by Linda Straker
- Plan is for Caricom Member states to open external borders for regional travel only in June 2020
- Governments, airlines, and hotels are now finalising details of this phased re-opening
- Protocols will be informed by a regional public health policy
Oliver Joseph, Grenada’s cabinet minister with ministerial responsibility for Caricom, said that the plan is for Caricom Member states to open external borders for regional travel only and not international air traffic for the first phase of reopening borders which are tentatively set to enforce in June 2020.
“What we are discussing is to first allow regional travel, that is travel within the islands such as travel between Grenada and Trinidad or between Trinidad and Barbados, we are not looking at having international carriers come to the island yet,” said Joseph who last week chaired the 50th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).
During the virtual meeting, the COTED approved a strategy for the re-opening of economies in the Caribbean Community. The Council is made up of Trade Ministers and officials agreed to a framework centred on the development and adherence to defined metrics related to the Covid-19 virus, which will guide in the reopening process.
Grenada’s borders as well many regional ports of entry and exit were closed in March as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. Like Grenada, the contagion was introduced to the country, by infected travellers from the United Kingdom and the United States in mid-March 2020. Grenada’s index case was a 50-year-old female who travelled from the United Kingdom.
Dr Mitchell, in a national address on Sunday night, said that reopening of borders was a topic of discussion at recent meetings of Caribbean leaders at both the OECS and Caricom levels and a regional approach is being considered.
He said, “We collectively agreed to start gradually relaxing the restrictions for travel, as the pandemic in the region has been largely contained. Governments, airlines, and hotels are now finalising the details of this phased re-opening. Assuming that the requisite protocols are in place, we expect to open our borders in the first week of June.”
Mitchell who also holds the portfolio of Minister for National Security assured Grenadians that the health and safety of citizens remain a primary concern. “Borders were closed to prevent the spread of the virus and to save lives, and for now, we must maintain that status quo…I assure you, fellow Grenadians, we will not move unless we are satisfied that adequate health and safety guidelines are in place.”
At the 10th Special Emergency Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government last week, a sub-committee was established to engage stakeholders in the tourism industry to agree on appropriate protocols that will ensure the safety of workers and visitors alike, once borders are re-opened.
“These protocols will be informed by a regional public health policy which the heads have agreed is necessary to guide the criteria for reopening. The health policy is being drafted and will be submitted to Caricom Heads of Government for final approval,” said a news release from the Government Information Service (GIS).
NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
I am a Yacht Broker and I need to go to Grenada do sell a Yacht by June, the buyer is from Canada, I am from the US the surveyor and Boat Yard from Grenada and I would like to know when will be possible for me to go there and do the sea trial and haul out, The boat is at le Phare Bleu.
Thanks, Rudy Mueller.
Hello I live in the United States and wish to visit Grenada with the intend of purchasing a sailboat and staying around since I plan on hiring local experts to help me fix her up and possibly hang around for a while. I am looking for information that could lead me to setting a reservation to fly to Grenada. Thank You
Baby steps that’s a good thing. We will get there.
Still over all Grenada Covid19 cases aren’t bad. It’s a matter of time before the Country opens up fully.
Melinda I agree… Over the years I don’t recall many Grenadians travelling to other Caribbean countries on vacation or business. It seems that everyone has forgotten about the extortionate inter island travel cost, and now the lack of surplus funds due to Covid -19 is the final nail in the coffin.
Students need to come back in July for their leases for school at SGU in August.
Dear Mr Minister, please tell us how many other islanders you think can afford to go on holidays and stay in hotels (after 14 day mandatory quarantine). Where can anyone find such large amount of money at this. Think before you speak nonsense. Stay closed until you think it safe to open up the island. In the meantime, please repatriate your displaced nationals
This must be a joke! Who do they expect to come to Grenada from other CARICOM countries? Most people have lost their jobs, and will definately not have any funds available for travel. The only way to save Grenada’s economy is when the time is right, allow the international students to begin the term at SGU. They can easily be quarantined at the campus for the required 14 days. Only international visitors may have funds available for travel, however, in Canada, we will not be allowed to travel internationally for quite some time.