Dear Editor,
Being “captured” in a mandatory quarantine period for the last 12 days on Statia, I was relieved by my negative PCR swab-test.
As socialite, this whole time of forced isolation was challenging but also an unexpected opportunity for reflection.
I have to admit that being in COVID-riddled Holland was no fun at all especially if you frequently sip a coffee or have a bite outdoors on one of my numerous bicycle trips through autumn leaves landscapes. Every eatery or food joint was closed, except for some lousy lukewarm coffee outside in the wind and rain. Not funny, chilled to the bones.
This all could not be in more contrast with the sustained “zero” COVID status here on warm Statia. Being a health care professional myself I have – over time – watched the progress in implementation of truly effective COVID containment measurements by all professionals involved.
Maintaining a COVID-free Island is the biggest gift Government officials, doctors, nurses, lab-technicians, administrators, drivers and watchful guards can give to their community. While providing near-normal living conditions, they make life safer for all of us. After all, non-COVID societies are NOT the norm these days. Their work is precious and at the end priceless.
But to reach this high level of COVID containment, BES [the BES Islands Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius – Ed.] may not forget the abundant hands-on and ongoing support from Holland. However, in contrast to the financial gesture The Hague Government made to her Holland front line COVID prevention professionals, that same financial appreciation is not granted to her BES counterparts. One of the arguments heard to support this position was: there is hardly any COVID on the BES Islands. Would it not be wise to overcome this erroneous mindset by weighing in the fact that BES professionals – despite limited resources – are able to keep their islands virtually COVID-free whilst a raging COVID epidemic in their hemisphere.
One more issue is worth mentioning. The root-cause of the recent 4-6 false positive PCR-tests on Statia has to be understood and dealt with 100 per cent . Not for blaming purposes but to secure flawless testing operations. When a positive COVID case pops-up, the shiver of fear is hurting our vulnerable fellow Statians too much. I am confident that this process will be addressed effectively and prevent procedural mistakes. (Statistically seen, a 4-false-positive batch is not a one-time failure but almost surely a systemic failure.)
So, Statia COVID professionals, thank you all for your fine work.
Dr. Cornelis Bouwman
St. Eustatius
