Sint Maarten PM’s coronavirus message goes viral

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs Is Not Buying Any Excuses

Prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic as if you’re preparing for a hurricane, Sint Maarten.

This was the stern message of Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs to her constituents in an April 1 press briefing about the island’s next steps in beating the novel coronavirus.

The 41,000-strong Caribbean nation has already 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 8 deaths since March 18, according to the World Health Organisation.

“You’re supposed to have a two week supply for hurricanes and at the beginning of this, I said prepare your disaster kit as if you would for a hurricane,” Jacobs reminded her people that survived the raging winds of Hurricane Irma in 2017.

“If you do not like the type of bread you like in your house, eat crackers. If you do not have bread, eat cereal. Eat oats. Sardines, ” she asserted, stressing that there’s no use in panic buying. “Some people went out and bought toilet paper and water. The water’s not going to stop. The toilet paper is still in stores. What you need is food,” she continued.

She delivered her message like a mother chiding her children. “Stop moving. Simply. Stop. Moving,” Jacobs said.

“If the people of Sint Maarten do not adhere to the measures that the government of Sint Maarten is putting in place for your own safety, then I have no other choice,” she added, referring to an enforced lock down.

Jacobs’ speech goes viral

A week later Jacobs’ speech became viral on Twitter, thanks to the contributing writer for The Atlantic, Jemele Hill. On April 9, Hill shared a clip of Jacob’s no-nonsense address. As of this writing, the video has 33,800 likes, and 8,800 retweets.

Netizens found Jacobs’ address amusing and impressive. Most of them lauded the prime minister’s authority and straightforwardness.

For the full speech of Jacobs, here’s the video of the press briefing. It starts at 23:00.