Semaj wants Holness to take a break

Renowned psychologist Dr Leahcim Semaj believes that the low vaccination rate amid a fourth COVID wave and the troubling murder figures may be starting to weigh heavily on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and has advised him to consider taking a breather.

Semaj says he heard frustration in Holness' voice yesterday as the prime minister told journalists at a press conference that the country will not go back into lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. Holness said that vaccination is the strategy and that it is now in the public's hands.

"Go and get vaccinated. Argument done," he said. But Semaj opined that even if Holness felt frustrated "leadership is not expected to come out and say it in that manner". Hence his suggestion that Holness take a break.

"There are many Jamaicans who believe that anything like a vacation or rest is a sign of weakness but no, that is what keeps you strong. Years ago I did a lot of work with the senior police officers and most of them were proud that after 20 years they never took vacations," said Semaj. "Now, that is why their problem solving strategies are so poor because of burnout, because sometimes you need to step away for a couple days, a couple weeks and so on and then you come back with fresh insights. That applies to any job, particularly one that is highly stressful."

Meanwhile, Semaj belives that the government's failure to understand the historical distrust between politicians and the people they represent has partially influenced the low take-up of the COVID-19 vaccines.

"The Government strategy has not worked because the Government took the lead on trying to convince people of the importance of vaccination. Reports have shown that 80 per cent of Jamaicans don't trust governments," he said. "The voices of politicians do not change the public person's behaviour of Jamaicans who do not trust politicians. So everything was working against them and now the process has stalled meaning that people have hardened their position. The anti-vax movement is a strong movement but it is based on ignorance. It is based on faulty information."

Semaj also claimed that the public spectacle that characterises the vaccination process has been deterring many Jamaicans from taking the jabs, particularly men who have a strong phobia for needles.

"In the US in Florida, the vaccination, to a large extent, you go to any pharmacy. It is a normalised thing, not a public spectacle," he said.