On Monday, March 1, 2021, the shipment of 40,000 doses of the “Made in India” Covishield Covishield vaccine from the Government and people of India to the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was received with much fanfare.

At the ceremony to mark the occasion, Dr. Arnold Thomas, Indian Diaspora Council Coordinator for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, “had the honour of representing the Indian Ambassador in Suriname”. Speaking first, Dr. Thomas emphasized the strong relationship between India and SVG and India’s massive response technologically and in treating the whole world as one family.

In attendance was Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who gave a very detailed presentation which focused mainly on two aspects; the Government response nationally and internationally and the very close relationship between the Government and people of SVG and the Government and people of India. He stressed the friendship between himself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the gift of the vaccine as an indication of the close ties. Hon. St. Clair Jimmy Prince, Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, presented an overview of the situation and the response to the pandemic.