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Vol. 32, Issue 12 BROOKLYN EDITION March 19-25, 2021
ANTIGUA
LONDON
SPAT
New covid strain creates tension
between the two countries
By Bert Wilkinson
As regional governments scramble
for enough vaccine supplies
to inoculate key sections of their
populations, Antigua’s government
has found itself embroiled in
an embarrassing spat with Britain
after authorities there complained
that two nationals had allegedly
brought back a brand new strain
of the deadly Corona virus after
holidaying on the island.
Word of the new strain spread
like wildfire in the United Kingdom
and other European destinations
as Antiguan officials buckled
down to find ways to weather the
storm of hotel cancellations and
the bad press that resulted from
the two tourists allegedly taking
a brand new strain back to England.
Angry at the development,
Prime Minister Gaston Browne
riddled off a letter to counterpart
Boris Johnson, suggesting that
the UK should consider compensating
Antigua for the hotel cancellations
and the economic hurt
that resulted in their letter going
viral in recent days.
Public Health England had last
Thursday complained about the
development saying it had been
brought to England by two nationals
who had spent time in Antigua.
The usually combative Browne
was, however, very adamant that
“no British visitor to Antigua had
contracted Covid-19” in the country.
There is no scientific evidence
to determine where this variant
first emerged,” Browne observed,
noting as well that the flood of
media reports could only serve to
further devastate the island’s lifeline
tourism economy. Browne
also said he “regretted any misunderstanding
that may have arisen
from the matter.”
Like much of the Eastern Caribbean
sub grouping, Antigua
has been able to keep a relatively
decent lid on the spread of the
virus, recording only 992 cases
in a year with 27 deaths and 600
recoveries. This is one reason why
the prime minister is adamant
that the tourists were unlikely to
have contracted the virus while
holidaying on the island.
To make up for the damage,
Browne was quick to demand
compensation or a form of reparations
for the precipitate behavior
of the British by requesting
a donation of 100,000 doses of
Arlene Meertens, Kingsbrook Nursing staff, addresses the rally. Julie Keefe
Dozens rally against impending closure
of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
By Nelson A. King
Dozens of workers at Kingsbrook
Jewish Medical Center
in East Flatbush, along
with community members,
patients, clergy and public
health activists, rallied outside
the medical center on Mar. 11
against what they described as
the impending closure of the
hospital in the epicenter of
the Caribbean community in
Brooklyn.
“Patients spoke about times
that the existence of Kingsbrook
had made the difference
between life and death
for them,” Julie Keefe, a registered
nurse and member of the
organizing group, Kingsbrook
Community Action Committee,
told Caribbean Life in an
exclusive interview on Tuesday.
“The hospital has a long
history and feels like home for
many in the community,” she
added.
Arlene Meertens, Kingsbrook
Patient Care Technician,
said: “My family, my friends,
the community needs a hospital
to go to when they’re ill.
“They need a safety net hospital,
and Kingsbrook is a safe-
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