The Guyana Government yesterday pushed back against criticisms that it had deliberately singled out Trinidad and Tobago citizens for stricter entry requirements in retaliation for Port of Spain’s notice that only persons with WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines could enter that country.
“The only reason TT was named in the order is because of its recent opening (of borders),” Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in whose name the Gazetted order was signed, told Stabroek News when contacted.
He said that government will today issue a statement to explain the amendment.
Sources told Stabroek News that at the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, “emotions ran high” between Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley over entry requirements for those vaccinated with non-World Health Organisation (WHO) approved vaccines. The source explained that Ali had argued for CARICOM to intervene so that countries accept visitors from member states who have been vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. Rowley countered that each state was sovereign and its respective leader had to determine what was best for its citizens, according to sources. The issue which went to caucus and took several hours ended with the decision that entry be left to the respective nations’ heads.
Currently, Barbados is not accepting persons who have been vaccinated with the Sputnik V which has formed the backbone of Guyana’s COVID vaccination campaign. Recently, Rowley emphasised at a press conference in Trinidad that Guyana was vaccinating with Sputnik V which had not been approved by the WHO.
Trinidad and Tobago on the 17th of July reopened its borders and has set rigid entry guidelines that bar citizens from countries like Guyana vaccinated by the non-approved Sputnik vaccine.
“Non-nationals who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed entry to Trinidad and Tobago at this time…Individuals are only considered to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 if 14 days have passed since they received the full dosage of a World Health Organisation-approved vaccine, i.e. 14 days after they have received a second dose in a 2-dose series or 14 days after they have received a single-dose vaccine,” T&T’s Ministry of National Security website states.
“All persons entering Trinidad and Tobago MUST have a Travel Pass, which should be obtained via this online gateway. Travelers who successfully complete the application process will be automatically granted a Travel Pass. The TTravel Pass can be printed or saved on a mobile device for use to board the flight and to gain entry into Trinidad and Tobago. At this time, Unvaccinated/Partially vaccinated nationals MUST enter the country through the Piarco Inter-national Airport in Trini-dad only. NB The possession of a TTravel Pass does NOT guarantee access to board the flight nor to enter Trinidad and Tobago. All travellers will still be subjected to the validation processes of both the relevant airline and the Border Control Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago,” the guidelines add.
Georgetown on Thurs-day amended its own order to state that T&T nationals must be both vaccinated and have a negative PCR test before they can enter.
“Regulation 17 of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after sub regulation (5), the following as subregulation (5A) – “ passengers, except for children, travelling to Guyana from Trinidad and Tobago who are not nationals of Guyana are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be allowed entry into Guyana,” the July 22nd Gazetted order states.
Last week Monday, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony had stated that the country’s current COVID-19 travel protocols were being reviewed.
Anthony had made the disclosure during one of his daily COVID-19 updates where he noted that there hasn’t been a high number of imported cases since the reopening of borders and air travel here. The Minister of Health had stated that the total number of imported cases that Guyana has reported remains at 53 and has been that way for some time now.
The current travel protocols state that persons desirous of entering Guyana are required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test. This PCR test must be no older than 72 hours and if persons’ tests are older they will be subjected to another test at the port of entry.
“So that has been the protocol that we have been following and we are currently reviewing our protocol,” he said, while adding that as vaccinations increase, authorities will now look at whether they can have both PCR tests and proof of vaccination as a requirement to enter Guyana.
He iterated, “We are reviewing our protocol and based on what the technical people have advised we will probably make changes. At this time however we continue to have the same protocols that we have instituted.”
