BY ALEX DADAMU
The policy of the government to vaccinate all its employees and employees of its state-owned enterprises remains in force.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address on Tuesday this week thank public servants and employees of Provincial Governments, State-Owned Enterprises and frontline workers of private entities that have heeded the call by the Government to vaccinate by 31st of August 2021.
The Prime Minister said he aware that several public servants are yet to take their vaccinations by the due date on 31st August 2021.
“I have asked the Oversight Committee and the Ministry of Public Service to conduct an assessment on the vaccination coverage for the public service and state-owned enterprises in areas where vaccination has been already rolled out including in Honiara, Guadalcanal province, Choiseul province, Western province, and Malaita Outer Islands, up to 31st of August 2021 and advice Cabinet by 16th September 2021 on these results,” He said.
Prime Minister Sogavare revealed that the Cabinet will deliberate on this report and its recommendations at its meeting on 16th September 2021.
“Cabinet will then decide on the best way forward to ensure we still achieve maximum vaccination for employees of the Central and Provincial Governments, State-Owned Enterprises, and Frontline Agencies.
“So, until the Cabinet has this detailed information and decides on the best way forward, the Government will allow, on an exceptional basis, those public servants that had not yet been vaccinated to continue to go to work,” Sogavare said.
He added that by taking this decision, the Government is not going back on its word. Rather it is taking time to conduct a detailed analysis of the situation, to make an informed decision on the best way forward that will ensure it will still achieve maximum immunisation not only for employees of the Central and Provincial Governments, State-Owned Enterprises, and Frontline Agencies but for all eligible citizens in the country.
“I will advise you all on the next steps as soon as the Oversight Committee provides its report and recommendation to Cabinet and the Cabinet has deliberated on it,” Prime Minister Sogavare reassured.