Grenada’s borders could open in June if government is satisfied with protocols recommended by stakeholders.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and National Security, Dr the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, made the announcement on Sunday, 10 May 2020, in a national address.
Grenada’s borders were closed in March as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, which was introduced to the country, by an infected travelled on 16 March.
Dr Mitchell said the 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.”
Dr Mitchell assured Grenadians that the health and safety of citizens remain a primary concern. He said, “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.
As plans continue for the reopening of borders, government says it is open to receiving Grenadians stranded on cruise ships and in other countries, as long as they have the means to find their way home and considering the country’s limited capacity to provide mandatory quarantine facilities.
Last weekend, more than 40 Grenadians, who served as crew members aboard cruise lines were repatriated. The returning nationals were all screened and transported to mandatory quarantine.
In his national address, Prime Minister Mitchell confirmed that government is singlehandedly bearing the cost of this 2-week quarantine, which includes the testing of persons to determine whether or not they are infected with Covid-19.
Office of the Prime Minister
Antibody screening 72 hours prior to departure if positive deny any traveler from entering country.cause you know they’ve been exposed.
As a long term regular visitor to Grenada for more than 30 years, I read the comments with, interest and sadness.
I would be arriving today for my usual month in my (chosen) Grenadian home the first of two visits every year.
Although my concern is for my personal health and safety my PRIORITY is for Grenada, it’s people and their ability to cope with the devastation a pandemic could have on them.
I am not naive, I understand the importance of tourism on your economy but am concerned that if restrictions are lifted without adequate safety, the outcome could be disastrous.
I am also concerned about the amount of luxury hotels under review or construction .
WHEN will the government and the powers that be, realise WHY people come to Grenada?
NOT FOR 5* LUXURY for the majority of us..
That can be found in many places across the world .
Personally, I choose your unique island for your people, culture, history, food, climate and the welcome and love I have always found over so many visits.
Please keep Grenada safe ❣❣
OH GOD WE DEAD. NOW WE REALLY DEAD!!!!!
OUR GOVERNMENT HAS A PLAN TO KILL US OUT!!!!!.
We now know that the BOOMING economy was like a septic tank covered with a clean white sheet, Corona Virus blew the sheet away and we look in the septic tank. Thats what the real economy is like.
I don’t know what will it take this Administration to invest in Agriculture.
OH MY HEAVENLY FATHER.
Even with death in sight this Leader is planning to sell out Grenada and leave Grenadian hungry and poor.
Mr. PM, Where are the monies from the oil and gas
the passport,
And all the Casinos,
Where is the Moneeeeeeeeeeey that you did not want V. Nazim Burke to put his hands on????
Any flights leavin UK are screened. When long haul are to resume they will be treated the same.. somehow, someday things will have to resume. There have been many diseases threatening lives coming from all around the world, including the carib islands, which will always be a risk, just like covid. It won’t go away
We are Grenadians, here in UK, and fully understand that ‘NOBODY’, no matter where they are from, wants to suffer from this virus. It is also very clear that black people are at a much higher risk than white people so do not support the comments made against ‘white tourists.’ The UK cannot sustain the financial loss, as a country, so what chance would Grenada have if the keep their borders closed to tourists? Your leaders, as with UK leaders, have very difficult decisions to make only for the good of all. The support from the same people they are protecting is a must. For ease of receiving people from the UK I can inform you that anyone leaving through our airports is intensely screened for covid before being allowed to board flights and will be sat apart from other travellers on the plane, on most airlines. This is a very difficult time for everyone and this virus will not go away so how will we survive if we don’t get back to normality? Support your leaders!
I am in the UK and there is currently no proof of anyone leaving the UK for long haul flights being intensely screened for covid 19 as the ban on such fights haven’t been lifted as yet. All visitors to the island should be told beforehand that they would be subjected to 14 days quarantine period.
Yes the county needs tourist but not at the risk of lives of its people whose government do not have the infer structure or finance to sustain an pandemic as we are currently experiencing in the UK.
Black people in the UK as front line workers without proper safety protections was put at greater risks and had higher death tolls.
Don’t be short sighted think long term, think future generations
They should not open so soon because some people do not show signs but can still infect people. No tourists just yet, as much as I would love to go on holiday I think it’s best to wait. The flights are long so who knows what you will come off the plane with.
https://youtu.be/cm_UrCGjPHU
You sure you want to do this?
So Sandals staff are to wear masks. What about the visitors? Will they wear masks as well,?
Visitors from where, Europe and the USA (COVD19 heartland)? Undoubtedly, these are our loyal monetary and development providers. Thus we cannot bite the hands that feed us. The playing field is unequal
Grenada once rich in agricultural land is swamped with monstrous concrete jungles, for the good of visitors who are merely passing through.
But still, they say let us have a national day of prayer. Who are they fooling dumb sheep that bleat before their shears?
And do we think that Grenada will be COVD19 free or contained? So go ahead open up the borders. Do please the visitors.
It seems that visitors human rights, because of their financial status coupled with their country of origin and ethnicity, are more valued than the human rights of homestayers.
Many of us will die just to please donors and WHO propaganda machine that is supported by its billionaire investors.
Just stand by and watch history repeats itself. As the Native Amerindian Of America once said, ‘White man speaks with fork tongue’.
Who will end contemporary Caribbean peoples existence this time around? Will it be done in the same manner as it was done onto the ancestors with a virus?
How would YOU suggest the government recover the money it has lost? Tourism contributes significantly to the island’s GDP. Please share how YOU, after spending millions of dollars aiding different sectors of the economy affected by the virus, after losing out 2.5 months of revenue from your primary sector, after losing the medical students that also contribute significantly to your island’s revenue, would make sure that Grenada’s economy could be maintained for an indefinite amount of time. I find it hard to believe that people that keep saying “keep the country closed” have any inkling as to how catastrophic that would be to Grenada’s economy and its people. A significant portion of the population depends, in some form, on a healthy tourism industry. You can argue, and I would agree, that we are too dependent on tourism. However, now is not the time for that. We cannot go out and work the land NOW and expect to match what tourism has been bringing in for the island within the next two or three months. We are in the middle of a crisis NOW and we need money NOW. Without that revenue, jobs will have to start laying people off, people will no longer be able to buy food, and Grenada’s economy may enter a depression from which it cannot recover. So before making comments that this is being done “just to please donors and WHO propaganda machine that is supported by its billionaire investors,” please keep in mind that YOU have not presented any other alternative plans to generate much-needed revenue.
What about people stranded and need to get back there lives from.other countrys?
What’s plans are you considering for your next move.
I came here in March attending a family member’s funeral with my mother and have been stuck here. Ever since.. What plans for the many who are stranded here in Grenada needing to get back to the UK? The embassy seems to be doing nothing about this.