THE two airports in Trinidad and Tobago have received a supply of hygiene and screening equipment.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided the equipment to the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to assist with Covid-19 surveillance at the Piarco International and the ANR Robinson International Airports.
A press release on Friday stated that the equipment included free-standing hand sanitiser stations with automatic dispensers, wall-mounted automatic hand sanitiser dispensers, 3D hand sanitiser wall signs, framed tempered glass sneeze guards, standing banners displaying health guidelines, and standing customer service desks.
Financial support is granted by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State.
Deputy General Manager of Operations at Piarco International Airport Kurt Menal said, “No country can do it on their own. We need to have a coordinated response. For the Authority it is important to tackle the pandemic on a regional level, and partnerships like this increase the confidence of travellers, migrants and citizens alike, that they will reach their destinations safely.”
The release stated that migration and mobility were increasingly recognised as determinants of health and risk exposure and IOM played a crucial role in linking an understanding of population mobility with disease surveillance while committing to enhancing Trinidad and Tobago’s national capacity systems.
IOM Port-of-Spain Head of Office Jewel Ali said, “International human mobility has been drastically reduced with border closures and travel restrictions at an unprecedented scale. The pandemic demonstrates the need for healthy security that promotes safe, regular, and orderly migration.”
And Chargé d’Affaires for the US Embassy Shante Moore added, “The United States is committed to helping our partners and allies tackle Covid-19 as the public health risk it raises. We look forward to the days hopefully soon when we can enjoy safe and open travel between our countries.”
The release stated that since the beginning of the pandemic, IOM has been working to ensure a well-coordinated, comprehensive, equitable and timely response to the crisis to halt further transmission of the disease and limit the humanitarian and socioeconomic effects of the pandemic, and support communities in their long-term recovery.
