By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has no reports of Bahamians being stuck in Canada after airlines there cancelled Caribbean flights.
Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau recently announced the country’s main airlines (Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing) were cancelling all services to Caribbean destinations and Mexico — so called “sun destinations” — until April 30.
The Canadian government has also mandated new testing and three-day quarantine periods upon arrival in the country in response to concerns about new coronavirus variants.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Bahamian ministry sought to clarify some social media accusations which claimed there was no Bahamian High Commissioner in Canada to assist those seeking to return home as Alvin Smith returned to The Bahamas last year after completing his tour of duty on November.
The statement noted: “The ministry wishes to clarify that while there is currently no high commissioner in Canada, there is a very competent foreign service officer in the post, Ms Chanelle Brown, who is serving as chargé d’affaires until High Commissioner Designate, Kenneth Russell is in post. The ministry reported 18 November 2020 on the end of the tour of duty of High Commissioner Smith and that Ms Brown would serve as chargé.
“Ms Brown and the team are in close contact at all times with the Bahamian community in Canada. Reports from the chargé are that the orders to give effect to the measures announced by the (Canadian) federal government are not yet in place.
“It would be premature for the High Commission to make a general announcement until the government has provided more details. Furthermore, while the airlines will be making arrangements with their customers who are in Canada to organise flights home, no Bahamians have reported concerns to the High Commission….the High Commission, as it always does, will monitor the situation closely and take steps needed if any national is found to be in distress.”
Comments
Kalikgold 3 years, 2 months ago
Canadian Premier? lol I think you meant Prime Minister
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 2 months ago
I don't understand Canada's objective here, they stopped flights from the Caribbean and Mexico but still allow flights from the US? If it was actually about controlling the virus the US would be first on the list.
Weird....
C2B 3 years, 2 months ago
The objective is to stop Canadians from travelling for non-essential reasons and getting mutations of the virus. The US-Canadian trading relationship is one of the largest in the world and can not be disrupted without major economic fallout in Canada. That's just not the case with the "Sun destinations".
johnmcntsh 3 years, 2 months ago
There was a lot of vitriol when the US did it. Where is the same anger when Canada does it? The complaints about Biden and the new government seem to be missing when the Canadians do the same thing. No complaints about Prime Minister Trudeau. I am confounded.
Proguing 3 years, 2 months ago
Well I guess we will not be reading any more letters from Canadians complaining that the Bahamian government is making it too difficult for them to get here. Maybe they can now direct their letters to their idiotic Prime Minister.
banker 3 years, 2 months ago
Actually, the reason for this is to prevent Canadians, including spring-breakers and other vacationers who do not practice safe COVID from coming back to Canada and spreading the virus. Prior to this, there was a rule that if you went on vacation and came back from the sun destinations, you had to pay $2000 to spend three days in a COVID quarantine hotel and get tested. This didn't deter winter-weary Canadians who would gladly pay the fee and lose 3 days, so the government toughened up the rules by banning flights. You can still fly to the USA and catch a flight from there, but you can't do it on the same ticket with connecting flights recorded. You have to buy two separate tickets and treat it as two distinct flights.
C2B 3 years, 2 months ago
There is a term for Bahamians who choose to spend Jan-Feb in Canada. Unfortunately it can't be written here. LOL
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