COVID-19 vaccines, spirit of fraternity, and international solidarity

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, as it was recently reported that pharmaceutical firms in Europe told Britain that they can get their supplies only after the orders of their European nations have been filled.
If we are to go by current orders placed with manufacturers in America and Europe, the less developed nations would perhaps receive their supplies by 2022. The ABCEU nations has hogged all the potential vaccines for the rest of the year, with no intent to share 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 are also doing the same. Cuba is in the forefront, and is the only country to date that has been sending out medical brigades to assist fraternal nations with 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 against which no one is safe until all are safe.
One thing you can say about socialist countries 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 of who are our real friends and who are convenient friends, which is something we should always be cognisant of when engaging in bilateral discussions.
A special ‘thank you’ to India, China and Prime Minister Hon Mia Mottley of Barbados for their spirit of international solidarity and fraternity.

Yours sincerely,
Reggie Bhagwandin