Days away from the Government’s vaccination deadline to public servants, a group of people staged a walk from Pleasantville to San Fernando against mandatory vaccination yesterday.
At present, there is no mandatory vaccination policy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Using a long PVC-designed syringe created by Junior Bisnath as their prop, the group led by entertainer Tricia Hamilton and Bisnath, leader of the Kaisokah Moko Jumbies, sent a clear message to the government that it is opposed to what it called forced vaccination.
Hamilton who is known as Sexy Tricia in the entertainment arena explained, “Today’s walk is about my body, my choice. We believe that people shouldn’t be losing their jobs. We as Trinbagonians we need to be our brother’s keeper. It’s about time we say enough is enough, too much is too much. We will not be forced to be vaccinated with something nobody really knows what exactly going on.”
The government has made the public sector a safe zone and has asked all workers to be vaccinated by mid-January.
Those who are unvaccinated will be furloughed—sent home without pay.
Hamilton yesterday, reminded churchgoers who are supporting what she called mandatory vaccination that God gave people free will.
“So no government, no human being should take that right from us,” she added.
Although the group was small in numbers because of the Public Health Regulations, Hamilton said they have been getting support from a lot of people, including motorists and passersby.
Saying the issue transcends race, religion and political preference, she said, “As an artiste, people say this is not your war. This is my war because we now would have a ripple effect.”
Hamilton asked her fellow entertainers to consider that people will not be able to support their shows and events if they lose their jobs.
“This is not about being selfish. Don’t be selfish. Come out and stand up for all the people that’s been there, working hard in the battlefield before we even had a vaccination, before we had anything, before we know of any tablet. They’ve been working, working and now you’re saying no if you not vaccinated you cannot work. I say no to that, we all say no to that.”
Bisnath lamented that soon the public will be told that they cannot enter government buildings if they are not vaccinated. “The whole mission about them is to frighten the people to do what they have to do. So people don’t be afraid,” he added.
The police spoke to the group but did not stop the members from walking.
The World Health Organisation and global health experts have said that COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent someone from becoming infected with the virus, but will minimise hospitalisation and death.