Covid-19 Vaccine interview with Marcel Gumbs

Our 5th Covid-19 Vaccine Interview is with no-one less than 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐬!

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟? My name is Marcel Gumbs. I was born in Curacao and I moved back here when I was six and I've lived here all my life. I've been involved in public service in the noble profession of politics for some 23 years, and I have also been working at the airport as traffic controller for 14 years. I am a member of the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund managed by the World Bank, and in my free time, I like to really socialize. I'm also a member of an eating club: ‘’La Chaine des Rotisseurs’’, where we meet every six weeks under normal circumstances.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞? It has affected me in the sense that it makes me much, much more conscious of my environment. I’m used to social activities, and so that has changed. It also has brought me to the realization that I have to pay, and we all have to pay more attention to our health and immune systems. Because I've learned very early on that, the stronger your immune system, the fewer chances you have of the virus affecting you.

It required quite some adaptation, which is not always easy and it’s still not really the same. Of course, we all miss that touch, that feels, that hug. I think with the boops and the elbows, you just got to close your eyes and imagine that it's a hug and a squeeze. The fact that we’re not able to travel and get off the Island is though. Most of you, know it very well: ‘’You get Island fever’’.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥? The best way to go back to normal is for us to do what must be done. Wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize, it keeps social distance because that has proven to reduce the numbers, not only here but all over the world.

Now that the vaccine being available, I think that is definitely one of the things we'll have to do in order to get back to normal as soon as possible. But we also have to be realistic too and work together with the French side, because the virus doesn’t stop by the border, and asks permission to cross.

Because our business is tourism, it has to get back to normal as quickly as possible. But fasten your seatbelt, because it’s going to take a while before we see cruise ships and flights coming back fully loaded, unfortunately. Because these are the people from the middle class, and that group is broke at this moment. So, it's likely going to take a year or two for them to get back us and get things back to normal.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞?

I will be taking the vaccine the minute it is available. My reason for taking the vaccine is because it is scientifically proven, and we must have confidence in the science. Imagine what the world would be If we did not have confidence in science. We would not have cell phones, planes, or the internet.

Imagine that when you were a child and your parents were asked if they were going to vaccine you for a chickenpox vaccine, and they said, no, no, no, no vaccine. Well, you would get chickenpox and you would die. So, your parents said yes, go ahead and get the vaccine, because it is something that saves lives. And I see no reason why the vaccine for the COVID-19 would not save lives.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞? Do not follow the negative narratives that are out there. This has become so easy to put out something negative now with social media, whether it's WhatsApp, Instagram, or Twitter.

Do not be doubtful because when you were a kid, your parents agreed and followed instructions and you got the vaccine, not only for the chickenpox but for polio and for everything. So why not take the vaccine now? And by not taking it, you're hurting those loved ones around you. So I would encourage everyone to go and take the vaccine because that's the way to go and for us to get back to normal, as soon as possible.