#BTEditorial – Regaining lost credibility is difficult

The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the word ‘credibility’ as the quality of being trusted and believed in. At the same time, some of the  antonyms it provides for credibility are unreliable, untrustworthy.

When our authorities began their public messaging on COVID-19, it was a rocky start. The then COVID-19 Czar and sociologist Dr Richard Carter found himself facing some resistance from those who found him a man demanding too much discipline of them.

We were expected to stay home, wear a mask, stay six feet apart, stop the weekend and weekday socialising, drinking and partying. Dr Carter often reminded us that those who were hard-ears were likely to feel the sting of COVID-19, either personally or within their households.

His approach was seen by some as too tough, that he reminded us too much of our indiscipline. The COVID czar later returned to his substantive position at the British High Commission, where he likely faced less public ridicule and more restful nights.

On his departure, Government established the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit headed by Mr Ronald Chapman. An agreeable character is Mr. Chapman. He is softer in his temperament, though firm in his positions and dictates.

In an interview with this newspaper last April, Mr Chapman made it clear he was no “Mr. Killjoy” or “mini-COVID Czar”.

During the period of significant restrictions in the movement of citizens and residents, the COVID Unit boss and his officers hauled young and old, men and women, before the law courts for breaches of the COVID-19 regulations.

Some of the breaches included failure to hand sanitise, social distance, mask-wearing in public, and operating non-essential businesses during periods of Government-imposed restrictions. To be caught on the streets after curfew time, could lead to big trouble and front-page coverage for the wrong reasons.

Mr Chapman and his team were doing their jobs as they tried to restrict the spread of the COVID-19.

“There is nothing that I would like more than to go by my local watering hole with some friends, and have a cold beverage,” Mr Chapman admitted.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been rough for everyone. I don’t think there is anyone in Barbados who wants to see the back of COVID-19 more than people who work in the COVID-19 fight every day. We also would just like things to go back to the way they were.”

Nearly a year after that interview COVID-19 infections are rampant, even though the current Omicron variant is not resulting in as many hospitalisations or deaths as earlier versions of the disease.

However, the illness is still causing havoc in many ways.  As of February 1, there were 10, 543 people infected with COVID-19 and were at home in isolation, while some 171 were receiving medical care in state facilities. On Wednesday another 681 people tested positive for the disease and the third wave takes hold in what is widespread community infection.

The entertainment community, religious groups and sporting clubs have been complaining about the heavy restrictions placed on their activities. However, they are hopping mad, and for good reason, at what they regard as double standards when they witness the widespread protocol breaches that occurred at the just concluded T-20 cricket series at Kensington Oval between England and the West Indies.

Admittedly, it appeared to be mostly British fans disregarding the rules for which some Barbadians were heavily fined, and others incarcerated at our prison in St Philip.

We, therefore, cannot fault those who have lashed out at what they see as hypocrisy on the part of the authorities in how the cricket scenario was addressed or not addressed, and how other groups have been treated.

The radio silence from the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit and the hollow response of the Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George during a recent press conference at which he thanked the media for bringing the protocol breaches to his attention and he would look into it, are telling.

What all this suggests is that our health authorities are dealing with a credibility issue at this stage. How are people to take them seriously now?

How is the COVID-Monitoring Unit expected to have a believable message on following the health protocols?

It is true that two years into the pandemic, it is now a matter of personal responsibility. However, we still have a public health emergency on our hands and over 45 per cent of the total population is still unvaccinated.

At this stage Government will have little choice but to fully reopen the economy, despite the current COVID infections because they have created the mixed message and confusion in the minds of the public about what is really our current stand regarding COVID protocols.