fakenews

MP of Long Island Adrian Gibson shot down claims he resigned after a fake social media post claimed he did.

Gibson took to social media to expose the fake news, which bore his likeness.

Gibson labelled the fake news, a “PLP propaganda.”

“The MP/Executive Chairman has not resigned.

“He is in the Long Island, on the ground…campaigning.

“All of that is false, including the make-believe page made to look like the personal Facebook page of Hon Adrian Gibson, MP.

“The smear campaign is in full effect! Do not believe these lies,” Gibson said.

Why it matters

The ‘fake’ social media post claimed Gibson resigned following allegations that he awarded contracts to himself and an ex-fiance, which made news in recent days.

Some have called the allegations politically motivated, only weeks before voters go the poll.

On Friday morning, a small group of people descended in front of the Water and Sewage Corporation on Thompson Blvd, calling for Gibson’s resignation.

Health officials are warning the public of a fake COVID-19 message circulating social media, purporting to be a request from the Ministry of Health.

The social media message is targeting people who were inoculated with Astra Zeneca, requesting that they share their personal information if they experienced COVID-like symptoms after taking the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in the Bahamas.

In a press statement released on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said it was made “aware of a message circulating on social media purporting to be an urgent and very important request for persons vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the Bahamas. The message appealed to persons experiencing COVID-like symptoms for more than three days to share personal details and information about the vaccine administered.

“The general public is advised that this message did not originate with the Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health, and hence, is not an approved communication.”

Health officials advised the public to seek accurate information only from the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister, the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization, and to guard against receiving and sharing misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccine.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is calling on Bahamians to ignore the misinformation disseminated on social media about the vaccine.

“As we embark on our vaccination campaign it is important that you reject the large amount of fake news and misinformation circulating on social media and the Internet,” he said on Sunday.

Why it matters

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories have swirled on social media by anti-vaccine social media users.

The big picture

The Bahamas is set to receive its first batch of 100,000 doses of Astra-Zeneca vaccine. Some Bahamians have determined not to be vaccinated, eroding trust in vaccines and the health system.

What he says

With assurance in the country’s vaccine rollout, Minnis said, “Let me state again that we are using World Health Organization-approved vaccines. These vaccines are safe and they are already being administered in various countries around the world.

“Please get your information about vaccines from reliable local and international scientific and media sources. Do not read or listen to random, unsourced material from people you do not know. Do not listen to random videos random people created. Do not read and believe random posts from people with no medical or scientific credentials.”

He continued, “Malicious actors are deliberately creating and circulating lies and foolishness designed to scare you from taking vaccines. These lies and misinformation are dangerous. They create unnecessary doubt and fear, causing some to reject vaccines and others to delay taking them. As a doctor let me say that not taking or delaying taking a safe vaccine could cost you your life or cause you to get very sick.

“Do not put your life at risk because you believed fake news on social media.

“Encourage your family and friends to get vaccinated when it is their time. If you have a question, check a reputable news or information source or ask your healthcare provider.

“Vaccines will help lead us to better times. They will help end the pandemic if a large number of us take them. If we believe the fake news and the lies being told about vaccines, this pandemic will last much longer than it needs to,” he said.