Recently AMCHAM Trinidad and Tobago, the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the T&T Manufacturers Association made suggestions on how travel can be opened up in limited and measured ways during this pandemic.
If some of these suggestions are implemented, it can reinvigorate the dying national carrier Caribbean Airlines and ease some of the burden with about 15% to 20% of the population being vaccinated.
They have suggested a discernible policy for getting some citizens vaccinated by asking the Government to open up the borders, in a limited way, so that citizens can travel to the United States or Canada or where ever and become fully vaccinated before returning to T&T.
This will not only ease some of the burden of the Government but also assist Caribbean Airlines to recoup some funds to pay staff and continue to operate limitedly during this terrible Covid-19 period.
They further suggested for Government to consider to allow fully vaccinated persons to enter and exit T&T. Once citizens get vaccinated and stay abroad they require time for immunity to build, by a predetermined length of time approved by the Government, then they can now be allowed to return.
Therefore the travel restrictions can be lifted partially on these types of travellers and the borders will be opened in a controlled environment to reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus.
Also the stipulated quarantine period could be adjusted to accommodate fully vaccinated travellers. These citizens would not have to be quarantined at the designated “quarantine hotels” or burden the state at taxpayers’ expense because they are already vaccinated.
In allowing flights to these countries and other CARICOM countries by fully vaccinated travellers, the airline can facilitate this process by predetermined rules and with the proper restrictions designed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Security and Ministry of Transport.
Travellers from other countries that have already been fully vaccinated with the proper papers to prove their status and wish to travel to T&T, can be allowed once the Government take the time to design the parameters, rules and regulations governing this process.
The following parameters are suggested for citizens or travellers already vaccinated:
A negative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) test that is performed to detect genetic material from the Covid-19 virus before travelling and one to be taken on arrival;
Proof of vaccination by a recognised authority;
Temperature tests at airports especially at Piarco;
Recognised labs to perform the PCR test, paid in advance by T&T travellers; and
Fully vaccinated people can be quarantined at home for a shorter period and provide a negative PCR test before they are allowed back into the public.
Further the private sector should be allowed to step in and assist with the drive to vaccinate the population. Let them be allowed to bring in Pfizer, Moderna or any other World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine with assistance from government.
And the vaccines can be offered to the public at a reduced or subsidised cost to facilitate citizens willing to pay.
This will considerably assist in the rollout and the attaining of the desired herd immunity.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive, the North East Regional Coordinator of the United National Congress and a former chairman of NP. The comments and opinions expressed by him in this column are not necessary those of AZPNews.com a division of Complete Image Limited.
Commentary: Lift Travel Restrictions Partially
Recently AMCHAM Trinidad and Tobago, the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the T&T Manufacturers Association made suggestions on how travel can be opened up in limited and measured ways during this pandemic.
If some of these suggestions are implemented, it can reinvigorate the dying national carrier Caribbean Airlines and ease some of the burden with about 15% to 20% of the population being vaccinated.
They have suggested a discernible policy for getting some citizens vaccinated by asking the Government to open up the borders, in a limited way, so that citizens can travel to the United States or Canada or where ever and become fully vaccinated before returning to T&T.
This will not only ease some of the burden of the Government but also assist Caribbean Airlines to recoup some funds to pay staff and continue to operate limitedly during this terrible Covid-19 period.
They further suggested for Government to consider to allow fully vaccinated persons to enter and exit T&T. Once citizens get vaccinated and stay abroad they require time for immunity to build, by a predetermined length of time approved by the Government, then they can now be allowed to return.
Therefore the travel restrictions can be lifted partially on these types of travellers and the borders will be opened in a controlled environment to reduce or eliminate the spread of the virus.
Also the stipulated quarantine period could be adjusted to accommodate fully vaccinated travellers. These citizens would not have to be quarantined at the designated “quarantine hotels” or burden the state at taxpayers’ expense because they are already vaccinated.
In allowing flights to these countries and other CARICOM countries by fully vaccinated travellers, the airline can facilitate this process by predetermined rules and with the proper restrictions designed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Security and Ministry of Transport.
Travellers from other countries that have already been fully vaccinated with the proper papers to prove their status and wish to travel to T&T, can be allowed once the Government take the time to design the parameters, rules and regulations governing this process.
The following parameters are suggested for citizens or travellers already vaccinated:
Further the private sector should be allowed to step in and assist with the drive to vaccinate the population. Let them be allowed to bring in Pfizer, Moderna or any other World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine with assistance from government.
And the vaccines can be offered to the public at a reduced or subsidised cost to facilitate citizens willing to pay.
This will considerably assist in the rollout and the attaining of the desired herd immunity.
Neil Gosine is an insurance executive, the North East Regional Coordinator of the United National Congress and a former chairman of NP. The comments and opinions expressed by him in this column are not necessary those of AZPNews.com a division of Complete Image Limited.