#BTColumn – Election tactics won’t win COVID battle

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Hyacinth Greenidge

I listened to Brasstacks on Wednesday and could not believe what my ears were hearing. While moderator Joy-Ann Haigh repeatedly said that the decision to take the COVID-19 vaccine was entirely a matter of choice, she was less than subtle in her approach to callers.

Almost every caller she tried to engage on the topic of the vaccine. Bear in mind this was hours after Government put on a spectacle for the reception of the vaccines.

A joint press conference between Prime Minister Mottley and Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit. One would think we had received 100 000 doses of a cure. Talk about overkill.

Anyway, back to moderator Haigh.

She repeatedly said that people must consider that other countries may require proof of the vaccine on entry. I believe, but I could be wrong, that she drew that analogy so that the thousands of Bajans who travel annually would feel compelled to get the vaccine in order to enjoy travelling.

Haigh kept pushing a pro-vaccine agenda and if I had any doubts, at the end she said that while it is a personal decision it is the best chance the country has at beating COVID-19 and every Bajan must get on board… words to that effect.

A moderator with an agenda is nothing new. A human being with an agenda is nothing new… But to constantly repeat that it is an individual choice while still pushing your agenda is absolutely ridiculous.

But that Brasstack programme is one of many things that have me thinking here of late.

There are some agendas that are clear to the naked eye if only people take time to connect the dots. Since this recent COVID crisis, and especially within the last few weeks there has been a pro-Government agenda everywhere you turn.

I was told by a friend in Eagle Hall that a loud speaker with the voice of the Prime Minister was blaring in her district. Then the Prime Minister said there will be messages posted all over the country as you would see around election time.

Then there are the press conferences with Ambassador Liz Thompson smiling from ear to ear as she announced a COVID-19 death which really should have come at the beginning of the briefing and not at the end like a footnote.

Then there was her guest from Washington who had nothing but praise for the current administration. Then there is the attempt to control the information and dictate the narrative.

Then there is word on the street that a group of not so covert popular people on social media are posting the same pro-vaccine, pro-Government narrative day in and day out. From what I was told it seems to be organised and not simply coincidental.

Apparently, it is a gestapo-type movement which appears to target people with large followings. Then once that person is in the gang their social media post and stance on the recent COVID crisis is totally in sync with that of the Government.

The exact thing happened in 2018 on the same social media so this does not surprise me. If you pay close attention you would realise that the BLP Government has been engaging in the same election tactics which they used in the 2018 General Election.

The battle against this deadly pandemic cannot be won in this manner. COVID-19 is not the DLP, PdP, PEP or any other political party. It is an unforeseen enemy.

Efforts should be spent on the ground working to protect our vulnerable at QEH and the Geriatric Hospital. Efforts should be spent getting the care packages to those who really need them.

Efforts should be spent on getting a steady supply of water to areas lacking so residence can properly sanitise.

Efforts should be spent on ensuring the disabled and homeless in Barbados, those who are vulnerable every day not just in COVID times, are equipped to fight the virus since they are at a disadvantage.

Sadly, while some may look at the tactics I mentioned and believe no harm no foul.

There is indeed harm. There is harm if we live in a democratic society and there are forces working coherently to persuade everyone into thinking the same way – pro-Government.

There is harm if we have people who publicly say that the vaccine is an individual choice then behind the scenes there are great forces at play to push people in one particular direction.

There is harm if we profess to be a democratic country, which respects the individual rights, yet a Manchurian Candidate-type approach is being undertaken in order to get all Bajans on the Government train.

We are threading in some dangerous waters. We have heard time and time again that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I just want to remind our Prime Minister that while her party received the majority of votes in the 2018 election, they did NOT receive ALL of the votes. Many did not vote for you and many who did are not pleased with your governance.

Any attempt subtle or not so subtle to force all Bajans to sing from the same Government-prepared hymn sheet will be met with the greatest opposition by us the ones who are not so blind to see.