Dear Editor,

There is a clear dichotomy in the global response to the acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines between the top capitalist states of America, Britain, Canada, Europe (ABCEU) and the socialist countries of China, Russia, India and Cuba (CRIC). On one hand you have the ABCEU countries exhibiting the essence of individualism that characterises capitalism in their “me first” approach to acquiring vaccines. They have used their wealth and influence to order and over order vaccines from the suppliers and in the process have regulated less developed countries to a very low position down the supply chain.
They are even competing against each other for the vaccine where recently the pharmaceutical firms in Europe told Britain that they can get their supplies only after they have filled the orders of their European nations. If we are to go by current orders placed with manufacturers in America and Europe, the orders of less developed nations will probably be ready by 2022.

The ABCEU has hogged all the potential vaccines for the rest of the year with no intent of sharing any internationally. This reflects the ideological sterility and selfish values of capitalism. Now take the socialist or former socialist countries. India is in the forefront of donating free vaccines to less developed nations around the world. In the CARICOM Region, India has donated over 500,000 vaccines of which we have just received 80,000.
India has so far provided 36.37 million vaccine doses to 35 countries and to UN health workers and peacekeepers. China and Russia is also doing the same. Cuba is in the forefront and the only country to date that has been sending out medical brigades to assist fraternal nations in fighting the COVID-19 virus. This is what international solidarity and fraternal relationships are all about. It is a principle that is integral to social democracy, especially in facing a global pandemic where no one is safe until all is safe.

One thing you can say about socialism is that they ran bad economies but great medical systems. This is now bearing fruit with all the CRIC nations manufacturing their own vaccines and selflessly sharing with grateful nations. This pandemic is also making us as a nation aware as to who are our real versus convenient friends which is something to always be cognisant off when engaging in bilateral discussions.
A special thank you to India, China and Prime Minister Hon. Mia Motley for their spirit of international solidarity and fraternity.

Yours sincerely,

Reggie Bhagwandin