Minister Johnson Smith welcomed home 119 Jamaicans (who arrived on the TUI Charter), including approximately 75 crew members from across 6 ships owned by the same cruise line and 40 Jamaicans who were stranded in the UK because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jamaica yesterday welcomed 120 nationals, who returned under the Controlled Re-entry Protocols implemented in the context of the COVID19 pandemic.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith who was present for their arrival at the Norman International Airport noted that, “It was important for the Government that we be present to welcome our nationals home. Our High Commissioner H.E. George Ramocan, his wife and a senior Consular Officer were present to ensure they were seen safely off from the airport in Bournemouth, U.K, and we felt it was similarly important that I be there to see them safely landed. Our processes are new, and all the travellers have been experiencing different levels of anxiety, so for us it was important that they know we have been with them and working for them.”
The Minister noted that, “They all wore masks and most had gloves, and I also made sure to practice appropriate social distancing, but it was good to let them know that the Government of Jamaica understands the challenges some of them have been experiencing, thank them for their patience and understanding, and that we are pleased that they are home safely. It was good to speak more personally with some of them as well.”
Johnson Smith further stated, “I continue to urge Jamaicans to be patient and understand that the decisions that are being made, are to protect the health of our entire population. With limited resources, including quarantine and isolation capacity, but with the hundreds of nationals wanting to come home, it may take weeks before some applications come through.”
Minister Johnson Smith reminded the country, “We are all still in a global pandemic. Reasonable decisions have to be taken in the interests of the entire country, ensuring that our public health workers and our public health system are not overwhelmed. It is really important that our nationals here and overseas, appreciate this.”
Arriving by way of a TUI Charter from the United Kingdom, the group of nationals included crew members of the Marella Discovery 2 and several other ships owned by the same cruise line as well as other Jamaican nationals who have been stranded in the United Kingdom (UK) as a result of the global pandemic.
They have entered state quarantine, the cost of which is being borne by the Government of Jamaica (GoJ).
