Press Release: In view of the recent rapid developments in the United Kingdom and internationally concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in that country, the Saint Lucia Labour party is calling on the Saint Lucia Government, to immediately suspend air travel arrangements between Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom.
More than 40 countries have imposed travel restrictions on arrivals from the United Kingdom as a result of the development of a new variant of the COVID-19 Virus which is reported to be 70% more transmissible.
Further to this, as the UK reported a record high of 35, 928 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, 20th December 2020, British Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has warned that the new variant of the virus is “getting out of control”.
Among the latest countries imposing travel bans on the United Kingdom, is Grenada, which did so earlier today, while the Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness and his Government have stated that within the next 72 hours a decision will be announced.
Therefore, as Saint Lucia continues to grapple with the ongoing spread of COVID-19, with five new cases reported on Sunday, 20th December 2020, the advisable precautionary measure is to eliminate, without hesitation, the imminent threat from a country with an extremely high incidence of the virus.
The firm position of the Saint Lucia Labour Party remains that the interest and wellbeing of every Saint Lucian must be protected first and foremost.
Therefore, we call on Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and his Government to implement the advisable and responsible protocol in banning arrivals to Saint Lucia from the United Kingdom.
In addition, we remind the Government that its responsibility is to the people of Saint Lucia and that it cannot continue to gamble with lives by risking the health and safety of citizens for tourist arrivals.
Headline photo courtesy yousef alfuhigi
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