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SAIL ON BY!
Minister of Health Donville Inniss (left) having a quick word with Dr Ernest Massiah, Head of Health at Commonwealth Secretariat.
Published on: 6/16/2009.
by TRACY MOORE
A LUXURY CRUISE LINER carrying 43 crew members exhibiting "flu-like symptoms" was denied entry into the Bridgetown Port yesterday.
The DAILY NATION understands that Ocean Dream, which is part of Pullmantur Cruises, had samples taken from those sick crew members while in Curacao and sent to The Netherlands.
With results not likely to be ready by at least today or tomorrow, the vessel was denied entry into Grenada yesterday morning. Its next port of call would have been Barbados and then St Lucia.
When contacted, Minister of Health Donville Inniss said: "The situation was drawn to our attention this afternoon [yesterday] that the vessel was heading to Barbados as its second port of call and that several crew members were ill.
"After consultation with all relevant stakeholders, the decision of the Barbados Government is that this vessel should not make Barbados its next port of call."
This decision came on the heels of a two-hour-plus meeting at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday that established there would soon be regional protocols for cruise liners to enter respective ports when carrying sick passengers and crew.
It was also determined that there would be separate protocols for any cruise liner carrying suspected cases for Influenza A H1N1.
Inniss, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and his St Lucian counterpart Allan Chastanet, ministers of health from the Turks & Caicos and Grenada, health representatives from Jamaica and St Lucia as well as Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) officials attended the meeting.
It was called after the Royal Caribbean's Adventure Of The Seas was denied entry to several regional ports but allowed to berth at the Bridgetown Port last Tuesday.
After the meeting, Inniss said: "We have decided that the CARICOM Secretariat . . . will quickly convene a meeting of chief medical officers (CMOs) and other senior health officials, in conjunction with PAHO, to work on putting protocols together for the handling of cruise ships in the Caribbean [which] exhibit some challenges in respect of the health of the passengers and the crew."
He said the CMOs and health officials would work under the co-ordinating efforts of PAHO to put the protocols together and be guided by the International Health Regulations and other protocols.
"There are also protocols that need to be developed and annunciated for handling H1N1 in particular, since that virus is somewhat different than others that may have existed before," he added.
He disclosed that the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association had contacted the ministers of tourism who attended a recent Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) meeting in the United States to voice its concerns about the inconsistencies in the way Adventure Of The Seas was handled.
In response, it was decided yesterday that the CTO would facilitate a meeting between regional health officials and the cruise industry within a few weeks.
It was also "agreed somewhat" that after each island established national guidelines on how vessels would be handled, respective prime ministers would make the final decision of the ship's entry after consulting with health, port and tourism officials.
* tracymoore@nationnews.com
23 comment found!
Sail On : 6/23/2009
Yet H1N1 arrived in Barbados in persons without any travel history. I guess it can enter by air travel but not by sea travel
sail on by : 6/22/2009
Did Barbados give any thought to treating the sick?
Health Hazzard : 6/19/2009
Canboy, the point is, persons on board exhibited symptoms of the virus. The numbers given are enough to be not only a risk or threat, but a downright health hazzard. That was the decision for turning back the ship. Of course we would not turn back any vessel (and that includes airplanes in this industry) if there were none. That would be just plain stupid of us. All the persons on board would have been possible carriers of the virus in this case.
Sail on by : 6/17/2009
Oh come on now , what a load of tripe , 4 people or 45 , makes no difference , What about the ones coming in on Planes , they could be carriers and show no symptoms GET REAL , Big mistake to turn away that ship , they could have kept the sick people on board ,
: 6/17/2009
6/16/2009 (Politicians, health minister, please get the cruise ship policy together soon. People are happy to visit Bimshire, you need the money. I am Bajan and will be there in a few weeks, I want to see my parents. Can't imagine how I would feel if I have to sail on by) We might need the money, but we don't need the disease! If you want to put your health at risk that is your business, but we Barbadians don't want to take the chance! And as for needing the money, which to an extent I agree with, the fact is that the amount of money that would be spent on dealing with a whole populace with H1N1 would be more expensive! My question is why take the chance of letting any ship dock, even if there is one suspected case! The symptoms don't present right away and some people might have it and leave the ship and spread it to others! A side note: if the 3 that have it had no recent travel history and they were not in contact with each other, how exactly did they get it, and aren't their locations disclosed? Authorities might tell them to quarantine themselves, but are they sure that instructions are being strictly adhered to?
Sail On : 6/16/2009
As an American just coming off the Carnival Victory I feel Barbados did the right thing in making this ship pass. It is sad to lose the tourist dollars but to spread sickness would be a greater evil.
: 6/16/2009
Well I am pleasantly surprised this time. Common sense outdid the almighty dollar. DUMB
To The Fuel Excuse Person : 6/16/2009
The right decision was made. I like my fellow countrymen have to live here. Imagine what would would happen if the most of us came down with this virus? I watche on the "over and away" news where sometimes those countries do not have sufficient flu vaccines for all and the elderly and children have to be accommodated first. So why should "Our Little Nation" be equipped with all the medication for 275,000 legal persons and Lord knows how many other illegals along with all those coming off the ships. We would be in real trouble. Let them wait for "fuel" of the coast of Barbados. I nominate that the person with that suggestion should be the one to row back and forth with "fuel" in a one gallon can to refuel the ship. No wonder you would not post a name.
swine flu : 6/16/2009
I JUST HAVE ONE BIG QUESTION WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CROP OVER HOW MANY NURSES WILL BE AT THE SEA AND AIRPORT TO SCREEN WHO COMES IN MR. MINISTER OF HEALTH WE ALL MKNOW AT CROP OVER TIME AND WE HAVE THAT INFLUX OF VISITORS WE ALSO HAVE AN INFLUX OF AIDS HELP ME SOMEONE I AM LOST.
sick : 6/16/2009
Of course the right decision was made. Just one sick person can cause havoc on a small island, not to mention 43. If you don't have your health you don't have anything. It's more important than the almighty dollar.
