The seizure of 20 ventilators destined for Barbados appears to have thrust the Mia Mottley administration into a growing global battle for critical supplies to fight the outbreak of COVID-19.
But Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Col Jeffrey Bostic on Sunday morning assured there is no shortage of the critical supplies, dismissing such suggestions as “absurd”.
During a press conference at Ilaro Court, Bostic revealed that the ventilators donated to the Barbados Government as an act of philanthropy were barred from exportation.
“They were seized in the United States. Paid for, but seized, so we are trying to see exactly what is going to transpire there,” Minister Bostic disclosed.
“But I remind you that ventilators are one of the most in-demand items in the world today and Barbados is merely wrestling with the other 203 countries and territories around the world seeking to secure as many of these pieces of equipment as possible,” he added.
While initially indicating they were part of the $1.4 million in assistance pledged by Barbados-born international pop star Rihanna, he later corrected this and added that five of the ventilators sent by Rihanna would soon reach the country.
The Health Minister did not disclose the U.S. city or state where the seizure took place. But reports of such seizures made news as recently as Friday in New York, where Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to seize unused ventilators from private entities through an executive order in the hard-hit city.
It is still unclear how Barbadian authorities will respond, but at least for now, the 48 ventilators on island that are currently at government’s disposal appear to be more than enough with only three of the country’s 56 COVID-19 patients in need of ventilators.
“So it is absurd for anyone to say, suggest, imply or insinuate that there is a shortage or could in the foreseeable future be an acute shortage of ventilators on the island,” the Lieutenant Colonel declared.
“We have an adequate amount of ventilators at this point and ventilators have been arriving almost daily over the past two weeks or so. But up to this point, we have only had to use three ventilators,” Bostic added.
On Saturday, Democratic Labour Party President, Verla DePeiza questioned whether enough ventilators are on the island and demanded to know when more would arrive.
The Health Minister, however, disclosed that over 150 ventilators had been ordered and paid for from more than five different sources through five different sources and stressed that Prime Minister Mottley had made an “open cheque” available for the purchase of such critical supplies. (KS)
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Who are we?
Expected we are on our own
The greatest threat to world security is America…invaded,plundered and murdered all in the name of ‘bringing democracy!’
In God (gold, oil and drugs) we trust
Yet Cuba is sharing it’s most important asset…their medical workers!!
Don’t worry China cashing in, even supplying to great USA!
China will soon help wait and see
There have a shortage of ventilators that’s why them take them
Unscrupulous behaviour
They are screwing Canadians too!!!! Trump is Satan!!!!!!!
The whole world is on a ventilator hunt,and the human species can be known to be a savage beast. What will America say to this,and how will China react,cause believe you me,they are watching .Amazing,people are dying and the powers that be are still playing their political games..smdh
No surprises there. Next!
I don’t understand at all smh
God doesn’t sleep.
Haha.. Is war they want. Is war they will get.
Bsjans go to the quarry, pays 50 cents per big rock, puff up their chest and sits down with a hot Banks Beer, in hand. Old Tawk begins.
Argument dun.
Another reason why we should have made quarantine mandatory from the start
But trump wanted generators
Ventilators is what going to start the WAR…….
Omg
Y’all thought Walking Dead was just a show right? In the end innocent ppl will kill other innocent ppl if need be to preserve their own life
That ist criminal… the terrible government of Trump… no character at all! For the future I hope that Barbados will get ventilators in a way so that the USA cannot seize them.
This is so low on trump part smh if he did his job in the first place when this out break happen it would never got this far shame on him
America gotto release what belong to Barbados and the Caribbean by God’s great grace.
We better be thankful for China an stop making ignorant comments about their donations. The US is going to war to get every piece of medical equipment it can hoard.
Every government in the world is trying to source ventilators, so how did Rihanna manage to buy some ?
Trump has done the same to canada whoever dont bow to him must suffer trump need to sit down and do whats right for people he is causing a world war
To late shall be the ppls cry.
