by Linda Straker
- 19 Grenadian crew members of Princess Cruises return home
- 26 employee-nationals of the Carnival Cruise Line will arrive tomorrow
- Medical records, including Covid-19 test results taken 24 to 48 hours prior to ships’ arrival to be provided by cruise line
19 Grenadians who were serving as crew members of Princess Cruises who were stranded at sea — because the cruise line lost business due to Covid-19, plus the enforcing of regulations that shut airports to contain the disease — were repatriated on Saturday.
“I hope you are feeling better now that you are home,” Health Minister, Nickolas Steele told the first batch of returning crew members during a ceremony at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal. They came ashore via one of the ship’s tenders after the relevant authorities gave permission for them to be accepted.
In accordance with health protocols and procedures, each of the returnees will first be placed in a 14-day mandatory quarantine before mingling with family. The quarantine location has not been made public. In his welcome address, Minister Steele said told them that they will be “in a place close to Grand Anse beach, but they cannot go out.”
At the outset of the Covid-19 in January, Grenada decided to quarantine nationals upon arrival but later into the contagion, as Europe and the USA became hot spots, many were asked to self-isolate.
By mid-March, Grenada started to receive laboratory-confirmed cases of persons who entered the country from the UK, and the airport was shut down to passenger traffic. The shutdown affected the arrival of Grenadians who became trapped in other territories.
Grenada, like most countries in the region, decided to declare a state of emergency which restricted the movement of citizens as part of a strategy to contain the disease. There are presently 21 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 20 on the island because one left without medical permission.
Persons working on cruise ships were among those trapped; even if airlines wanted to send them home, the lack of functioning airports made that impossible. On Friday, the Government of Grenada in a news release said that after weeks of discussion, it had granted permission for the repatriation of 26 employee-nationals of the Carnival Cruise Line, and 18 crew member nationals from Princess Cruises.
The Caribbean Princess cruise ship was scheduled to arrive at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal, St George’s, on Saturday, 9 May 2020 at 8 am, but instead arrived at 2 pm. The Carnival Glory ship is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, 10 May at 8 am.
Tourism Minister, Clarice Modeste, told the returning nationals who will all have to be tested as part of the health procedure during the quarantine, that the decision to put them into quarantine is one that must be seen in their best interest despite them spending such a long time on the ship.
“This is for the safety of family and country,” she said, explaining that this is a mandatory change due to Covid-19, and “it will continue until things change.”
As part of the measures, the cruise lines have agreed to provide up-to-date medical records for all crew members, to include Covid-19 test results taken 24 to 48 hours prior to ships’ arrival. Crew members received additional medical screening at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal before heading to the quarantine location.
The blame for this almighty mess, is 100 % with stupid Politicians who overreacted to the Hype surrounding CoVid19.
97% of people who get Covid19 have mild
or no symptoms, 2% severe to critical symptoms.
If the Airport and the Country was open those stranded in various countries would be able to freely travel without hinderance.
The Grenada government rejoice at getting Grenadiand back, while their own stupid polices have trapped foreigners here for months. Idiots!.
As far as i can see you are the idiot! The Grenadian Government is doing what it must to protect the people of this land!
Hurts to read that my landesmen in Grenada have been reached by COVID-19. The lockdown will strain even the ingenuity of good Caribbean families, but a lockdown is absolutely necessary, believe me. We here in the US are at the mercy of our neighbors where suppressing this plague is concerned, and believe me not all of them comply. This just extends out the amount of time before things can be stabilized, much less to await a vaccine. So please accept our prayers but be assured that the lockdown is the best and only way that a beautiful island nation like Grenada can go forward after this.
There have been a limited number of flights from Grenada for repatriation of US nationals.. To my knowledge, these flights were arranged by the US Embassy in cooperation with the airline. Perhaps a repatriation effort for UK citizens could similarly be arranged. One can easily related to the hardship imposed by not being able to return to ones he country. That said, we are very happy to be residents in Grenada.
I have just seen a video of the accommodations where the returnees are housed and they are complaining about a dead fly on the bed, a room that looks quite adequate for temporary accommodation with clean white sheets.
I am asking myself if these people are experiencing Covid-19 Post-traumatic stress syndrome that has caused them to so brazenly display such a level of ingratitude in a climate when thousands of people are dying around he world.
Can these people honestly say that their personal living conditions are much better. Why would someone complain about a dead fly on a bed in the Caribbean where people spray routinely for insects.
What level of show-off and attention-seeking could have dirven people to be so ungrateful and shamelessly so.
There are many houses that are less clean becasue of the restrictions of oging outside to get products. There are many people who have received money from loved ones but cannot even collect it due to long queues.
Why don’t they send these ignorant people back on the ship where they can grt first class treatment.
The FCO are looking at repatriation back to the UK which is being worked on by the High Commission in Barbados. Take a look at the UK Foreign Office site regarding Grenada, register an interest in repatriation and they should get back to you quickly. Hope this helps!
Complications during being stranded with serious medical issue ,nobody to advise I’ve spoken to the uk consulate over 10 times and nothing ,no help no advise ,all we are doing is paying double rent and treble medical care .my grandchild will be born a grenadian that is my only joy here
Our flight back to the UK have been cancelled.
Nothing is said about us. Cannot get through to
Anyone. Some of us have health, acomudation and finenacal issues.
Business and jobs to take care of
If your flight has been cancelled by the airline. It is the Airlines responsibility to advise and provide you with information of how to return back to the UK, not the Grenadian Government. Get in contact with your Airline carrier.
Please tell me when husbands and wives will be repatriated back to the UK it has been 5 long weeks since my Husband’s flight got cancelled and still no word as to when the stranded people in Grenada will be aloud back home to the UK.
I don’t have no problems with our nationals returing home! From the cruise ship.to be Quarantine .ok! The problem is with those nationals that will want to return home from the USA canAda, England, etc. Ietc say , in the next 6 months. That will be visiting for three weeks. With the Quran teens for fourteen days ? I want to know how that will work out.? Thank you. Minister steel.