Prime Minister and Chairman of Caricom, Mia Amor Mottley.
While the Caribbean region looks forward to once again welcoming
tourists, it will not do so at the risk of its residents.
Prime Minister and Chairman of Caricom, Mia Amor Mottley, made it
clear during an interview with BBC World News yesterday afternoon that
the formation of safety protocols to prevent further spread of
Covid-19 is paramount to the islands seeking to reopen their doors to
tourism source markets.
Stating that leaders across the region are in deep conversation on
developing a common public health protocol in light of the ongoing
pandemic, she revealed talks are also being held with the airline and
cruise industry on the way forward.
Mottley said while the airlines are doing a commendable job sanitising
the aircraft, a major issue which would determine how fast the
Caribbean tourism industry will restart is that of testing.
“The big issue is testing, before people get on the planes or testing
when persons arrive. Quite frankly, it is more practical before people
leave, and we need access to rapid tests, or test protocols that would
allow us to determine what is the risk that we are going to take if a
person is tested 24 hours before or should the person be tested within
a matter of hours before going to check in,” she added.
Pressed as to whether the islands are looking at a specific time to
reopen, she asserted, “We are not going to be driven by a date, but a
satisfaction that we have safe protocols that keep our workers safe,
that keep our people safe, that keep our visitors safe.”
Pointing to the heavy impact Covid-19 has had with 40 to 50 per cent
of government revenues being lost within tourism dependent countries
and unemployment figures in some cases trebling, she nevertheless
insisted that safety for all is key.
“We want to remain safe for our people and the people who are visiting
us, and this is not only Barbados’ position but a number of countries
in the Caribbean Community. This has been a difficult moment for us
all so that we are trying to balance lives and livelihoods like
everywhere else,” she stressed.
(JMB)