Tykwon Cole you see this?!
This has been happen before Trump and it will still happen after him.
🙁
https://youtu.be/H_RL_1z8o4E
We make nothing in the Caribbean. So dependent we are with big mouths. Lets go fete and drink we rum to forget.
Add Love
Laura Cridland The same way she managed to buy the protective gear she gave to New York city
Carol A. Cameron and Mary Parks
Shana Douglas
Not surprised by this development.
The Brits are using underwater breathing equipment that are used by some kids here recreationally and reengineering them to help persons with respiratory problems before they get critical.
Kindly look into this. We have some geniuses at UWI that can probably work it out.
They also seized a shipment of medical supplies destined for Canada.
Omg!God help us all what’s next?
https://bb.usembassy.gov/ Please have mercy on us …
Trump and his puppets FRIGHTEN for Mia any educated woman that can speak and stand on they own feet have FRUMP in trouble ,this shows what a little boy he is because he can’t help his people he don’t want no one to help us simple as that.Because he will never help us .
This is crazy ,big bad wolf bulling little chihuahua
It is apparent that these ventilators are not saving too many lives. And they can damage the lungs as well. I wonder if the “iron lungs” used years ago tor TB patients is a better solution.
They breaking all the rules and still doing a terrible job back there
Wicked
Same crap they did to Canada
No body ain’t coming to aid we, but we aid ppl. That’s the norm
This story is quite disturbing but not surprising, seeing that there is a shortage in the world. We in CARICOM need to become more innovative as a people and less dependant on our neighbors to the North. We certainly have the expertise among us locally & Internationally. Let’s start with a Skills Bank that can be accessed by all. Now is the time to continue to Strengthen our bonds of trade & communication. I commend Cuba for their assistance regionally to all who request and Internationally. I also commend PM Mia Mottley for her Leadership of CARICOM at this time. One Love, One People, One Caribbean.
Yes, now we know that the US is not our friend. All those who have been backing the US like yardfowls should think twice.
That is disgraceful.
And we wonder why America is suffering. That is so wrong no one person is more important than another regardless of what country you live in.
Now the world should see Trump for what he really is. A Thief and a blatant liar.
Well documented past actions of Trump and his
Family,
Multiple bankruptcies, non payment of workers
building his casinos and buildings, no filed and
publicized tax return (for a President).
Why bother with this for the next presidential run.
To the people of barbados,please dont blame the trump administration blame the governor of new york and his democrats for holding on to those precious ventilators which were paid for by private citizens such as rhianna.bajans and Caribbean people will survive.
This is what happens when you side with communists. Blame your government
Just one more of many reasons to hate the USA. Read anti-americanism on wiki. The world hates the USA and for good reason. First they ban masks to Canada now this? They can pound salt. F the USA.
Look in the Mirror, long and hard, Find Strength there. Our ancestors only had each other and they lived through much worst times.
This time is Nothing compared to their chains, so Stop Living in Fear. Do What You Can, When You Can, and How You Can. Use your Freedom, those who Loved us died for it, BUT remember those who hated us died so we would not have it also.
Hello my Brothers and Sisters, if U haven’t figured it out by now Trump is a Clown. He has known about the Virus since December, he had shut everyone down that spoke on it until he could not cover it up anymore. My opinion it’s population control. Helpful information may be found on the Center for Disease Control.
Trump screwed up and did not prepared for this and, unfortunately, others will pay…including the heroes on the frontline in America…our doctors and nurses. Prayers for Barbados and hopefully ventilators, if needed❤
Stop whining
It only makes for a pitiful people get up stand up
Well Barbados better start legal action. Don’t wait to see how many people will need them. Who the hell does America feel they are to seize ventilators that were already paid for? It’s not Barbados’ fault that Trump is an incompetent leader. Robert/Tobago
This is one of the reasons I am embarrassed to be an American. Nothing but greed and entitlement here. Barbados (and others) please know that we are not all the rude, selfish fat cats that our leadership represents. Shameful.
