Public Servants on Nevis not pressured to be vaccinated

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - PREMIER Mark Brantley has declared that it is not mandatory for public servants on the island be vaccinated, but he prefers them to take the jab to ensure the Federation returns to a state of normalcy.
 
Brantley, while addressing reporters, was asked by SKNVibes News about his position on the vaccine for the local public sector and, in response, urged people to understand the importance of being vaccinated so that the island could reopen the tourism sector.
 
Nevis’ economy has been struggling since the onset of the pandemic, and it was exacerbated by the long period of lockdown for more than eight months last year.
 
On St. Kitts, some employees have complained of being by their employers and the Government into taking the AstraZeneca Vaccine. Many of them have expressed concerns over the manner in which the pressure is being applied, despite the assurances that taking the vaccine is not mandatory.
 
“So the policy and position right now is we continue to encourage. And I am prepared, and I have expressed that in writing to work with the Opposition on Nevis for them to encourage as well, so that everybody sing from the same hymn sheet,” noted Brantley.
 
Brantley added: “At this point, there is no plan in relation to the public service and making vaccines mandatory because there are legal issues associated with that.” 
 
He explained that employees in the public sector should be appreciative that they have been very privileged to  still be working and receiving their salaries at the end of the month while there were others at home.  
 
Premier Brantley noted that the assurance would not remain that they would continue to be paid on time if the economy does not return to a level of normalcy if people do not get vaccinated. 
 
“There are some people sitting down in government positions thinking I am safe. My pay safe, my money safe, so I am not worried about them,” the Premier noted. 
 
Reinforcing the point of the impact that the pandemic has on regional economies, Brantley highlighted the bluntness of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet in communicating the dire state of their economies to residents.