#BTSpeakingOut – A nation of sheep

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

by Patrick Gittens

In 2017, labour, Opposition forces and private sector marched hand-in-hand against the Government of the day.

Today, as the private sector seeks to force employees to take the vaccine or accept constructive dismissal, I wait to see if labour will take to the streets again to march. But I doubt it because everybody loves Mia . . . or fears Mia and she will not march with them this time.

A politician said in 2017 that lions and lamb don’t sleep together and shouldn’t march together.

There are quite a few sheep now complaining about the same lions. Barbadians have become so sheepish that politicians are treating them with disdain and they accept it like mice listening to a pied piper. Even in the situation with unvaccinated and vaccinated citizens, we are snoring.

One minute a politician says that there are no vaccinated persons with COVID at Harrison Point.

The next minute a health official says there about 10 or so and before that number resonates, another official says there are 26. And therein lies the confusion and mistrust.

The authorities are so hell bent on controlling the narrative that they are tripping over each other with facts and fake news. Here is what our leaders should be answering. How many MPs have been fully vaccinated? How many doctors and nurses have not been vaccinated?

Why are waves of hotels and restaurant workers being forced to vaccinate but guests and patrons are allowed on premises with owners and staff having no knowledge of their vaccinated status?

And if one wanted proof of just how our leaders respect us, only this week the PM had the audacity to ask Bajan employees not to pursue court action on this question of forced vaccination before Government had the opportunity to meet with the private sector and the unions. Can you believe that?

The fastest thing that some of these politicians can do is threaten citizens or businesses with court action, and here it is people are being told not to go to court. All that is left for some of us to do is go on a pasture, eat grass and bleat.

We have become a nation of sheep.