MINISTER of Public Administration Allyson West said on Tuesday that her ministry was drafting a plan to keep running in the event of a furlough of unvaccinated workers, but she meanwhile hoped to encourage more workers to get the vaccine offered as protection against covid19.
Newsday had asked her if the Government has a backup plan to run the Public Service in case the Prime Minister's threat on Saturday to furlough unvaccinated workers creates staff shortages.
West said, "My team at the ministry is currently drafting a plan in terms of what we do to encourage more people to get vaccinated as well as a plan to treat with the potential absence of some members of this organisation. We have had discussions in terms of certain more critical services and how we treat with those and in terms of the general approach to the Pubic Service, we are fine-tuning that before we make it public."
Was she confident public services could still be provided in the event of mass furloughs?
"Well one of the things we're trying to finalise is getting information on the numbers of people who are currently vaccinated versus unvaccinated. We have a mixed position because some of the ministries are fairly well vaccinated and some of them are not. Those that are not, we are trying to put some contingency plans in case the profile doesn't change significantly between now and January 15 (the deadline the PM set for vaccination.)
"We'll also try to put some special vaccination measures in place to treat with those people who are prepared to change their status between now and then."
West said the ministry had a multifaceted approach, including ensuring the public are not deprived of government services.
Newsday asked if the private sector could be utilised for any functions.
"Well we haven't ruled out any possibilities." She recalled the private sector had volunteered and got very involved in the country's vaccination drive.
"To the extent that we need to call in resources from outside of the Public Service we'll certainly consider that.
"So as I said we have a couple of key objectives. One objective is to get people vaccinated as soon as possible to temper the spread of this disease. The second key objective is to ensure people continue to receive the services they require from the Public Service.
"I urge members of the Public Service and the wider public sector and the public at large to please go out and get vaccinated. We have to control the spread of covid. It is getting just exponentially worse. It has been proven that the best way to do that control is by vaccination."
DEYALSINGH, HINDS
WEIGH IN ON ISSUE
Newsday asked Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh of any backup plan in health. He replied, "Each RHA is currently engaged in contingency planning. Also more persons are coming out to be Vaccinated. From yesterday we are back up to over 1,200 first shots per day and many are health care workers."
[caption id="attachment_929773" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh -[/caption]
