Explore other options to facilitate return of VI people– Frank Mahoney
Addressing, via social media, the upcoming first phase of the reopening of the Virgin Islands borders to those individuals who have been trapped outside the Territory due to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr Mahoney said, St Thomas/Tortola route should also be included for ease of access.
“Many Virgin Islanders are now in the process of making plans to come home. The designated port of entry is Beef Island airport (T. B Lettsome International Airport). I would suggest our Government look at other viable options and for good reason,” he remarked in a Facebook post on Monday, May 25, 2020.
He explained: “Having to transit through Puerto Rico is challenging on a good day. Having to collect all your luggage and personally move it from the larger commercial jets to a small shuttle flight may be difficult for the elderly. Small shuttle flights may not be able to carry all the luggage for college students and others who may be bringing everything home due to the uncertainty of school opening in the fall.”
He said another hurdle is missing one’s flight or having it delayed and forcing travellers to overnight in Puerto Rico.
Open travel from St Thomas
Mahoney said one of the options could be to organise flights from St Thomas to Beef Island through the local airline, VI Airlink.
Another option would be to facilitate the ferry companies to transport travellers to Trellis Bay.
At Trellis Bay, he explained, travellers would be able to go through Customs and Immigration at the airport.
“Both of the above options would also generate much-needed revenue to a local airline and local ferry companies,” he reasoned.
“The system can be streamlined such that once the ferry docks, some of the passengers can remain on board- relaxing, eating, drinking and watching television while a limited number 10 at a time can be transported to the airline terminal for processing and testing before heading off to be quarantined. In addition, if the small shuttle flights cannot handle all the luggage, it can be transferred to the ferry boat for delivery to Tortola.”
He said if for some reason flights are delayed, residents can still take the ferry to get home.
“Most of the families who are trying to bring students and family members home would rather not transit through Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico also poses a greater health risk with over 3,000 cases and over 100 deaths compared to 69 confirmed cases and six deaths in the USVI. These are unprecedented times, and we have to think outside the box and consider the challenges and concerns of our residents returning home,” Mr Mahoney pointed out.
Not a good idea
Via a May 19, 2020 statement, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the opening up travel between the USVI and the Territory would only ‘retard’ the progress that has been made to date.
He was at the time responding to Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) who suggested that day-trippers from the USVI could be allowed to enter in October, along with ferries from St Thomas.
Premier said, “Are the members of the tri-party Opposition aware that flights are still being allowed between the USVI and the US mainland, and that yesterday alone there were over 17,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 750 new COVID-19 related deaths in the United States? Already for today alone, over 900 persons have died from COVID-19 in the United States. Is this what our Opposition want us to open our borders to contend with at this time?”
Conditions for travellers
In the meantime, for those desirous of returning home, a registration form must be filled out, which can be obtained from the government’s website.
“Cabinet decided that from June 2 up to June 15, 2020, the first priority will be given to the re-entry of nationals, belongers, holders of permanent residence and naturalised citizens, who upon registration and certification by the Environmental Health Division, are deemed to have approved private quarantinable accommodation for occupancy for at least a 14-day-period,” Hon Fahie (R1) stated.
He explained that this was part of the government’s Restricted Border Reopening Plan.
Premier Fahie said priority would also be granted to persons who left the Territory to seek medical attention.
From June 15, 2020, consideration would then be given to the re-entry of other persons “with approved registration and certification with respect to available government quarantine spaces,” he explained.
Upon arrival, persons will be subject to pre-arrival screening, health screening on arrival, ongoing monitoring during a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, and testing to confirm their COVID-19 status, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said.
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