Jamaica and India Exploring Arrangements to Provide Covid-19 Vaccines Locally

New Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Rungsung Masakui, says his country is exploring arrangements with Jamaica to provide vaccines to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“With the COVID situation now, vaccines are on the card. We are the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world. Our capacity is huge; it is 300 million per month. So we can think of collaborating in this area by sharing our products or by sharing our experiences,” he tells JIS News.

He says that the manufacturing costs for vaccines in India are cheaper than in other countries.

“This is because of the capacity that we have. We have economies of scale because of our population,” he points out.

India was among countries cited by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in a statement in Parliament on January 12, that the Government will enter into bilateral discussions with, to ascertain their level of support and the best arrangements for acquisition and distribution of safe vaccines to the population.

This is in addition to arrangements under the COVAX facility.

The Indian High Commissioner says there are also opportunities for the countries to collaborate in information and communications technology (ICT), noting India’s rapid growth in this sector.

He says that an action plan for engagement in this area has been submitted to the Jamaican Government.

“We have shared a draft action plan on ICT with the Government. This (partnership) can happen at the institution level, at the business level, at multiple levels. We have to tap into all the levels,” he notes.

High Commissioner Masakui says that Jamaica is strategically positioned in the Caribbean region and has the advantage of being the service centre for other countries.

“You can service the markets of the United States, the markets of South America – Brazil, Argentina, and other countries. Jamaica can be a hub for servicing the smaller island countries in the Caribbean itself,” he points out.

High Commissioner Masakui, who arrived on the island two months ago, tells JIS News that he is looking forward to working with his Jamaican counterpart, Jason Hall, who will head the new Mission in New Delhi.

High Commissioner-designate Hall, who will assume duties this month, will be Jamaica’s first resident envoy to India.

“I am very fortunate that I have come at this time …we will be catching up. We have talked a lot and we are aligned with similar strategies, areas of interest, and how the two countries can collaborate,” High Commissioner Masakui notes.

The High Commissioner, who recently completed his tour of duty as Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, says Jamaica’s cultural icon, Bob Marley, and Reggae music were among his first thoughts when he learned about his appointment to Jamaica.

“I knew a little bit about Jamaica before coming here. Obviously, your jerk chicken, your Bob Marley, and your reggae music…Those are the things that spread your soft powers,” he says.

He notes, however, that beyond the music and culture, there is an opportunity for collaboration and cooperation in many other areas, which he discovered during his interaction with Government Ministers, senior government officials, and businessmen.

He tells JIS News that he has embarked on a project to visit elders of the Indian community in Jamaica and to honour them for keeping the Indian culture and values alive while contributing to the economic progress of Jamaica.

To commemorate Indian Diaspora Day 2021 on January 9, High Commissioner Masakui visited the homes of several elders and prominent Indian nationals.

He says the purpose of the visit was “to hear their stories of the beautiful times in Jamaica, the down moments, which they have experienced and their message to the younger generation”.

Commissioner Masakui tells JIS News that he will be identifying other elders of the Indian community over the coming months.

“If there are 20, I will visit all 20 across Jamaica and maybe, by the end of the year, I will come up with a documentary by listening to their stories. They will have to say a message to the community and the younger generation,” he points out.

This is the 175^th year of the arrival of the first Indians to Jamaica.

A resident Indian Mission in Jamaica was opened after a visit to Kingston by late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.