Govt sending mixed signals – Atherley

Leader of the Opposition Bishop Joseph Atherley is accusing the Mia Mottley led Administration of sending mixed signals to the country by extending the state of emergency for a further six months while at the same time engaging in social activities which breach the COVID-19 physical distancing protocol.

Atherley raised concerns regarding the extension until  March 27, 2021 announced by Attorney General Dale Marshall in the House of Assembly today. He noted his concerns about the mixed signals being sent by those on the Government’s side who speak with authority on these issues.

“I have been seeing images of last weekend, Mr Speaker, in which some of the same voices in here, were principals in hugging and feting and celebrating without any thought for physical distancing. You have seen that Mr Speaker.

“I have not seen your image in any of those that I have seen, but I have seen images of others. You can’t stand and tell Barbados we have to keep our guard up, we must extend the state of emergency for six months.

“But those who are political leaders and the principal voices of Government hugging, congregating and churches can only do that if they observe the physical protocol and you can’t lay hand on a fellow to pray for him because of the distancing, you can’t lay a hand on a child to dedicate that child to baptize that child because physical distancing protocols are in place and wisely so, and necessarily so,” Bishop Atherley said as he made his contribution to the debate on the resolution to extend the Public Health Emergency order.

The Opposition Leader said he was also concerned that Government is sending mixed signals by allowing flights to come from countries where a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak is taking place, and everyday bringing new cases to Barbados.

“You are saying that and it seems to me, mixed signals are coming from the voice of the Government. Now feting is ongoing and social events are being held. We are concerned about that. Cabinet therefore will be meeting virtually, Parliament would like to meet virtually,” he said.

Atherley also indicated that he was concerned about the fact that Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith voiced concerns regarding the noticeably rise of the crime rate, which he associated with the conditions of the social fallout from COVID.

“I want us to ensure that we do remember that while we guard ourselves in here in terms of the exposure to COVID, while we guard ourselves at the level of Cabinet against exposure to COVID, while we extend the state of emergency for six months, while we tell Barbadians stop being complacent, we have got to remember as a Government that there are matters that we need to treat to as well which are urgent and critical.

“What the Commissioner of Police is raising as a concern, the way it has been expressed as was reported in the press, is contrary to what the Government has been trying to say to Barbadians that they have got a handle on crime and the statistics show a decline in the numbers.

“I do not know that any Barbadian believes that when it comes to gun-related crimes. We have got shootings everyday and every night,” he said. (AH)