Tobago beaches could reopen if 70% of residents are vaccinated
If 70 percent of Tobagonians get vaccinated against COVID-19, the island’s beaches may be reopened, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis has said.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Magdalena Grand Resort after an announcement that a 200-room Marriott hotel would be built on the island, Dennis said, “If we can get to a point of vaccinating maybe 70 percent of the population, there might be some possibility for us to enjoy the reopening of the beaches and a return of more meaningful domestic tourism,” Dennis said.
He said hoteliers were able to “breathe” amid the pandemic when domestic tourism was allowed before this latest lockdown.
Dennis said the Government was doing its part to continue to support hoteliers. He told the hoteliers are also expected to make serious efforts to survive the pandemic's current economic hardships.
“We must understand that for us to return to some semblance of normalcy, it depends on the safety that is guaranteed in doing so, and based on the information that is available to me, that safety can only be guaranteed through vaccination,” Dennis said.
Asked about issues raised by some hoteliers about not being able to access Government grants, Dennis said in several cases; those businesses did not qualify. He told some businesspeople had not been paying their taxes or making National Insurance (NIS) payments for their employees.
Dennis said issues related to reopening activity are not unique to T&T.
“Governments all over the world are grappling with this and that is why you will find a number of them have turned to drastic measures, making vaccinations mandatory because again, based on the information available to me, it is the only way for us to return to some level of normalcy.”
Asked if his comment about beach reopening came after discussions with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Dennis said he was not willing to discuss the details of those conversations. He said the Prime Minister gave a commitment to reopening some sectors at the end of September based on vaccination rates.
“I am simply saying that if you want the beaches to reopen, vaccination will be the way to get to that point. February 2022 soon come and maybe we have to vaccinate to gyrate when that time comes,” Dennis said.
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