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https://globalvoices.org/2021/09/02...igures-arrested-in-st-vincent-the-grenadines/
A month after vaccine mandate protests, opposition figures arrested in St Vincent & the Grenadines
The country's constitution protects 'freedom of expressions, assembly and association'
Written byFlora Thomas
Posted 2 September 2021 20:01 GMT
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The protest action, which was reportedly organised by the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and the country's public service and teachers’ unions, was prompted by the government's proposal to remove word “voluntary” before “immunisation” in the Public Health Act, as well as by concerns about the exemption process regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The rate of fully vaccinated people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently estimated to be at just over 12 per cent of the population. As at September 1, the country's health ministry reported 38 active cases of COVID-19, with 12 deaths in total.
On August 6, the day after Prime Minister Gonsalves was injured, the government pushed the public health amendments through parliament, making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for certain categories of frontline workers. The parameters of the new arrangements are still to be laid out by the Cabinet.
The August 13 arrests, however, of opposition activists Adriana King and Kenson King, have fanned the flame of discussion over whether or not Vincentians’ constitutional right to protest is being targeted by the authorities. The Kings were each charged with four counts of breaching the public order linked to their alleged roles in organising and participating in the public demonstration on August 5.
The country's constitution states that “every person in Saint Vincent is entitled to […] fundamental rights and freedoms” that include “freedom of conscience, of expressions and of assembly and association.”
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The anonymous source, however, in a telephone interview, told Global Voices:
See also: Guns being confiscated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines & Trindad after protests against mandatory vaccinations
A month after vaccine mandate protests, opposition figures arrested in St Vincent & the Grenadines
The country's constitution protects 'freedom of expressions, assembly and association'
Written byFlora Thomas
Posted 2 September 2021 20:01 GMT
...
The protest action, which was reportedly organised by the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and the country's public service and teachers’ unions, was prompted by the government's proposal to remove word “voluntary” before “immunisation” in the Public Health Act, as well as by concerns about the exemption process regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The rate of fully vaccinated people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently estimated to be at just over 12 per cent of the population. As at September 1, the country's health ministry reported 38 active cases of COVID-19, with 12 deaths in total.
On August 6, the day after Prime Minister Gonsalves was injured, the government pushed the public health amendments through parliament, making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for certain categories of frontline workers. The parameters of the new arrangements are still to be laid out by the Cabinet.
The August 13 arrests, however, of opposition activists Adriana King and Kenson King, have fanned the flame of discussion over whether or not Vincentians’ constitutional right to protest is being targeted by the authorities. The Kings were each charged with four counts of breaching the public order linked to their alleged roles in organising and participating in the public demonstration on August 5.
The country's constitution states that “every person in Saint Vincent is entitled to […] fundamental rights and freedoms” that include “freedom of conscience, of expressions and of assembly and association.”
....
The anonymous source, however, in a telephone interview, told Global Voices:
I am fully vaxxed, and the same way I have a right to want to be vaccinated is the same way that others have the right to choose not to be—but to have your rights trampled on for publicly expressing that opinion? That's something else entirely.
______________________________________________________________________________________See also: Guns being confiscated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines & Trindad after protests against mandatory vaccinations