BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Being a homosexual can result in rejection by family, being ostracized by the community, fear of getting tested for HIV/AIDS, and even serving jail time. Against this backdrop, St. Kitts and Nevis health officials say that decriminalizing homosexuality is critical to combatting HIV/AIDS.

“If you criminalize that situation, that process [homosexuality], it stops the people from coming out and being able to do the test,” said Dr. Mathias Ofre, National HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator. “If I am coming out to do the test as a homosexual individual, you will jail me for that… so I will not want to come. It will not mitigate the transmission, but instead, fuel it, agitate for more transmission of the virus.”

Dr. Ofre noted that where the decriminalization process is concerned, it is important for the relevant bodies to peruse the systems and find a suitable way to approach the issue “in a way that will prevent stigmatism and allow people to come out.

“How can we properly diagnose these people if they are not coming out to do the test,” he asked. “If they are open enough, I accept you for who you are, and that gives me an opportunity to reach you, educate you, and also help you by providing proper treatment that would mitigate the transmission.”

Dr. Ofre debunked the rumours of HIV/AIDS being a homosexual disease.

“There are people who are bisexual so that could also transmit from both the male partners to the female partners and that is how it spreads,” explained Dr. Ofre. “We have to apply wisdom on how we handle situations. Straight individuals can get infected. That is why we said having unprotected sex could predispose an individual to be infected.”

“Stigmatizing and discriminating against a person’s sexual orientation does not help,” said Mrs. Lucine Pemberton-Vaughn, Health Educator/Counsellor. “It is time for people to move away from such behaviour.

“People seem to think that if you are more accepting you are condoning what they do,” said Mrs. Pemberton-Vaughn. “We have to understand that just as how you have to answer to God for your lying, stealing, and forgiveness, homosexuals also have to answer to God. We are not condoning, we are saying that we should let people be who they want to be, realizing that God will judge each of us.”

Mrs. Pemberton-Vaughn implored everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation to be responsible in their sexual practices, to use protection, and to get tested.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — With the emergence of new variants of the Coronavirus and the possibility of them reaching the Federation, it is necessary for people to continue adhering to the prevention and control measures, according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws.

Dr. Laws told everyone at the National Emergency Operations Centre Press Briefing that wearing face masks is very important at this time.

“As a matter of fact, the latest information says that wearing two masks will provide you that additional protection against the new variants,” said Dr. Laws. “Prior to this we advocated one mask, but the science and the latest information suggest that with the emergence of these new variants you may have to wear two masks because these new variants are associated with increased transmissibility.

“There is a risk of spreading this virus to many other people,” she said. “These risks are associated with reinfection and the variant first identified in the United Kingdom is associated with an increased risk of death. Those who are living in the countries where these variants were first identified wear double masks. They wear a surgical mask as the first layer and put on a cloth mask over the surgical mask.

“Maintaining proper hand hygiene and sanitizing high touch areas are essential,” said Dr. Laws. “Maintaining a physical distance of 3- to 6-feet between individuals and avoiding crowds are significant.

“These are the measures along with the vaccine, that are going to help us to get through this pandemic and help us get through 2021,” she said.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — Repairs on the Fisheries Complex in Charlestown, to improve safety at that facility are being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) in the Nevis Island Administration. The project began on February 1 and is expected to be completed after five weeks.

Jevon Williams, PWD Director said that the area under repair became a safety hazard for people using the facility and had to be repaired.

“The works down there is ongoing,” said Williams. “The repair is on the concrete roof overhang, which has been deteriorating for quite some time. The steel has been exposed to constant sea blast. As a result there has been corrosion and the concrete has been cracking. It has been causing a hazard, with the possibility of the concrete chipping off and dropping.

“The work there is to update and repair the concrete overhang,” he said. “We are knocking off the old deteriorating concrete and replacing it with new concrete with new steel. This will improve patrons and workers safety that frequent the fisheries facility, especially the fisheries facility at the back.”

Williams said repair work is also being done on the facility’s generator room.

“The roof had deteriorated very badly, and the concrete roof has been completely removed and will be replaced as part of this project,” he said.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — Members of the public who are hosting funeral and wedding ceremonies are reminded to observe the COVID-19 protocols put in place for funerals and weddings for their safety.

The call came from Superintendent Cromwell Henry, Divisional Commander for District ‘A’ in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, while delivering his presentation at the weekly National Emergency Operation Centre COVID-19 briefing on February 10, 2021, at the National Emergency Management Agency’s conference room in St. Kitts.

Supt. Henry addressed the matter following concerns by Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy, due to the non-compliance of the COVID-19 protocols at these gatherings, particularly funerals.

“We understand that funerals are a time for mourning the loss of a loved one, and they are necessary, said Supt. Henry. “However, the virus does not respect the occasion, and persons not taking precaution are at risk even at a funeral.

“The COVID-19 Act sets out the protocols to be followed at funerals and weddings,” he said. “Section 11 states: A person may attend a funeral except that the funeral shall have a maximum duration not exceeding one hour.

“The seating arrangements shall allow for a minimum of six feet between persons, and distance markers must indicate where each person must sit,” said Supt. Henry. “The total number of persons that may be permitted to attend inside of the building is one person for every 30 square feet. That is 6-feet x 5-feet. Similar protocols apply for weddings.”

“In addition to the physical distancing protocol, sanitizing must be carried out,” said Supt. Henry. “The venue must be sanitized prior to the service and persons entering or attending must have their hands sanitized, and every person must wear a face mask for the duration of the event.

“Remember, the same protocols apply for weddings,” he said. “People attending weddings must wear face masks, must have sanitization before and during the ceremony, and if you are having a reception after the wedding that must seek permission from the Commissioner of Police.

“We therefore recommend that persons go to our website: www.police.kn and apply to host your wedding ceremony and reception.”

Supt. Henry urged funeral undertakers, wedding planners, pastors and other church leaders to pay particular attention to these protocols that are stipulated by law, and to ensure that these services are compliant with the laws, as they are intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Remember protocols apply for these events notwithstanding that you may consider them religious events,” concluded Supt. Henry. “The virus does not discriminate and you are at the same risk if you do not follow the protocols. So follow good hand hygiene sanitization practices, wear your face mask and maintain your social distancing at all times.”

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has stated that the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine can be used by all adults, even the elderly, worldwide, according to the Financial Times.

“The vaccine can be used by all people over the age of 18 years in all countries,” said Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws. “The WHO recommends an interval of about eight to 12 weeks between the doses. It has been shown that the two-dose efficacy and immunogenicity increase with a longer inter-dose interval.”
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