Skelton-Cline suggests mandatory vaccinations for work permit holders

Commentator and clergyman, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the Government of the Virgin Islands to find ways to get the territory fully vaccinated, suggesting work permit holders face mandatory vaccination.

Speaking on the Tuesday, May 18, 2021, edition of his radio show, Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, Mr Skelton-Cline said given the circumstances and what is at stake, businesses cannot afford to have a COVID-19 infected staff jeopardise their business.

Claude O. Skelton-Cline called on Government to find some ways to make vaccinations mandatory and move the VI towards a higher vaccinated rate.

Vaccine remains best protection - Skelton-Cline

"The best protection against what's coming in, is for us to be fully vaccinated... I'm fully vaccinated way beyond my 14-days. I'm not as worried personally about me and my family, but it can't just be about me, its about us.

"I am a proponent of employers going the extra mile... even if they are making it mandatory in some cases," he said regarding vaccinations in businesses.

He said persons must put themselves in the shoes of a business owner, to understand and empathise with their struggles regarding the business climate over the past year.

"If one incident shows up at your business, then your whole business get shutdown, 14-days, then contact tracing, they have to look at cameras, then your logbook to see who came," he said.

Premier and Minister of Finance of the Virgin Islands, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said his government will not force anyone to take COVID-19 vaccines; however, he said the vaccinated will be the ones benefitting as the economy reopens.

Business cannot afford to employ unvaccinated persons - Skelton-Cline

Mr Skelton-Cline, who is also a business owner, remarked that business owners cannot afford to have one person bring tremendous harm to their businesses, the community and country.

He called on Government to find some ways to make vaccinations mandatory and move the VI towards a higher vaccinated rate.

"I'm going to go a step further, [if] you are a permit holder in this country... working especially in the hospitality industry, I think we ought to make it mandatory for you to get vaccinated," he said.

COVID-19 vaccinations have been made mandatory for work-permit holders in the British Overseas Territory of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

The VI government has; however, repeatedly said vaccinations will not be made mandatory on anyone in the territory.