Sail on by : 6/16/2009
flu: As sad as it might seems barbados did the right by the people of the country. Right now they are 3 person tested positive for that virus and they did not travel so imagine allowing a ship because of money to berth passengers get off and walk or drive around all day what could happen.
flu : 6/16/2009
I HEAR YOUR TAUGHTS ABOUT NOT HAVING ENOUGH FUEL BUT JUST RADIO AND LET SOMEONE MEET THEM OUT IN THE SEA (FULLY PROTECTED THAT IS) TO GIVE THEM SOME. BUT WHY SHOULD BARBADOS HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO TREAT THOSE ON THE SHIP WHO ARE SICK OR RISK THE CHANCE OF ITS PEOPLE BEING INFECTED BY THIS FLU. DO YOU SEE HOW SMALL WE ARE WE COULD NOT SURVIVE AN EPIDEMIC OF THIS. I THINK THE LEADERS ARE CORRECT PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY FIRST ANYTHING ELSE AFTER.
: 6/16/2009
Politicians, health minister, please get the cruise ship policy together soon. People are happy to visit Bimshire, you need the money. I am Bajan and will be there in a few weeks, I want to see my parents. Can't imagine how I would feel if I have to sail on by,
It is about time : 6/16/2009
I disagree with the person who said this was unjust treatment. Forty three sick persons with flu like sympthoms was not good for Barbados. Why should the Barbados try to catch at a couple of dollars and them a great deal of its people pick up the virus. I think they did the right thing. This is what they should have done with the last cruise line. Bajan NY
Cruse Liner : 6/16/2009
This was definitely the right decision .We should not jeporodise the health of the residents here because of the revenue that the tourist will bring to the island , because if it was the other way around a Bajan Liner would not be even allowed to Berth in any U.S PORT .Bajan in Boston
Sail on by : 6/16/2009
Based on the info given, i agree with the decision - i feel sorry for the other passengers who were looking forward to their day in bim, but i'm sure thay'll understand. Near 50 sick people is quite a bit. To the one negative comment so far below - those ships carry more than enough fuel and supplies for their entire journey - no cruise ship takes on ANY suppplies outside of the USA. And they have clinics with doctors and other medical staff on board; in the event of a TRUE emergency that can't be handled by staff - they have heli-pads. So don't be concerned in that regard. -Bajan Canadian
sail on by : 6/16/2009
whilst tourism is vital to barbados' income the health of the population must be paramount. this was the right decision 'kim, an adopted bajan', richmond, surrey
Flu 6/15/09 : 6/16/2009
The person wrote that Barbados should have the necessary medicine to facilitate the country is in another world and not thinking straight. I live in Boston. The United States of America where little Barbados could fit into a little town called Dorchester in Boston, Massachusttes and this state do not have medicine for the H1N1 flu virus yet. So far over 100 people have come down with the virus. One person from the Dorchester has died so far (6/15/09/ and that woman is 30 years old. In times like these the Government of Barbados have to protect its people and forget about toursim until this flu is over. Remember people are traveling all over the world and crop over is around the corner and Barbados will be jam pack with people. Thank you Mr. Ministers for looking out for bajans and not the money and catering to the tourist for the money. Proud Bajan living in Boston/JMc.
flu : 6/16/2009
Yes I believe you should protect your island and its people. On this small island the Flu could spread like wild fire. A yearly visitor
Good for you! : 6/16/2009
Good for you Barbados! 43 sick people regardless to what ails them, is a lot of people for any small Island. I am sure that if they docked at Cape Canarveral health officials would have kept them away from coming ashore until all necessary precautions were taken. Keep them out! Our health care system cannot hardly handle normal everyday concerns.
Sail On By : 6/16/2009
I THINK THAT TREATMENT WAS UNJUST. WHAT IF THAT VESSEL DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO GO ON TO ANOTHER PLACE? WITH ALL THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THIS ILLNESS, I WOULD THINK THAT BARBADOS WOULD HAVE HAD THE NECESSARY MEDICTION ETC. TO FACILITATE THE ILLNESS. I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT VESSEL (IF IT DOES) WOULD HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS OF BRINGING TOURIST TO BARBADOS AGAIN, THINK ABOOUT THIS.
WE MUST PROTECT OUR PEOPLE : 6/16/2009
Tourism is very important to us, but in these circumstances we must protect our people first.The develope Countries are protecting their borders and people,therefore we must do them same.
PROUD TO BE BAJAN : 6/16/2009
Thank you Minister Donville Inniss and Minister Richard Sealy for taking such decisive action in safe-guarding the health of Barbadians against the H1N1 virus. It is such leadership that serves to remind Barbadians that the concept of TEAM BARBADOS is in our best interests.
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