LEADERS of the G7 pose for a group photo at the Carbis Bay Hotel in Carbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall, England, on Friday. From left, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel, US President Joe Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
POSITIVE signs on the vaccination front were revealed this week with the US deciding to provide some surplus vaccines to The Bahamas. It should be noted this is a result of diplomatic efforts by Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield and Bahamian ambassador to the United States Sidney Collie.
As the G7 countries gathered in the United Kingdom for this year’s summit, chief among concerns was leading the world through what we hope is the end of the pandemic. In attendance was US President Joe Biden, who has been making a special effort to reverse course from the Trump administration’s brand of diplomacy and has expressed his country’s commitment to this enormous humanitarian undertaking.
Emphasising this show of generosity comes with no strings attached, President Biden pledged 500 million of the one billion doses of the vaccine being donated by the US will assist developing countries – a major push towards a global post-COVID recovery.
Hosting the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson also indicated the movement towards a united front on COVID-19. “The world needs this meeting,” he said. “We must be honest: international order and solidarity were badly shaken by COVID. Nations were reduced to beggar-my-neighbour tactics in the desperate search for PPE, for drugs — and, finally, for vaccines.”
He added: “This is the moment for the world’s greatest and most technologically advanced democracies to shoulder their responsibilities and to vaccinate the world, because no one can be properly protected until everyone has been protected.”
As these much-needed vaccines will be dispersed through the COVAX facility, this is great news for many countries, particularly those in Africa where concerns continue to mount.
Unfortunately, for those hoping we would have also been able to attain some of those billion doses, the remaining 33,600 doses from COVAX will complete our order.
Thankfully, cases have been on the decline, despite health experts still warning we remain in a third wave here at home.
Nonetheless, it is promising that the world’s most powerful countries are now looking beyond their borders and realising the need for the global community to keep pace with their vaccination efforts.
As countries have been able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it has become top priority to ensure efforts are not wasted by the evolution of more powerful strains of COVID-19.
A recent study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation’s findings provide evidence that without global access to vaccines the world economy could potentially contract by $9.2 trillion – seven percent of global GDP.
Such a scenario would spell a disaster no world leader wants, and certainly one we cannot afford.
During his contribution to the Budget debate in Parliament last week, former Health Minister Duane Sands called on the government to implement stricter measures to reflect the “deep trouble” we find ourselves in. Indeed, COVID or not, we have a long road to trek out of the debt pit we find ourselves nearly $10 billion deep in.
My hope, as well as I’m certain is the Prime Minister’s, is that we can ramp up vaccination efforts and the economy can continue to get back to healthier levels with the return of tourist arrivals.
Resorting to enticing the unvaccinated population with the allure of “vaccination parties, mask-free happy hours, and junkanoo”, the Prime Minister continues to incentivise Bahamians to take the shot.
Unsure of how effective a strategy this has been, perhaps presenting the facts of where Bahamians may find themselves if our race to get out of this pandemic isn’t expedited will be a more helpful exercise.
The same study referenced earlier points out that due to the dependence all countries have on each other for trade, without a global vaccination push, advanced economies can lose up to four percent of their GDP by the end of this year. Such a reality undermines how effective countries vaccination programmes have been individually.
Furthermore, it will be interesting to see what decision the Bahamian people will make when we are able to vaccinate a critical mass of our citizens. It is one thing to not have enough vaccines in the country and become frustrated with the citizenry’s unwillingness to get their shots. It is entirely another once we have the vaccines and the uptake is not there.
Hysteria continues to fuel the anti-vaxxer population to spread fear and unsubstantiated claims about why they should not take the vaccine. The job of the government is to continue to bring the facts in a measured and sober fashion, and communicate the importance of doing our part to make COVID-19 a thing of the past.
We’re getting closer, but the decisions we collectively make in between are pivotal to our success.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
The problem is these anti vaxxers think the nonsense they spread is fact. Looks like the Bahamas will remain mostly unvaccinated and economically stagnant indefinitely. Thanks to incredibly stupid and ignorant reasons.
