by Linda Straker
- Grenada first declared a 21-day State of Emergency in March
- On 17 April, Parliament approved to extend it for 6 months
- Current regulation scheduled to expire at 11:59 pm on 5 August
Grenadians will be living on a long term state of emergency as part of government’s measures aimed at controlling and containing the spread of Covid-19, the novel coronavirus identified in December 2019 and which has infected millions around the world and caused the death of thousands.
In mid-March 2020, Grenada’s laboratory-confirmed first case was an imported case from the United Kingdom and within days, a State of Emergency was declared with 24-hour curfew. As of mid-July, Grenada tested more than 3,000 persons for the virus. There have been 23 confirmed cases which has been declared medically recovered and there were no deaths. The island currently has no active case.
“We will be going to parliament with a permanent State of Emergency, a law that guides us for a period of time. I honestly believe that we should have that process in place until you have a vaccine that protects the people from being infected,” Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, said on Wednesday.
“Until a vaccine is found I don’t think we should lift the emergency situation completely. The protocols are still in place and therefore you have to have a legal status for any such law that is implemented.” Mitchell who also holds the ministerial portfolio of National Security, said, “The present situation is we need it until a vaccine is found. I don’t see us removing it.”
Section 3 of the Emergency Powers legislation states that a declaration that a state of emergency exists can occur:
- If at any time it appears to the Governor-General that action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person or body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the maintenance of public order or the defence of Grenada or the maintenance of public safety or the defence of the community or any substantial portion of the community or any supplies or services essential to the life of the community, the Governor-General may, by Proclamation which shall be published in the Gazette, declare that a state of emergency exists in Grenada or any part thereof, whereupon the provisions contained elsewhere in this Act shall immediately have application.
- A declaration of emergency may at any time be revoked by the Governor-General by Proclamation which shall be published in the Gazette.
- The Governor-General shall exercise the powers conferred on him or her by this section in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet.
Grenada first declared a 21-day State of Emergency in March, and on 17 April 2020, members of both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament approved to extend it for 6 months. Since then there is continuous weekly or fortnightly renewal of the emergency regulations. The current regulation is scheduled to expire at 11:59 pm on 5 August 2020.
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GRENADA GOVERNMENT AT RISK OF MASS LITIGATION
Grenada Covid 19 deaths = 0
Grenada pneumonia & influenza annual deaths = 60.
Worldwide Covid 19 deaths = 650,000
Worldwide pneumonia & influenza deaths = approximately 2,000,000
Covid 19 in Grenada is therefore not a bigger threat to life than pneumonia & flu here. This government’s response to Covid 19 could be seen as grossly excessive in comparison to threats from other diseases, crime, & social issues. Consequently, this Government is at risk of class action litigation if it persists with this plan to unnecessarily extend the State of Emergency.
We are grateful to God, the people, & the government of Grenada for the zero death rate from Covid 19 here. Yet, for the 60 people who die from pneumonia & flu here every year, & we do not shut down the nation, destroy small businesses, & confine children to vulnerable home environments in order to reduce the far larger impact of these more familiar diseases. Corona Virus is relatively new (first identified 17 years ago) & therefore a significant concern, but if the excessive misdirected measures persist through an extended State of Emergency, a much bigger threat to Grenada’s security will emerge.
The legislation states that a State of Emergency may be required when we are “threatened by any person or body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the maintenance of public order or the defence of Grenada”. Because Covid 19 is not a bigger threat to life than pneumonia & flu, this State of Emergency is clearly unnecessary. This Government is therefore at risk of damaging the nation by not stimulating on our economic recovery. To focus on further restrictions, executive powers, & punitive legislation is a mistake. Significant losses, business closures, and commercial damage has been caused already during this period of lockdown. Any further losses could be seen as a deliberate act of negligence against persons, group, or institutions, thus making the Grenada Government vulnerable to litigation, & class action law suites in particular.
What a ridiculous move tiward totatalitarianism! So much for visiting Grenada and goodbye to your economy!
I agree with you that the PM may have gotten it wrong but then so have many other world leaders. I assume that you are from somewhere like Taiwan or one of those few countries that got it right because you do so easily condemn Grenada and it’s people and seem so spiteful. Covid sure does expose the worst in some people
We will be going to parliament with a permanent State of Emergency, a law that guides us for a period of time.
Can this be for real, people wakeup.
This seems like an unspoken admission that the vaccine is to be mandatory. The vaccines under development are a new and experimental type which alters the DNA of the recipient, and this is being rushed without the usual required 4 years of clinical trials. What could possibly go wrong? Those who do not wish to poison their body will have to be fined or deprived of their God given rights to travel freely, and conduct business and commerce. If that is to be the case, I think the PM and Grenada’s government might as well declare a PERMANENT state of emergency because Grenada will never again have peace and prosperity.
A. The vaccine will almost certainly lead to thousands of chronically ill people as well as possible deaths. Grenada’s medical system will be overwhelmed.
B. God’s blessing will be withdrawn from this island for the abuse of His children. Natural and man made disasters will be at a scale we have never yet imagined.
Unfortunately, Grenada is heavily dependent on the outside world for resources. I don’t envy the position our PM and government ministers are in. They are being forced into a corner to comply with a long planned medical/ pharmaceutical tyranny. The only solution is for Grenadians to seek God in repentance and keep all of His Commandments (not just the convenient ones).
“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26
Yes Steve I understand what you’re saying,and from my understanding of the bible Jehovah God has his time when he will take care of this world entire situation.as it’s spoken of in Revelations that we are living in critical times hard to deal with.No MAN will ever be able to solve these conditions.as back in Noah’s day and Sodom and Gomorrah Jehovah had to step in and he will step in at his appointed time.
What about us who do not want to be vaccinated and are you aware that the vaccine will not be forever you are truly out of touch with whats going on in the world pm
This is a novel virus. The god fearers who depend on something out there for a cure or end to this crisis are living in limbo
Firstly I’m proud of how Grenada has handled the situation so far to get us where we are now. However I’m somewhat disturbed by our PM mentioning the very words “… until a vaccine is found.” Please PM, stand up and represent your morals and don’t follow the ridiculous assumptions from the WHO that a man made vaccine is the answer to this man made virus. Take off your Dr’s hat and put on your ‘logic’ hat, the hat of sensible thinking and try not to jeopardise the Grenadian people’s health with this potent poison for monetary gain.
Grenada! put your faith in God not in a vaccine. Do not lean on the arms of flesh hoping that there will be a vaccine. In the absence of faith, fear abounds. You are a tiny Island, if the gets out of hand there, there would be no human lives left. Only God can turn this around and you the people of Grenada MUST turn to the one who can save you…prayers and songs of worship to the Lord Almighty.
I believe we on top of the food chain now that’s reasonable to me
The Vaccine for a virus that does not exist. Global Deep State takeover. The Almighty is watching