“Men lie, women lie, numbers do not lie”— Jay Z

Condolences to all we have lost over the past few weeks and months. Unfortunately, Bermuda is not alone in the present health crisis.

So much trouble

Around the region, there are multiple countries that are now experiencing extreme Covid crisis:

• Antigua

• Bahamas

• Belize

• Bermuda

• Cuba

• Dominica

• Grenada

• Guyana

• Guadeloupe

• Jamaica

• Martinique

• St Lucia

• St Vincent

A common trend is that businesses are shut, schools are closed, hospitals full and, unfortunately, there are high death rates.

Another common trend is that in each of these countries there have been organised protests against government Covid measures.

In St Vincent & the Grenadines, an anti-Covid protest against the Government turned violent.

One of the protesters took it upon themselves to throw a brick, which hit the Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, in the head.

During the same week, there were similar anti-vaccination protests in Antigua & Barbados.

Guiltiness

Somewhere along the line, we have to acknowledge that those that have waged a war against vaccination, and other mitigation measures over the past year, are partially responsible for the dire crisis our islands now face.

We know who they are.

The ones creating and sending around conspiracy theories via WhatsApp voice notes and the like.

The same ones who constantly forward items with non-scientific evidence to everyone that they know.

More directly, the ones who have weaponised people's hesitancy in order to attempt to damage or destroy the relationship between elected officials and the populace.

Let's be clear: there is a direct correlation between protests against Covid protocols, low vaccination rates and subsequent high infection rates.

After all, one of the goals of the misinformation and protests is to make people distrust the health officials and stop them from getting immunised.

Unfortunately, for many persons, they have bought into the propaganda.

It is one thing not to like a particular party or sitting government. That is par for the course. However, it is a whole different ball game when you gamble people's livelihoods, and lives as political warfare.

The net result is the unfortunate and unnecessary deaths of our loved ones.

Ask yourselves this: is their hatred of a government or particular leadership really worth anyone’s lives?

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com