BVI News

Premier shirks debate on private sector’s ‘job-for-jab’ mandate

Premier Andrew Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie has insisted that he won’t be drawn into any back-and-forth debates regarding his government’s COVID-19 policy or Labour-related concerns regarding the ‘job-for-jab’ mandate happening in parts of the local private sector.

Concerns continue to be raised about some employers who insist that employees must be vaccinated in order to maintain their jobs, and have terminated those who refuse to take the jab.

But even as Premier Fahie insists that his government will not make vaccination for COVID-19 mandatory, he also declared that it is every employer’s right to determine their own workplace policy and said his government will not intervene in this.

When asked at a recent press conference whether his government’s policy was contradictory in any way, Premier Fahie said: ”I am not going to get in this back-and-forth with this debate. Those who have issues with it, once they report it to Labour [Department] they will be dealt with and we will look at it on a case by case [basis].“

“For me to get involved in that will be going down a road that, right now, with all the issues that we have will not be necessary,” he said.

The Premier said he maintains that the focus should be kept on doing whatever is necessary to ensure that persons give themselves the best chance of staying alive and fighting the COVID-19 virus.

“Andrew Fahie is not the enemy,” the Premier argued, “COVID-19 is, and my answer to that remains the same.”

Meanwhile, Premier Fahie has also insisted that there will be no further lockdowns in the territory, a statement that he has defended as being ‘responsible’.

“We may lockdown certain sections but we’re not going to lockdown an entire country. We may have to make adjustments of course,” he stated.

“There will always be adjustments once COVID-19 is around but we cannot be locking down the country every time cases come, it doesn’t make sense. When we lock it down and we open it, are more people are going to be vaccinated? What are we getting from it?” Fahie questioned.

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7 Comments

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  1. unvaxxed says:

    WE THE UNVAXXED NEED TO VOTE FOR A PARTY WHO WILL REPRESENT AND PROTECT US

    Like 14
    Dislike 26
  2. Guess What? says:

    Can we have a heart-to-heart debate on this Vaccine issue. I do not think there is anyone who will want to vaccinate. By the way, it is rare to find anyone who has never been vaccinated. The Problem is, we demonize anyone who dare to ask questions. Have we addressed the concerns of those who are not vaccinated? No! All the regulatory authorities in charge of the Vaccine are not prepared to answer critical questions. Forget about questions from a common citizen. Thousands of top-notch health professionals have asked poignant questions. All you find is diplomatic answers colored in political correctness. Here are few of the questions I’ve been confronted with: Will the Vaccine prevent covid infection? Is fatality a possibility despite Vaccination? Can I infect others despite the Vaccination? How long will the Vaccine protect me? Why are those countries with the highest vaccination ending up in lockdown? How long am I going to be required to take jabs? every 6 months for life? Why are families of those who die from the Vaccine complications not allowed to sue? Why take jab without knowing the immediate and long-term effects. Why has the vaccine Authorities demonized anything supplements when there are overwhelming anecdotal evidence? Imagine the world without penicillin. Imagine the days of surgery without Novocain. We need vaccine to contain epidemics like this. Just give the people science-based evidence that the Vaccine is safe. I fear that when the storm is over, those sent home by their employers will seek redress at the law courts. I understand, people are already boycotting the some of the businesses.

    Like 8
    Dislike 3
  3. COWARD says:

    The government has a right to protect its citizens from from unfair and unjustnpractices .
    So don’t do like Pilot did and wash your hands . We are seeing through this position like plastic bag . You are afraid to take a stand COWARD

    Like 8
    Dislike 6
  4. SensibleHead says:

    There is a global pandemic with mutations of Covid being discovered every day. As an employee you have a legal responsibility for the health and safety of your employees
    The WHO, CDC and PHE all recommend getting vaccinated as the safest option to protect against serious sickness and death
    So Amy decent employer who wants to protect his or her employees will insist on vaccination and regular testing

    When young our parents have us vaccines to protect us and eventually weaken and in some cases eradicate virus

    My concern is not if employers can or can’t mandate but why grown adults can’t understand the best thing for them for friends and family for BVI and for the world is to get vaccinated

    Stop wasting precious lives and putting our healthcare workers at risk.
    And Premier. Leadership is needed to protect BVI show everyone you are a leader and public ally get your booster.

    Like 3
    Dislike 5

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