The key didn't stick. There are no microchips in the serum. Vaccines and wireless communications have no ties whatsoever. Bill Gates is not trying to kill half the planet. Nobody is dying from the vaccine. There is no sterilization scheme. The vaccine cannot shed. Vaccines reduce the chance of getting the illness and if you do get it the vaccine will keep you out of the hospital and out of the morgue.
whogothere 2 years, 10 months ago
Italy takes another step back... Covid is of so little risk for anyone in decent health - forcing down in the arms of 70% of your populace makes no sense.. for the record I am fully vaccinated - so not anti vaxxer just a believer in common sense and data.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...">https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/...
baclarke 2 years, 10 months ago
The most sensible comment on this forum yet. To say that "Nobody is dying from the vaccine" is as "ignorant" and "stupid" as some of the common conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccines. Some persons don't buy into the propaganda, but are hesitant because they don't want to become a statistic, even if it is extremely rare to die from the vaccine. The fact that death is even a possibility should stop wise governmental leaders from being so tyrannical when it comes to the issuing of this vaccine and how they treat the unvaccinated.
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
Let me say it again then. Nobody is dying from the vaccine. Period..
whogothere 2 years, 10 months ago
The news I posted article is literally about some dying of the vaccine...There is a emergency meeting tomorrow by CDC to discuss the risk of heart attacks in youth. Israel now recommends only one shot for youth because of the risks..please do some research or read something other than the comment section of this publication...
tribanon 2 years, 10 months ago
You will need to explain why full blown investigations are now underway by the US government into the roles Fauci, Gates and others of their ilk, including certain big pharma executives, have played in the removal of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and other medicines from the arsenal of effective Wuhan Virus therapies. It now seems in the early part of last summer certain very evil individuals, with much to lose, were involved in suppressing evidence of HCQ's proven effectiveness in combination with other readily available low-cost drugs. Even the very leftist leaning main stream newsmedia outlets are now admitting there's a growing body of 'uncovered' scientific evidence that many lives may have been unnecessarily lost to the Wuhan Virus last summer due to an unholy alliance of deep state actors, evil tech and health billionaires, and very greedy big pharma executives. There's plenty of good reason why Fauci, Gates and others like them have faded into the background in recent weeks. Stay tuned.
DonAnthony 2 years, 10 months ago
Yes. This country will suffer because of selfish, ignorant anti vaxxers ( many of whom love to post their drivel on here). The facts are if you are vaccinated you are less likely to transmit the virus, you are less likely to contract the virus, and if you do contract COVID you will be far less seriously ill or die from it.
tribanon 2 years, 10 months ago
But without the usual years of scientific research and studies, those who have been jabbed with these warp speed developed mRNA vaccines (approved by the FDA for emergency experimental use only on a voluntary basis) really have no idea what long term side effects may lie ahead for them. Good luck!
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
Who says Fauci and Gates are being investigated? Hannity? Or maybe that moron my pillow guy?
tribanon 2 years, 10 months ago
ZZZZzzzzzz......
themessenger 2 years, 10 months ago
@proudloudandfnm, amen to all that, unfortunately there isn’t a vaccine available for stupid!
tribanon 2 years, 10 months ago
Not so anymore. lol
John 2 years, 10 months ago
Corona viruses DISAPPEAR after infecting a portion of the world’s population through a series of waves. That is what Covid-19 seems to be doing. Natural herd immunity that prevents the population from becoming extinct. New cases and deaths are at their lowest levels since the middle of last year. The US numbers have fallen by over 90% and India by almost 70%. So why the hype and mad push to get everyone vaccinated? Why do they still want you to take the jab? Hint: Dr Anthony Fauci said’ people who are pointing fingers at him should blame the science.’ O but who was told, no ORDERED , to leave that particular science alone? But did they? So what else drives people besides money?
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
97.5% of covid related hospitalizations are unvaccinated. And according to actual science (as in not rand paul) natural immunity is not permanent. As is the case with most corona viruses....
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
G7 is a political industrial, banking union capable only of making desicions for profit advantages. 99%of world's leading virologists disagrees with WHO and seven members G7 global dictatorship wannabe, as without China and Russia hyper powers G7 is meaningful only to its slave nations like the Bahamas. G7 controls global media therefore only the. . 5% of information that goes along with their narrative is filtered to the masses. International virologists lack the political global mass media footprint stage of G7. Why is Florida, just 90 miles away open yet we follow EU, G7 Covid speculative fears. When the UK Ckicken Little shots that the sky is falling our Hitler runs around mad with power shouting the sky is falling lock down. While Florida, a shared geography basks in the sunshine.
