Here we are on the verge of ushering in the year of our Lord 2023. However, given all we endured in 2020 and 2021 who could have imagined that we would be at this place where normalcy is welcomed again.
It was this time last year that we heard news of the confirmation of the first Omicron cases on our shores. We had just valiantly fought to keep the Delta strain at bay when Omicron came upon.
But, although 2022 started with the Omicron cloud we soon came to realise that normal was inching back. The country held and conducted a General Election, called before it was constitutionally due.
While the voter turn-out was low, the Election seemed to have signalled the country’s intent to get on with its affairs amidst the rising COVID-19 numbers.
Week after week and month after month restrictions were lifted allowing us to carry on with our lives. Soon the majority of companies, private and public, asked staff to come back out physically placing their work from home policies on the back-burner.
Nevertheless, we are yet to fully determine if this is the best approach or if the blended system may be more productive and effective.
Schools, churches and community groups were now fully opened and in operation.
Only weeks ago, on December 21, Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George made a most important announcement that gave a clear sense of how far we had come. Not only did the mask mandate in place at many places dropped, but effective immediately, the Emergency Management Order and its accompanying directives would come to an end.
The announcement effectively ended ending more than two years of protocols imposed on Barbadians to help control the spread of the virus.
It meant that commuters were now free to go maskless on public transport and schoolchildren no longer had to wear the protective face covering. There is now no legal obligation for special requirements in medical facilities such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and dental offices, and senior citizens’ homes.
The CMO said: “This has been an extremely long journey and after careful consultation with the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), some of our external partners, and with the Senior Minister of Health and Wellness, The Most Honourable Dr Jerome Walcott, the recommendation from the CMO and the recommendation from the EOC is that we no longer require legislation to govern a public health incident. Why is this so? We have learnt tremendously over a two-and-a-half-year period.”
And while the doctor is talking about medical lessons learnt, we the citizens have also learnt invaluable lessons as well.
We look back at the dreadful period in our country when COVID-19 numbers were at their highest. We look back to when our people lived in fear of a virus that had claimed the lives of too many Bajans. We look back to when a cough or sneeze would incur the wrath of those around us.
We look back to when a person was seen maskless they were concerned reckless and loose with life. We look back to when to the stage any size event was not allowed hindering our ability to socialise.
That is why we salute 2022. The year when we, as a country, dared to stand up to the highly-contagious and deadly disease.
The novelty had worn off and our fears were not crippling us like before. The vaccine debate we had allowed to divide us seemed like a distant memory.
We moved from a General Election in January, Agrofest in February to Crop Over in July and August all mass-based and national undertakings.
From August to even tonight, Old Year’s Night, there have been activities every weekend.
So before we say a hasty goodbye to 2022 in order to hurriedly usher in 2023 let us thank 2022 for sheer audacity. Salute 2022 for taking the bold and brave steps needed to get our lives back and claim some level of normalcy. Hats off to 2022 for making all that we endured in 2020 and 2021 worth it. Cheers to 2022 the year where normalcy returned.
As we bid you farewell we do so acknowledging that you played a key role in our post-pandemic journey in Barbados. Thank you, 2022, for all the lessons and experiences
On behalf of our Chairman, Management and Staff at Barbados TODAY we take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous 2023!
