Shut Down Tourism Because of Covid-19?

The Issues And Our Leaders

Minister Edmund Bartlett

I have received a few complaints from persons about how tourists are able to come to Jamaica and enjoy themselves and Jamaicans are under lock down. They have highlighted the case of a cruise ship which is scheduled to dock here on Monday, September 13, on a no movement day. My understanding is that the ship was booked to stop in Jamaica before, so it would not be wise to prevent the ship from docking on a no-movement day at this point.

I believe that our leaders are in a quandary and making decisions at this time is not easy. My perceptions of the concerns of many Jamaicans are as follows:

1. Increase in spreading of the Covid-19 virus.
2. The country and tourism workers need to earn during this crisis, a crisis which could last a long time.
3. Tourists can enjoy themselves yet Jamaicans cannot enjoy themselves in their own country.
4. The government is playing politics.

What This Means For Us As Jamaicans

The ability to continue to earn is very important, but we have to ensure that all precautions are taken so that we can earn in a safe environment. If people cannot live and earn, then this could lead to instability in the country and therefore result in major social disorder which consequently could become violent!

Everybody should be able to enjoy themselves if we are able to ensure that we minimize the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. The tourists who come here should be required to be fully vaccinated, and they should have a negative covid-19 test result for a certain period prior to visiting the island.

Jamaican's going to Dunn's River generally will not pay with foreign exchange, we not be able at this point require them to be tested before admitting them to the Dunn's River Fall and when they leave, will they go back to their communities unlike the tourists who will leave the country and not spread the virus here. If you understand some of these points then it is not a matter of being fair or not fair but of being practical.

Close Our Borders?

If we close our borders completely then we could end up closing out significant amount of foreign exchange which we also need to fight this virus. Closing our borders for an extended period could mean closing our country and closing our lives.

The challenge is not about Jamaicans not being able to enjoy themselves in their own country yet tourists are able to to so. It is more about protecting Jamaicans from the virus, and protecting the Jamaican economy from collapse.

Finally, we know that in all of this, politics or politricks play a central role. It should not matter which party benefits, but what is better for the people of this country, and the country itself.

Minister Bartlett

Persons wrote me and asked me to contact the authorities about this cruise ship coming to Jamaica on Lock Down Day.  I immediately contacted Minister Bartlett who is the Minister of Tourism and I had a conversation with him. The Minister gave me some good arguments as to why his ministry was doing what it was doing and it seemed logical to me. 

My concern is if we are able to manage those who are visiting on that cruise ship properly, ensure that all have been vaccinated, all have tested negative for the Covid-19 virus and they will have to limit their movements to the areas that they are booked to go, then no problem 'mon'. We need the money because right now we need more spaces and more beds, we need oxygen, we need medications and we need more of other things. We also need the foreign exchange to pay for all of this.

I expect to hear further from Minister Bartlett this afternoon.

Click HERE to read the release from the Ministry.