‘Seeking scapegoats’ - Craig Butler accuses Government of hypocritical policies on COVID-19

Craig Butler, the outspoken manager and adopted father of Jamaican international Leon Bailey, has hit back at criticism levelled at his charge after he reportedly breached COVID-19 protocols by attending Usain Bolt’s birthday party last Friday.

Bailey, who plays for German club Bayer Leverkusen, and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling were among the attendees at the event, which took place at Football Factory in Kingston, and has since been drawing the ire of sections of the public after several patrons were seen without masks, while seemingly ignoring social-distancing requirements.

Bailey featured for Bayer in the Europa League against Inter Milan on August 10, meaning that he would not have met the Government’s 14-day quarantine requirement for persons who fly into the island.

Sterling played in his team’s last Champions League match on August 15. Sterling, according to British media, has since tested negative for COVID-19.

Butler defended his son’s decision to attend the party, while accusing the Government for what he described as hypocritical policies as it relates to COVID-19.

“All these tourists we have let in to our borders, who go on boat tours et etcetera, who are all over the island exposing all our people to COVID-19, are there any concerns about this? And if so, why have we opened our borders letting in tourists from a country riddled with COVID-19?” Butler queried.

“Leon goes through the strictest protocols in Germany, testing sometimes three times per week, and observed all safety regulations coming home to see his friends and family for a week out of a year. All are now concerned because the young man and his friends, Raheem and company, danced with Usain Bolt,” he added. “He has been tested and has not been found to be infected by the virus.”

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton on Monday confirmed that Bolt had tested positive for COVID-19.

However, Butler believes that those in charge are seeking scapegoats as opposed to taking responsibility for decisions, which he believes, have put the country at risk.

ECONOMICS OR POLITICS?

“What we should be concerning ourselves with is why the numbers are going up after we had it, as a nation, under full control. Is it economics or politics that drove us to opening our borders? I believe we should look and point the blame squarely where it belongs and not at our Jamaicans who live and work hard to keep the rise of the virus to a minimal on our shores,” Butler said.

“Was it a mistake to have the party? Maybe. Was it a mistake to attend the party? How could Leon not attend and support his friend and who are we to judge them when our own politicians are out encouraging electoral parties and revelry? Who holds a higher public figure position than the very leaders of our country? A sea of green and orange enveloped our streets with zero distancing and protocols. If you want my opinion on public figures setting example, let’s start with those that are leading us into an election right now,” Butler argued.

“Hindsight is 20/20, I understand we all can do things differently sometimes, but I personally would not deny my client Leon from spending time with his friends and family in the short window he had in the country of his birth,” he added.

sports@gleanerjm.com