St Vincent PM declares holidays; rejects lockdown measures again

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Monday again rejected the imposition of curfews, a state of emergency, and outright lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, announced public holidays this coming Friday and Monday, saying the strain of the pandemic and the ongoing effusive eruption of the La Soufriere volcano is beginning to show on the faces of citizens.

“…. We perhaps need as a people to pause, to reflect, to act more assuredly in ways which are inclusive, in solidarity with each other, and to be engaged fully for the long haul ahead,” he said in a national address.

“These words, ‘pause’, ‘reflect’, ‘act’, ‘inclusive’, ‘solidarity’ and ‘engagement’, incidentally constitute an uplifting acronym – ‘praise’. That is a golden watchword.”

Since December 28, the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in St Vincent and the Grenadines has increased about five-fold, reaching 494 on Monday.

Read more at: Jamaica Observer