The protest fever over concerns about mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 has spread to Antigua and Barbuda.
Citizens heeded the call from a group called Freedom Fighters for Antigua and Barbuda, to protest about several issues including no to jab IDs, mandatory jabs, state of emergency, curfew and masks.
A group converged earlier this afternoon on Market street chanting “No vaccine” and “No vaccine for the children.”
One female protester said their freedom should not be taken away from them as well as expressed concern about children being vaccinated from the age of 12.
There are reports that teargas was used to disperse the crowd. In some videos both protesters and police officers can be seen coughing from the gas.
It is the third time that residents have gathered to picket since the government announced its policy which states that public sector workers must either be vaccinated or take a covid-19 test every fortnight.
The picketers’ request to march today was denied this week by the Commissioner of Police, however in a letter the group who goes by the name “Freedom Fighters for Antigua & Barbuda” said the Commissioner’s late response to their request made it all but impossible to peruse the appeal process since the March was scheduled for August 8.
They also claimed that no police permission is needed to gather.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, 38,605 people have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine of which 31, 298 have received their second dose.
Just a few days ago the country of St. Vincent & the Grenadines had a similar unrest as residents took to the street to protest the Government’s decision to amend the Public Health Act which will allow for mandatory vaccines for certain workers.
The protest soon turned violent as Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves was injured as he exited his vehicle and attempted to enter Parliament.
The Prime Minister was struck with a rock. Based on reports, the woman responsible for the attack was apprehended and subsequently denied station bail on Friday evening
Annamay Lewis is expected to appear in the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday to answer the charge of wounding.