#KINGSTON, March 6 (JIS): The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) says the nation’s immigration officers are adequately prepared to monitor all official and unofficial entry points into the country for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
Speaking
with JIS News, PICA’s Chief
Executive Officer, Andrew Wynter, said immigration officers have been educated
about the necessary precautionary measures to take following the outbreak of COVID-19.
“We
have been having sensitisation sessions with them, and these sessions are held
in association with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and public health
persons, at the ports of entry,” he pointed out.
“We are also keeping them informed
about the various developments regarding the virus, as we have been meeting
with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and they have kept us in the loop,
especially as it relates to announcements or any new measures that are coming
out,” Mr. Wynter added.
File Photo: PICA officers by JIS News
He
noted that immigration officers had also been allocated cleaning agents since
the outbreak.
“We
have issued them gloves, hand sanitisers, wipes and spoken to them about how to
clean down their areas, and we have also issued them masks,” he said.
Mr.
Wynter argued that partnerships with other Government organisations are
critical.
“We work
closely with them in order to ensure that whatever policies, procedures and
measures taken are implemented by us. We collaborate with the Quarantine Authority, so if there are
passengers who have to be quarantined or have not met the health requirements,
some of them have been refused entry to Jamaica,” he explained.
According to Mr
Wynter, all major ports of entry are being monitored by the relevant
authorities.
“The two international
airports, the cruise-ship areas, all the official ports and some unofficial
areas like the dock clubs are being manned by our officials. Jamaica is an
island, so we have some unique challenges, so a majority of the persons
visiting the country come through our two international airports and there are persons
who are coming off cruise ships who come to one of the five cruise-ship piers,
and all these are monitored by both immigration and quarantine officers,” he said.
From Bahamas Ministry of Health
Citizens
are being encouraged to educate themselves about COVID-19.
“We encourage
all Jamaicans to play their part. We have a responsibility, so if you have
friends overseas, advise them that they need to go to quarantine and what the
measures are that they should take. If you need information, visit the Ministry
of Health and Wellness’ website, as they have a wealth of information,” he advised.
COVID-19, which was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has, so far, claimed the lives of more than 3,300 people, with nearly 97,000 people infected in more than 80 countries.
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KINGSTON, Jamaica– President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, has praised the strength of local and regional public-private sector partnerships, while congratulating tourism stakeholders across Jamaica for their strong level of preparedness in weathering the dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Beryl, which impacted the island this week.
“Jamaica was spared the worst of the hurricane and we have now returned to regular business operations,” said Madden-Greig, who rode out the storm at her office in Kingston. She reported that Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios opened today, while Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will open on Friday, July 5, after minor repairs are completed.
“We have no reports of any guests being injured during the passage of the storm, and the majority of the hotels and the tourism industry in general have emerged unscathed,” Madden-Greig added.
However, she expressed concerns for the south coast of the island, where many local communities were impacted, along with several independent hotels and villa operations.
“We will be including these operators in our disaster relief efforts, particularly in the Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth area,” she noted, explaining however that she had little doubt that this resilient community will rebound in the shortest possible time.
The trade association leader was encouraged with the reports emanating from the Cayman Islands, which confirmed no major impact on the sector there. “We are thankful to God for sparing us for the most part, and we are now resolved to getting our industry back on track, while serving communities (especially those in the Grenadines) who are in dire need at this time,” said Madden-Greig.
Individuals, businesses and organizations that want to contribute to regional hurricane relief efforts may make a monetary donation atwww.chtaef.com.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is committed to work with Member States and other stakeholders to implement a “forward-thinking regional migration policy,” according to its Assistant Secretary General, Alison Drayton.
Addressing the opening of a recent three-day workshop titled “Towards a Regional Approach to a Migration Policy in the Caribbean,” in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she said it is evident that the Region has been facing, and will continue to face, various challenges that affect the lives and livelihoods of Caribbean citizens.
“Namely, due to Climate Change, which has amplified displacements and the need for persons to migrate from areas that threaten their livelihoods or limit their opportunities to prosper and provide for their families,” the ASG told the forum, adding that the Climate Change and natural disasters remain “key drivers of displacements in the Region.”
“With the frequency and magnitude of events likely to increase in the future, this has contributed to many regional States facing demographic decline, which has impacted their workforce, our younger population seeking job opportunities outside the Region, and many key sectors being negatively impacted,” she stated.
The CARICOM official underscored that tackling the challenges would be “a tall order,” hence the Regional body’s commitment that would help address various aspects of Regional migration and human mobility as determined by Member State priorities.
Lauding the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the workshop, and the and valuable technical contributions made by the United Nations (UN) Migration Group and financial contributions from the United States Department of State, the European Union, and the Inter-American Development Bank, she said the their efforts have been significant.
The contribution made by International Organization for Migration (IOM), has advanced the policy, with provision of consultancies to coordinate the Community’s work through the Regional Approach to Migration Policy (RAMP) Steering Committee and development of the framework, she highlighted.
For Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister, the Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, his country is also committed to contributing to the development of a regional migration policy framework that reflects the priorities of the people of the Caribbean Community.
“As we embark on this journey together, let us harness the expertise, the insights and the experiences that we already have among us as we gather here today to shape the policy framework that is in front of us,” the Minister said, adding that the current migration realities “should prepare us for future challenges.”
The technical workshop brought together National Focal Points from the CARICOM Member States, and representatives of relevant regional and international organisations, building on IOM’s Migration Governance Indicator (MGI) assessments, and other consultations held with national Governments of CARICOM Member States in 2023.
#Kingston, Jamaica, July 19, 2024 – The Government has earmarked $300 million to ramp up dengue mitigation activities, inclusive of fogging, treatment of mosquito breeding sites, removal of bulky waste and drain cleaning, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
Addressing the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 16), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the funds have been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which will spearhead vector-control activities over the next six weeks.
He further informed that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and National Works Agency (NWA), “are technically involved in this dengue mitigation [exercise] by trying to clear the environmental conditions that would create the growth in the vector”.
Mr. Holness highlighted the potential for a significant increase in the dengue vector, the Aedes aegpyti mosquito, which breeds primarily in containers, consequent on the hurricane’s passage.
“We know that many communities are being plagued by the increase in the mosquito population… and other vectors [such as] roaches, rats and flies. Therefore, the cleanup and removal and clearing of waterlogged areas is of critical importance,” he emphasised.
The Prime Minister noted that the hot summer conditions, along with rainfall, will further contribute to heightening the possibility of an increase in these vectors and the transmission of diseases.
As such, he appealed to Jamaicans to properly store water in covered containers and destroy mosquito breeding sites around their homes.
“I urge all homeowners who are storing water and… leaving the containers open, that an easy way to control the growth of the mosquito population in your households is to cover the containers,” Mr. Holness said.
He pointed out that the NSWMA will shortly announce a schedule for the removal of bulky waste from homes.
Prime Minister Holness further indicated that the NWA will be actively cleaning various gullies.
Dengue symptoms include fever, headache, and joint and muscle pains. These are often resolved through rest and adequate hydration along with the use of paracetamol to treat the accompanying fever.