by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) – The COVID-19 Task Force has received reports of cruise passengers allegedly being seen without masks while on their tours and entering taxis.
“We have been receiving these reports very often, and I am hopeful that Superintendent Henry and the compliance team would enforce these protocols,” said Abdias Samuel, Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force.
During his press conference today (November 25), the Hon Premier Mark Brantley said he was surprised by the allegation made in response to cruise passengers walking about Charlestown considering the protocols in place.
“I’m a little surprised to hear you say tourists were walking around in Charlestown because my understanding is that there was a bubble arrangement in place where they could only come, go into a designated taxi and be taken to designated sites. I, myself, have not had that report come to me about anybody just meandering about Charlestown, so I would be surprised to hear that. I know that one of the sites they went to was close to Charlestown, that is the Hamilton Museum site, so I don’t know if that might have been when people see them there and say that they are wandering about Charlestown. But my understanding is that that has not been the case. But I certainly will take the concern back and to say to the compliance task force that when the ships come in, they need to be there to monitor.”
Samuel put the responsibility of monitoring tourists adherence to the COVID-19 protocols within the Federation, with the taxi and tour operators.
“But it has to start with the responsibility of the tour operators. We entrusted that responsibility on them to help with the enforcement of these protocols. We had meetings with these operators. The Tourism Authority has conducted training and in order for you to operate and receive the travel approved seal you would have had to go through training and part of the training is to ensure that you keep your guests and your patrons safe within the context of COVID-19 by adhering to the protocols.”
