Prime Minister Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell has used Monday’s 16th Emergency Meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government to bring his colleague Heads up to date on Grenada’s current Covid-19 situation, and also endorsed a call for countries to work closer together in managing the pandemic.
Dr Mitchell shared that Grenada is in crisis, given the exponential rate of infections and the number of deaths experienced in recent weeks. He identified a field hospital as one of the pressing needs for the country at the moment, a call which he said was repeatedly referenced during Monday’s dialogue.
The Grenadian leader said, “For many months, we witnessed what was happening in other countries but now the problem has arrived on our doorsteps, and compared to some countries, we are in an even worse position. We are seeing an exponential increase in the rate of infections among the local population and several deaths have occurred. The situation is dire and we need urgent support for our medical professionals. A field hospital is one our critical needs at this point in time. I fear that our system is on the verge of being overrun and we could have a serious problem.”
Grenada currently has 2,063 active cases of Covid-19, with a total of 2,646 cases confirmed since the country recorded its first case last year. The number of Covid-19 deaths which remained constant at one for several months, has ballooned in recent weeks, and now stands at 35.
Dr Mitchell told his Caricom colleagues that both health and security personnel are included in the number of infected persons, putting an additional burden on already stretched resources.
Just as he has been doing at the local level, the Prime Minister has cited a need for greater collaboration at the regional level. He said, “Given the level of vaccine hesitancy across the region, we need to collectively and strategically identify messages that reach our Caribbean nationals. We also need to get stakeholders on board, the religious community, business leaders and trade union representatives – we must engage in discussions and come up with joint positions so that we can speak with one voice on issues such as vaccination.”
With the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for later this month, Dr Mitchell said it should be an opportunity used by Caribbean countries to lobby for help to address the pandemic.
He said, “I think all countries should issue strong statements on the impact of Covid-19, the dire situation that exists in many of our countries and lobby for the support of donor countries. The region requires the support of friendly countries to help us get through this crisis. We applaud all efforts made to date, such as vaccine donations and medical supplies, but our needs are great and we must work collectively to get through this.”
At the end of his intervention at the meeting, the Grenadian Prime Minister commended the current chairman, his colleague, Prime Minister, Honourable Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda for organising the session on such short notice. He also recognised other colleague Heads of Government for making themselves available to participate in the emergency session.
GIS
Black people where art thou, only 35 deaths and these uncle toms leaders be it in Grenada or Jamaica are getting us programmed to live in the matrix. More people die from diseases caused by us eating a western diet or from the gunmen on the rampage in JA or Trini yet our leaders with their slave mentality do nothing. Covid love phat people, high blood pressure, diabetic. If the government care about the people stop importing the rubbish from the US. Stop nayming all that salt, sugar and kenfucky fried chicken and start to eat healthy home grown food and exercise
My comments are for Caregon , apologies Rivers and totally in agreement with you and well said
Yeah I just don’t know why some people remain silent when our true friends lent us a helping hand and then they suddenly jump out of no where and say something stupid. Did the US give us even one mask during covid? None! They should go and check how much China has donated to us, Cuba and Venezuela as well. Here comes the conclusion: You can never wake someone who pretends to be asleep!
The Republic of China is so fantastic and helping lots of poor countries across the world. China supported and provided grenada with torns of ppe, medical equipments and covdid19 test when there wasn’t this crisis. So stop and ask yourself where did they came from previously and currently.
Rivers, you now only realised china could be of use to grenadines? The help from this great country and it’s people will not go unnoticed because of the deadly situation grenada are facing with covdid19.
Stop being so stupid and be more respectful and don’t bite those beautiful hands that are helping grenadines please.
I am sure that China is already putting medical resources, doctors and nurses and field hospitals together to dispatch them to grenada very soon. They can build an hospital in one day.
Your statement implys that China does not support othe countries in desperate need. I know exactly what you are thinking about and why you said that. China want nothing from grenada but to help our island infrastructure, education etc.
I felt that you are begging no we need help. This is not a time for your small mindedness and raisist attitude.
You and your family would benefit from any future support China providing.
People like you make me so sick with your uneducated comments and misinformation.
You need to take a good look around the world and you WILL see that China is the one helping, NOT AMERICA OR THE UK.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP??
I SUGGEST YOU THINK ABOUT VOLUNTEERING YOUR SERVICES OF WHAT EVER KIND. YOU WILL NOT THOUGH, JUST GET THE STUPID CHINESE TO COME AND SAVE YOUR ASS.
GET REAL MAN!!!!
So why did Grenada not have a field hospital set and ready, have had literally 2 years to prepare. The “honest Dr PhD righteous” leader of the people did not think of any of this even as the people were not getting vaccinated. One wonders where all the money must be funneled….
Where is China when you need them?
what’s your problem with China? So where were you when China donated medical supplies to us? I guess you were counting the money your US daddy funneled to you
THINK ABOUT SOME OF WITCH YOU JUST SAID. YOU WANT HELP, IF PEOPLE WILL NOT TAKE THE VACCINE NO ONE CAN HELP US .