and denounce them the next day if he feels to much opposition. Let me tell you something, our country is not getting anywhere in this manner. We can’t afford Skerrit going forward because he is too expensive but he doesn’t bring anything tangible to the table. Get him out!
You scared to get a big stone behind your head. That’s a good move. You put ur tail between ur legs and learn from ur fellow pm. He get a big stone you scared you get yours to.
Skerrit is never in a thing. One thing, though, you need to be in is the thing of checking out of office. I think, like covid, everybody is tired of you. The last THING I have to say: hurry up and build back the TeteMorne/Montin primary school. Ungrateful.
I am not in that thing about mandatory vaccination,” he said. “Though we have clear legal advice that the constitution allows this to happen and this is done from legal luminaries outside Dominica, but I am not going to get into this.”
No law no constitution will make anyone mandate vaccine on any other human. We do not need opinions of legal luminaries outside of Dominica about our constitution. Those dirty little psychological games you play. Mt diablotin will rise to explosive life. How nasty of you to come quote what constitution allows. The same constitution you seem to violate to do as you please. Slavery is over, imperialism is dead and you seem to want to be an emperor perverted by greed, and money and hallucinate the power the office you hold provide. The natural laws of human existence will unleash fury on you. NO LAW NO CONSTITUTION WILL FORCE MADATORY VAX ON ANYONE. Leadership matters be wise in the example you set it will be your demise.
He is just trying to use reverse psychology on the people. His dilemma is clear, on one hand he needs to please his cabal and the general supporters and on the other side he needs to be seen to do his best for the country. He has proven many times that he is not interested in the best for our country but rather the best for his supporters. Let’s face it, they are the ones that ultimately keep him in power and as such prevent justice to be done on him. It is as simple as that really.
Folks I have a problem. I took both vaccines and was on a mission to encourage my friends and relatives to take it and I still believe they should take it. But to hear Skerrit, Savarin and Bishop Gabriel Malzaire encouraging people to take it I really feel a way because I don’t believe these three heads of state stand for anything good. In fact they remind me of the Three beasts of Revelation 13, the Dragon, the Beast and the False prophet and the role they will play during the 666 era. No I didn’t say they are the 3 beasts because they are not. But because of their evil nature they remind me of the them and they are all serving the same master and are all in that illuminati together. So now to see them pushing for the same thing associated with the spirit of 666 and the fact that people won’t be able to work or sell without taking that 666, really have me disturbed about the vaccine. So DNO please tell these 3 to avoid pushing for vaccine because they getting people scared
Win over the skeptics of the vaccine by education, persuasion, inducement and by convincing them that the available vaccines help. Get influential and trusted citizens to spread the message not politicians. There is a deficit of trust between the public and the politicians.
The Bishop wants all of us to work together in order to overcome the spread of the coronavirus. But he needs to chastise the autocratic regime for excluding all but self from any serious debate or profound decisions.
Have Skerrit et al ever attempted to reach out to the other political parties and civil groups for assistance as these organizations have a treasure trove of good ideas. Stop being disingenuous. .
Woye skerros fraid he get a cool worsh
You know fully well the people would push back with your mandatory vaccination, so you did not have a choice!!!!!.
Sad to see where we are at because people including government ministers could not lead from the front.
Jam on riverbank for several weeks , no masks, no police involvement
Opposition members jeered and taunted in parliament for wearing masks
politician sponsoring fete, and the list goes on and on and on..
It’s not the end of the world for Dominicans, but it is surely a backlash for what we tolerate.One thing i have always learnt is that leaders lead, they pave the way and show the way…There is a paucity of those leaders on island…
Wish we go through it, and we change how things are done, going forward.
Like any medication or any food we eat, they have their side effects. The blood pressure pills or diabetic pills we take have their side effect. But their value outweighs the side effect. The bread, ripe banana or anything we eat have their side effect too. There is nothing we eat that is 100% safe, whether organic or nonorganic. Everything we eat comes from the same ground that God cursed because of Adam’s disobedience and it is the same ground that God said would produce Thorns and thistles Gen 3:18. So stop worrying about what the vaccine might do tomorrow and take a step to save ur life and others tomorrow.
I amm sorry I have to support Skerrit today but taking the vaccine is the right thing to do because covid19 is not going anywhere anytime soon
I hear people say is uwp ites that don’t want vaccine. This is false. I am dead red and I and my other labour friends will not take it. I know I not no guinea pig or rat for allu to try vaccine on me .nonsense
We need to stop listening to all that fear and foolishness and instead go take the vaccine. If they wanted to kill us or destroy us as some, don’t you all think there are millions of other ways to get that mission accomplished without making any demand on us? This is a pandemic and God gave some the wisdom to come up with a quick and relatively safe vaccine to help us fight the pandemic. So lets take it and trust God for protection. Taking the vaccine is just another tool we have that God can use to protect us just as the Rod Moses had was a tool God used to perform miracles. Folks lets not be fools but be wise understanding that we are now in a life and death situation.
Very well stated. It’s surprising to see so many young people opposed to the virus, despite growing up in the so-called information age. It seems there’s a profound trust deficit between them and the rational thinkers among the older generation, to the point that the youth prefer to go with the ‘advice’ of anonymous internet video makers. We would all benefit from examining why trust has been so badly broken.
This is one time, I cannot argue with you. although I have my reservations around certain parts of your statement, I will allow the message to remain in focus and concur that vaccination ought not be mandatory. Hats off on this round Mr. Skerritt
Even if according to Skerritt that the laws allow his government to make the vaccine mandatory,in this case the vaccines are now only emergency use authorized and have not yet been cleared and approved, therefore no independent court in it’s proper application of the laws can support the forcing of persons to take something which isn’t approved. This would be asking for trouble if you decided to go down that road. Happy to hear that you won’t be forcing people to take the vaccine for now.