Former West Indies cricketers Sir Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, Jimmy Adams, and Ramnaresh Sarwan thanked India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for donating COVID-19 vaccines under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
India had supplied 1,75,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Antigua and Barbuda and 40,000 of them were donated to the country under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.
“I would like to thank India for the wonderful contribution made to our country which is the vaccine. We thank you so much on behalf of the Antiguan and Barbudan people. We look forward, also that in the future, continued relationship.
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"Thank you very much, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the High Commission of India. We also thank all of the people in India for such a kind gesture,” Richards said in a video posted on Twitter by the High Commission of India in Guyana.
“On behalf of the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I would like to thank the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi for his kind generosity in offering us 40,000 vaccines. We are extremely grateful to you and your country. Thank you very very much,” former West Indies caption Richardson added.
Under the Vaccine Maitri’ program, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis received the Made in India COVID-19 vaccines. Guyana had received 80,000 doses under the initiative.
“I just want to use this opportunity to say thank you to the Government of India for the support that they are giving to the people all across the region in donating vaccines. I know that my own home country of Jamaica is benefitting from this initiative and also Antigua where I’m currently working with Cricket West Indies.
"We are all deeply grateful to the Government of India and on behalf of the people in the Caribbean I would like to thank you for this great initiative,” another former Windies captain Adams said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister Modi for providing the Covid-19 vaccine for us here in Guyana. We really appreciate your kindness sir, thank you so much,” ex-Windies batsman Sarwan said.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar shared the clip of Richards and wrote on Twitter, “For those who love Old Cricket and New India. Perhaps even for those who understand neither cricket nor India.”
Earlier last month, Barbados's PM Mia Amor Mottley had tweeted, "India's gift of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Barbados earlier today. This was a very special moment for all Barbadians and I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for his quick, decisive, and magnanimous action in allowing us to be the beneficiary of these vaccines."
