PORT-OF-SPAIN – AFTER being denied entry in Barbados, the MV Caribbean Princess was also refused permission to berth at the Port of Port-of-Spain in Trinidad.
The Ministry of Health in a release on Sunday said the MV Caribbean Princess which was scheduled to arrive Port-of-Spain on Monday but was “denied entry due to an outbreak of gastroenteritis onboard the vessel.”
The release added, “The cruise ship carrying over 3,000 passengers and a 1,000 member crew was also denied approval to berth at the Bridgetown Port, by the Government of Barbados because of the gastroenteritis outbreak on the cruise ship.
“The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has also confirmed the presence of ‘a significant outbreak’ of gastroenteritis on the ship.”
The Health Ministry said it was in constant with CARPHA, “which monitored the passage of this vessel as it journeyed towards Trinidad and Tobago, and provided initial notification and updates on the outbreak of gastroenteritis to the relevant authorities.”
The ministry added that it was also in contact with “other stakeholders, including the Ministry of National Security and the agent for the vessel.
“Based on the information confirmed, the Ministry of Health took the decision to deny entry to the MV Caribbean Princess. This decision is in keeping with the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said the decision “was taken as a precautionary measure to protect the Trinidad and Tobago population.”
The Ministry of Health also stated that there were no suspected or confirmed cases of the coronavirus in TT.
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