Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Economic vaccinations

In March of 2020, persons in the Caribbean region experienced the last week of life as we knew it.

Whether it be; shopping, family gatherings, company parties, weekly sports games or simply going to work, everything has changed due to COVID-19.

One year on, we have a vaccine that offers us some degree of a return to normalcy.

Ironically, whilst some persons in the Virgin Islands are hesitant to take the freely available vaccines, our cousins in other islands are struggling to get vaccines.

COVID Aphartied


In the English speaking Caribbean, there are roughly 5.5 million persons. The numbers are broken down as follows:

*  3 million in Jamaica

*  1.5 Mil in Trinidad and Tabago

*  1 million between the other countries

So, in order to reach herd immunity of 70 per cent vaccinated, they need a minimum of 3 million persons having both doses

Yet, major countries have been stocking up and or hoarding up available stock

“The UK. government has sought legal advice on preventing coronavirus vaccines or their ingredients being exported”

Politico.eu January 29, 2021

Sharing


So, CARICOM nations have had to seek supplies from India and Africa and then share them among themselves.

“Caricom chairman Prime Minister Dr Keith C. Rowley has thanked the governments of India and of the African Union for allowing Caricom countries to have a pathway to access COVID-19 vaccines.

He also reiterated thanks to Barbados Prime Minister Mia A. Mottley for work on accessing vaccines for regional states.”

Cnc3.co.tt February 24, 2021

As it stands in the English speaking Caribbean region, less than 5 per cent of the population have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, in Bermuda, nearly 25 per cent of the population have been vaccinated.

Many may rightly ask what is the relevance of these statistics.

Air Visitors


All Caribbean islands are overly reliant on the Tourism industry.

“Clear waters and warm sand attracted a record 31.5 million tourists to the Caribbean in 2019, but visits plummeted by an estimated 60% to 80% as the pandemic hit last year.”

Yahoo news March 2, 2021

Without tourists, there has been massive unemployment in the hospitality and related industries.

The knock-on effect is that governments around the region have no choice but to offer assistance to large proportions of their populations.

Effectively, a double whammy with less income and added expenses.

In Bermuda’s case, a triple whammy, as we have to pay AECON’s minimum revenue guarantee, due to lack of travellers at the new Air Terminal.

With the availability of the vaccines in the Overseas Territories, we have an opportunity to get our; resorts, hotels, guest houses and vacation rentals booked and restaurants back up and running at increased capacities

None of this will happen if our COVID numbers spike or travellers are feeling that our islands are hotspots.

Do unto others


When the issues of vaccines arise, we have to be thankful to the Ministry of Health under the leadership of Honourable Minister Carvin Malone (AL) and all those involved in the vaccination programme.

We cannot reverse time back to pre-march 2020; however, we must act in ways that position our region in a safer space.

Most importantly, let us always remember the tens of thousands that have been out of work for over one year. For them, COVID-19 has wiped out their savings and caused them to change their way of living in more ways than imagined.

Whether they be; taxi drivers, bartenders, cooks, waitresses or those who work in retail outlets.

These persons are our neighbours, family members and tenants. As such, we must bear in mind their economic well-being when it comes to deciding to take the free vaccines available via the Ministry of Health.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×