Employees of private security companies to get COVID vaccine on Sunday

By Sunday evening, it is anticipated that through this collaboration, some 5,000 employees in the private security sector would have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Ministry of Health, as part of the Government’s ‘Vaccinate to Operate’ drive.

On Sunday, June 27, 2021, soloists from Starlift Steel Orchestra will perform at the Divali Nagar, to support a national initiative of mass vaccination of the security industry.

The pan men will perform uplifting tunes on the stage of the Divali Nagar as a show of support to the 3,000 security officers waiting to be being vaccinated.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh and undertaken by the Security Owners and Managers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SOMATT), and The Association of Security Companies of Trinidad and Tobago (ASCTT).

This mass vaccination drive for security officers—all essential workers—is in collaboration with the T&T Medical Association and its NGO volunteer partner, SEWA.  By Sunday evening, it is anticipated that through this collaboration, some 5,000 employees in the private security sector would have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Ministry of Health, as part of the Government’s ‘Vaccinate to Operate’ drive.

Dante Pantin, a senior player at Starlift Steel Orchestra who coordinated the effort for Starlift Steel, is fully vaccinated and encourages everyone in Pan Trinbago to follow his example.

“This move to support a vaccination drive by pan men who haven’t performed for a long time will be seen as ‘national service’ at a time when so many people have suffered from the effects of both the pandemic and the lockdown. The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we can all perform again,” Dante Pantin said.

Pantin says he hopes the nation will recognise this performance at the Divali Nagar as a symbol of unity and hope.

“The prospect of carnival and all celebrations from all groups is within our reach with each arm that is vaccinated,” he added.

He also expressed the hope that more private companies would emulate this initiative, and call on performers to create an atmosphere of calm and hope in future.