Barbadians living overseas who are home for the holidays and visitors who have been waiting more than 72 hours for COVID-19 test results got some good news from the Government of Barbados.
Some of them took to social media to complain bitterly about declining funds after staying longer than expected in the quarantine hotels and their cries were heard. Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, announced Government would be footing those costs.
She was speaking during Saturday’s COVID-19 management update from Ilaro Court which also featured Cabinet COVID-19 sub-committee chairman Senator Jerome Walcott, senior medical officer of health Dr Anton Best and infectious disease specialist Dr Corey Forde.
Cummins said it was in the region of 230 people, but the number could be higher when you factor in those who had their tests done privately.
“It is not a huge number, but every message, as you have said, that goes out on social media, that goes out in the Press, that is bad coverage for Barbados and affects our recovery when that time comes. So we have to be able to find that balance between dealing with the immediate situation before us and still also managing brand Barbados,” she said in response to a question from the media.
The Minister said over a normal season, Barbados would have 200 000 to 220 000 passengers on a monthly basis, but only 18 000 arrived in December 2020, in part due to the lockdowns in the United Kingdom and Canada and challenges in the United States.
Cummins did not give a ballpark cost, but in responding to the issue, Walcott pointed out it was about balance.
“What will it cost us to repair our international reputation in tourism if we would allow this to happen, where we advertise, and then when people get here, it doesn’t occur?” he asked.
Cummins issued an apology on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Mottley and the Ministry of Tourism. She said a 24-hour call centre would be in operation over the next 48 hours, manned by the most senior staff to deal with visitor concerns. The number is (1246) 6284150.
Visitors can say when they arrived, how long they have been awaiting test results, when the swab was taken and who took the swab. Tourism official will work closely with those in Health and Wellness to get the test results back.
Cummins also had a special word for those who were marooned in their rooms or left without seeing Barbados.
“Don’t give up on us yet. Barbados still remains one of the top destinations in the world and when this is all over, we want to encourage you to travel back to Barbados to enjoy what we have to offer,” she said, adding the country would offer those guests a return trip. (SAT)