If this was a private purchased that was paid for in full and isn’t an illegal export they must let it go. It’s shameful. No act made in fear is exempt from moral judgement. Barbados isa small nation without all the resources to handle an outbreak and should never be deprived of this essential equipment. This world needs to help one another not favour who they help to further a greedy agenda.
We are in Canada and although we have now been blocked from the supply of protective masks promised our country has the ability to find ways to manufacture our own. Smaller nations may not and should never be denied essential services or equipment.
Yeah, snivel about Anerica some more, ya dolts
It is terrible. Please don’t throw all us Americans in 1 pot. Remember we of color were the only 1z brought here by force (slavery), not by choice. We too r being discriminated against. We’re having the least access to testing, while having a high percentage of deaths. But remember ALL us ppl of color like the song says. WE STILL RISE!
I agree 100%.
It even said in the article that the Democrat party NY mayor Coumo is the one who seized the ventilators not Trump. But yet ignorant people are blaming Trump. Read the freaking article before commenting.
If Barbados was facing a medical emergency and was short on critical supplies, would it be ok for them to give away from their limited supplies? Let’s be real and stop playing petty politics. America blocked medical supplies from going to Canada, the Canadians had to turn to China for help. Trump is looking out for Americans not Bajans.
First of all it wasn’t Trump’s responsibility to prepare for this. You should be looking at the overall drain on our whole society all of our government and why it has prevented us from preparing for basic disasters.we should be laying blame upon ourselves not our leaders we let them do this we don’t stand up and we let ourselves not be prepared.. the us is a bully and will always lie to color The Truth…
My sincerest apologies to the people of Barbados. What our government has done here is wrong. Please know that this doesn’t represent the will of all in the United States and we will do our best to remove this idiots from leadership.
The public can make their own masks at home.
http://www.mghf.ca/mgh1000masks
http://www.Masks4All.co
Hello, everyone,
I am American and sick that my government is behaving this way. In California, we received broken ventilators sent from the federal government. Please believe when I say that this behaviour is not the way the majority of the American people behave. Trump lost the popular vote. Our elections have been compromised by foreign influence and there is just enough support for him that Congress will not throw him out. We are trying our best to gain enough support to vote him out and make this come to an end. We completely understand why the world hates us right now. We never thought that we would have someone in power this destructive and selfish. You are my brothers and sisters in the world and we are together in this fight against the disease. All that I can say is that I am so, so sorry.
We here in Canada commend the Bajan people and its government for there efforts to flatten the curve.
You are a strong resourceful people and its in times like these when you do find out the truth about your true allies.
We here in Canada are also feeling the economic social and isolation pains created by this pandemic.
Yes the US have shown there true colors.
The denied N95 masks to us but they soon realized where the materials came from to make them and this was corrected.
We too are somewhat dependent on that oh to close border.
Doug Ford in the province of Ontario put it quite well we will not be reliant anymore.
The bond our too countries Canada and Barbados needs to strengthen especially in the realm of agriculture.
Its time for Bajan farmers to get the help they also need to strengthen your great country.
Chin up better times ahead and your true friends cant wait to see you.
Dave
I am barbadian. chump is done
Amazing that everyone blames Trump for everything that is wrong ,do other countries not
have means to make things as simple as masks, I believe Canada is not
a developing country but blames the US for their own problems.
Who was the first Covid 19 case in Antigua, the observer stated a lady from England. I am a registered Democrat but I don’t believe in their gimme programs they use
to control Minority votes,
If the US held ventilators back then that is wrong, New York got hundreds more than they needed but in my opinion did not share. The Obama care 35 percent when to 3 states that only have 22 percent of the people. The 3 states are California, New York. and Massachusetts, that means Pelosi, Shummur and Warren all of the Democratic party, so Eastern Caribbean should look else where other than Trump. We citizens here get screwed also.
of the democratic party