Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 10, 2020 (ZIZ): Prime Minister Dr. The Hon. Timothy Harris says as early as next week, the government may announce plans for reopening the borders.
He made the comment in an interview with ZIZ following the Opening Session of Parliament on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said whatever decision is taken must be done so under the advice of the health authorities.
“I would say that perhaps by next week we can. It is a matter that is always under constant advice of the National Emergency Operations Centre and in particular the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, and Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson. And they know that the government wants to do business to the rest of the world at the earliest convenience but we want to do it in a healthy way,” he said.
He said the health authorities have already been putting protocols for larger arrivals in place and they were used for the recent return of Ross University students.
“This would be the largest reentry of persons into the national space of St. Kitts and Nevis. The lessons from this particular event will of course build into how well we can move forward,” he said.
St. Kitts Nevis has closed its borders to commercial airlines for several months as part of efforts to restrict the spread of Covid-19.