ABPSA FAILS IN LEGAL CHALLENGE TO MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY

A legal challenge brought against the government’s mandatory vaccination policy failed at the first hurdle on Monday when it was struck out in the High Court.

The case was brought by the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association, ABPSA, but the court ruled the union had no locus in instituting any proceedings against the government regarding this matter.

Lead attorney for the government, senior counsel Anthony Astaphan also told ABS News the High Court Judge also took into account that the certificate of recognition of the ABPSA expired over a year ago and was never renewed.

Senior counsel Astaphan says the legal opinion in the Caribbean and jurisprudence in the United States buttress the constitutionality of vaccine mandates. He says the significant threat from COVID-19 and its variants makes these mandates even more plausible.

Senior counsel Astaphan says he is not aware of any other legal challenge having been filed against the government’s mandatory vaccination policy for the public service. Under the policy, unvaccinated public servants are required to stay home on unpaid leave until they get at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.