No matter what decisions the Prime Minister makes, he cannot please the needs, nor wishes, of every single Jamaican. In fact, there are many people who go as far as interpreting the Covid 19 guidelines and policies, which are given at the numerous Press Conferences and printed in the many Jamaica Gazettes available online, to suit their own narratives.

Take a step back for a moment. Think about why exactly you may be unhappy with the policies and actions of the Most Honourable Andrew Holness and his team. Jot these down on a piece of paper. Next, read through this list and consider how you would do things differently, then write your suggestions down. Now read said suggestions and weigh them against those of the Prime Minister and his Government. Whose are more beneficial to the majority of the three million people living in Jamaica?

I’ll come back to this at the end, but first let’s reflect on the past year.

On March 10, 2020, Jamaica confirmed its first positive case of Covid 19. Two days later, a second case was confirmed and the Prime Minister ordered for the immediate closure of all schools in Jamaica. Friday, March 13, the lives of our children changed forever, as they sat at home waiting to hear what was going to happen with their education. The entire Grade 6 cohort in this country was one week away from PEP Performance Task Tests and six weeks away from Curriculum Based Tests, and students in Forms 5 and 6 were equally uncertain about what would happen to them regarding their exit examinations (CSEC & CAPE).

Students in Jamaica have been in distance learning for a year, with the exception of the privileged few who were given several weeks, or months, of face to face school before being sent home again. The problem with distance learning is most kids are being left behind and this comes with serious consequences, according to parental anecdotes. Moreover, studies conducted through Unicef back up this proclamation. We do need our children to be in the classroom, but with Jamaica’s current Covid positivity rate running between 25% and 40%, depending on the day, is it wise to send our kids out and throw more risk at the impending dire situation? While studies indicate that children are not getting so sick, they can spread the virus to those who might be more vulnerable.

So, where are we now with regards to policies? Up to and including March 22, 2021, these are the guidelines:

Funerals and burials are banned, but regular church services may take place online, with only 10 clergy/officiants/camera crew allowed to be together in person while filming the online service. No more than 25 people in total are allowed to attend a wedding, including the bride, groom, officiants and any staff. No more than 10 people are allowed to gather socially or in public, so NO parties! A specific list of beaches and rivers stay closed and curfew remains from 8:00pm until 5:00pm. There is a work-from-home order for the public sector and the private sector is urged to accommodate this as far as possible. No public sector gatherings/ceremonies are allowed, unless online. Attractions, gyms, parks and zoos must be closed by 6pm everyday. Everyone, including Jamaicans and business travellers, traveling to Jamaica, must have a negative Covid 19 test, which has been done within 72 hours of their travel date. All students are to engage in distance learning, but students in Grade 6, Form 5 and Form 6, from the schools that have been pre-approved, may have face to face learning.

With all that said, guidelines that have been in place for the last year, such as wearing masks in public, sanitising regularly and staying at least 6 feet away from other people, are still in effect. Jamaicans and residents returning home must still quarantine for 14 days. This order is in the Jamaica Gazette published online by the Ministry of Health & Wellness. Using the excuse, “No one at the airport told me to quarantine.”, is unacceptable. No one at the airport tells you not to steal, not to break a traffic light and not to lick someone’s face! Yet, you just know that you aren’t supposed to do those things. Again, Covid guidelines are in the Jamaica Gazette and we have repeatedly been told by the Prime Minister that all Jamaicans and residents returning to Jamaica must quarantine for 14 days. There are also strict instructions pertaining to tourists within the Jamaica Gazette and in Jamaican travel advisory documents, which can be found online. Once again, “No one at the airport told me to quarantine or what to do.”, is NOT a valid excuse. Nope. Not sorry. Not even a little bit sorry. Do not bend the rules to suit your needs. As for those who do not understand that if you test positive for Covid 19, you must stay home and isolate yourself for at least 14 days. All those living in your home must also quarantine at home for 14 days. You should alert anyone with whom you have been in close contact within the last 14 days. These people should also stay at home for 14 days. If in doubt or if anyone has symptoms, call the JamCovid hotline, explain the situation and ask them what you should do. Lives are at stake and, for that matter, so are livelihoods.

Speaking of livelihoods…I have to assume that we all wish for everyone’s livelihoods to be intact or improve. Correct? The dilemma lies in choosing between livelihoods and lives. The reality is this: as Covid 19 cases increase, hospitals become inundated with people. Moderately or critically ill patients, who could otherwise be saved by medical staff, could now suffer the worst outcome imaginable and the death rate would then be at risk of rising exponentially. The thing is, if lives are lost, so are livelihoods, and if livelihoods are lost, potentially some lives could be lost as well.

What is the solution? Please go back to your list of suggestions to improve on what the Government is doing. Do you have better solutions than what the Prime Minister of Jamaica and his team have arduously been working on for the past year? What else would you do to get the residents of Jamaica to comply with the rules? While you are mulling over this, please take into consideration the Bills that need to be debated among the Governing Politicians and those from the Opposition, and passed by way of votes, before they can be put into law and before the appropriate penalties can be given to those who choose to ignore guidelines, which have been originally recommended by the World Health Organisation. If every single person living in this country was to abide by the Covid regulations set out by our Prime Minister, wouldn’t we be in a position to save both livelihoods and lives?