Correct call was made to secure borders & save lives - Hon Malone
"We have to look at the lives and livelihoods and balance both, where are we and where did we come from, where do we want to go. We have to look and appreciate what we were faced with... from the very first ship that we had to make a decision, whether or not they can come and enter the border," Hon Malone said.
The Minister was at the time speaking on the July 13, 2020, edition of the Umoja show with host Cromwell Smith aka 'Edju Enka' when he was asked about the economic future of the Territory considering income has been cut as a result of no tourism activity.
He said the administration had to take the risk of not allowing cruise ships to come to the Territory based on the state of the pandemic at that time in places like China.
VI had to protect its borders - Hon Malone
"At that time ships were coming from Italy, coming to Guadaloupe and them coming straight over... we had to protect our borders, protect our citizens and make sure that we made the call."
Hon Malone continued, "History will show that we made the correct call in looking at securing our borders, securing lives, so that livelihoods could be re-established."
Since then, calls have heightened for the Territory to re-open its borders and allow tourism activities to resume in the Territory.
Pointing to the situation in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) with open borders and high COVID-19 cases, Hon Malone said the challenge now is to sit down with various tourism stakeholders and decide a way forward in terms of how to re-establish the industry with protocols for allowing visitors.
13 Responses to “Correct call was made to secure borders & save lives - Hon Malone ”
While on the topic... we do need to look at why we are suffering with all these diseases and try to eradicate the perceived sources. (could it be that we are purchasing items from stores that are labeled "For Export Only" what is in those things that they don't want their citizens ingesting? food for thought. When we buy inferior goods to supply a nation... we get inferior health...inferior minds... and if our nation collectively becomes inferior... well I'll let you think about that. So again in the words of the above blogger we have to be more proactive and not reactive.
OAN... I suggest that some of the land that we are setting aside for marijuana planting...needs to be offered for regular farming seeing as how our future is uncertain and we may not know where our source of food is coming from especially if the "Great America" happens to declare a state of emergency and close off all its exports. I foresee the President trying to impose a State of Emergency to avoid an Election in order for him to get another term. But that's just my 2 cents..