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Info & UpdatesRestoring Travelers’ Confidence in the Eastern CaribbeanThe Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through its Regional Tourism andHealth Program and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)Commission, is seeking to restore travelers’ confidence in the Eastern Caribbean.The Tourism and Health Programme (THP) aims to support a travel and tourismproduct that is safe and secure, and provides an authentic and meaningfulexperience to travelers to the region while protecting the health and wellbeing oflocal communities. The programme is expected to align the private sector tocommon standards to ensure the safety of its workforce and travelers, making thesector more responsive to the new “Covid-19 normal,” as well as emerging healththreats. This includes:- Enhanced capacity in food safety, health and environment sanitation.- Industry-wide, real-time tourism early warning and response surveillance system(THiS) to avoid and reduce illness spread and negative publicity.- Increase in the reputation, comparative advantage, hence marketability of traveland tourism in the OECS.Across the OECS Member States, THP now has over 670 tourism facilities registeredon THiS, 6,662 tourism sector workers have been trained in CARPHA’s Covid-19Guidelines for Reopening of Caribbean Tourism and Travel, and 59 facilities havebeen awarded the Health Safer Tourism (HST) Stamp.New RulesThis information was correct to the best of our knowledge as this issue of Compasswent to press. But rules are always changing, so check with Noonsite.com andindividual island sources for the latest updates.• DOMINICAN REPUBLICCruisers who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can only enter the DR atmarinas that are considered “all inclusive,” such as Ocean World Marina and PuertoBahía Marina on the north coast. Contact other marinas regarding their status. Allinclusivemarinas can advise on PCR testing.To enter public places outsideall-inclusives, visitors and Dominicans alike must presentan identity document and a vaccination card or proof of a negative PCR test takenwithin seven days. Any unvaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors already in thecountry must carry a valid PCR negative test at all times in public places.• BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDSAs of October 1st, fully vaccinated persons from overseas entering the BritishVirgin Islands will no longer be required to apply for entry using the BVI GatewayPortal entry system. For vaccinated crews, the BVI Customs Department is nowusing SailClear as its pre-arrival registration portal. Captains planning to visitshould register at the SailClear website and then complete the requiredarrival notification.Premier of the Virgin Islands, Honorable Andrew Fahie, said that the governmentmade this exemption to address some of the travel concerns attached to the entryprocess. However, the Premier stated that entry is dependent on the following:- Proof of vaccination with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organizationmust be shown, with the second dose administered no less than two weeks beforeentry into the territory.- Upon entry into the BVI each traveler must provide the results of a negative PCRor Rapid Antigen test, no older than five days.- Travelers will be subjected to a Rapid Antigen test upon arrival. (Positive cases willbe quarantined as per local protocols.)Children 17 and under will also bypass the BVI Portal entry process. However, eachminor must provide the results of a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen test no older thanfive days.• ANTIGUA & BARBUDAFrom October 1st, all incoming visitors to Antigua & Barbuda must be vaccinated.The advisory also changes testing requirements to a Covid-19 RT-PCR test takenwithin four days of their flight or from their date of setting sail. Ports of entry foryachts are English Harbour and Jolly Harbour.Also beginning October 1st, front-line workers in Antigua must also be vaccinated.Those exempted for medical or religious reasons are required to provide a negativeCovid-19 test to the Ministry of Health once in every 14-day period.• MONTSERRATMontserrat’s borders were re-opened to fully vaccinated visitors only from October1st. Visitors must produce a vaccination card which states that they have been fullyvaccinated at least 14 days prior to travel, and have a negative Covid-19 PCR orRNA test taken no earlier than five days prior to traveling.An online Access Declaration Form available at www.gov.ms must be filed atleast 72 hours before travel.Arriving vaccinated passengers must remain in quarantine for five days at theirplace of accommodation. On the fourth day an exit PCR test will be taken andonce negative, visitors would be released from quarantine.Visit www.visitmontserrat.com/travel-advisory for more information.• STATIAAll persons, except non-vaccinated visitors from high- and very high-risk countries,are allowed to enter St. Eustatius (Statia). However, the requirements describedbelow must be fulfilled. This is applicable for people entering by boat and peopleentering by plane.Those wishing to enter Statia must register and can only enter after havingreceived a pre-approval in the EHAS system — see www.statiagovernment.com/key-topics/covid-19/electronic-health-authorization-system-ehasIn addition, the captain/owner of a vessel must ask for permission to enter Statiaharbor through info.covid19@statiagov.com—Continued on next pageNOVEMBER 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 5
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