Future 2 years, 10 months ago
ONE WORLD ORDER
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
Trump was not falling for one world order and Biden is hedging as he has not bought into G7 the world's brain that seeks profits for their big pharma as they dictate political will to vaccinate for profit. G7 may face isolation as they are very powerful but maybe too small to effect freedom passports without the USA. Then there is trouble brewing as Russia and China vaccines are not being considered as vaccination passes for political profit reasons not health. The restrictions and lockdowns have weakened many persons immune systems because of jail stress so we could see further Hitler made illnesses.
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
https://www.rt.com/russia/525609-sput...">https://www.rt.com/russia/525609-sput...
G7's grab for their block's only profiting from vaccinating the world population even if there are safer vaccines out there. WHO has become rich nation politics and their biased decisions are fueling Covid setup speculation as health is seconded to politics, Gates, fauci and G7 Bankers wealth.
M0J0 2 years, 10 months ago
The main issue with the vaccine is it is not 100% a cure. It also has not been approved. Lastly no one wants to be forced, its called freedom of choice, if there was more information being forwarded people would not have to speculate. All you hear is get stab in ya arm because I say its good for you.
ohdrap4 2 years, 10 months ago
Well vaccines have never been a cure. Only Renward Wells think so.
I must confess that I thought it prevented you from getting the disease, and recently reckoned that MMR did not work for me as a child. At 3 years old I guess I was not responsible.
It is scary tho. You mean the dog and cat can still transmit rabies? And I could still get tetanus. Damn I thought I was protected.
People no longer fall for the "appeal tto authority" fallacy. So now they try calling stupid and try to get you vaccinated to allow you to attend weddings.
Lol. They have to do much better than that.
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
We need a vaccine against stupid..
tribanon 2 years, 10 months ago
Don't worry, there will soon be plenty of doses available for you to get as many jabs as your heart desires, and hopefully can withstand. lol
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
Maybe stupidproudfnm needs to learn the meaning of astuteness and stop labelling folks here anti vaxxers as if in his world being smart through research is a crime. Cockroaches lives most of their lives in cesspits so their brain never see the light of knowledge. An astute FNM sorry, DNA/PLP
proudloudandfnm 2 years, 10 months ago
And you bout the stupidest of them all..
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
While we argue here the grinning happy folks being affected by Covid are those holding the billions in the Covid testing bag. Those shareholders are strangely quiet someone should search out conflicts of Power and conflicts of interest criminality. I hope stupidproudfnm is one of them. Their bank books will keep Covid fear, restrictions forced vaccinations on us till eternity rolls over. Just follow the money. Gates, WHO, CDC, big pharma, PAHO and underlings here riding the social pain of vax and test, test, test, test as our economy strains then breaks under testing and Vax pressure.
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
Build Back Better World B3W, initiative of G7 model of coordinating, mobilization private sector capital in health security, digital technology, gender equality and climate will leave 85% of Bahamians beggars. While we signed on to a system that has shock crashed our workforce even the UN has warned of its deadly global consequence on poverty and as Super Value Roberts spoke of rising food cost and shipping bottlenecks that will put food items up 10% Christmas.
Socrates 2 years, 10 months ago
this is a result of diplomatic efforts by Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield and Bahamian ambassador to the United States Sidney Collie... is that so? Or was it because the Bahamas just happened to be one of the many countries the US intended to offer it to and all we had to say was yes please or no thanks?
carltonr61 2 years, 10 months ago
If B3W world works then will see our first sexual equality female leader in the Form of DNA. Or openly gay leader from another party. On climate and reducing our carbon footprint to G7 world outlook. Blue fuel global initiative will see incentives for electric vehicles, windmills and cost prhibative measures that will work once Bankers gave us the loans to buy their product at profit. Health will see push for Vax passports, world vaccination with G7 only Vax. Global Emergency police to shut nation's down to stop the spread of deadly pathologins or wipe spreaders out. Tech cannot carry the labor burden of the Bahamas. Already efforts have began toward Sand doller, cashless payments, school at home e based education. The overall less human more tech dependent contact seems if science fiction in its dehumanizing desensitized outcome. As humans become less social, loving and touching beings murders will go up. Poverty will increase the few rich like Amazon will rake in trillions. The USA wants to keep its paper money as primary. Digital currency could zap money to the moon but gov with eye every AB101000101001CD binary in a total control from beginning to spending vapor. We are well on our way to reset as gov only needs another year of Covid fear to transform all that the middle class gained into the hands of Bankers. Even the holy poor will cry to die.
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