By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
CHIEF Superintendent of Police Zhivago Dames said commercial airlines have been fined thousands of dollars for letting passengers enter this country without the required documents, such as the travel health visa.
He said police officers and COVID-19 ambassadors have seen an increase recently in this type of situation.
“Over the holiday weekend we issued some 29 citations,” he said yesterday. “Included in that were citations to a number of commercial airlines for allowing persons to enter into the country without required documents and each passenger was cited for entering the country without the required documents. The airlines were cited $2,000 for allowing passengers to come on to their flights and passengers were also fined. Overall, the fines amounted to $14,500.
“Over the last four weeks we have seen an increase in airlines allowing passengers to come to New Providence without the required documents, moreso without having the required health visa. In the case over the holiday, these were persons travelling from outside The Bahamas.”
CSP Dames also said two businesses were cited over the weekend for operating despite being prohibited from doing so in the competent authority’s Emergency Powers Orders. A business was also cited for having a social gathering beyond the number of people allowed. Overall, the citations issued over the holiday weekend amounted to $29,000.
“Based on the data that we have, this was a decrease over what we have seen over the other holidays and previous months,” he said.
CSP Dames said so far this year, officers have issued about $900k in citations. He said officers are also ensuring only vaccinated people are enjoying benefits outlined in the rules, such as the ability to dine indoors.
“We know that restaurants are allowed to have inside dining with people who are fully vaccinated. The COVID Enforcement Unit has been going around to restaurants to check this out. I’m pleased to say the ones we have entered into, persons were fully vaccinated. We did visit a prohibited social gathering where people mentioned that they were fully vaccinated and we found that to be otherwise and they were warned or cited.
“I think I just want to say to the populace, continue to do their best to follow the protocols and the rules set down by the competent authority,” he said. “The rules are there for all of our safety and protection.”
Comments
Clamshell 2 years, 9 months ago
Apparently the airlines that were fined do not have names. Nice work, Tribune. Fearless reporting, hah.
JavonCooper 2 years, 9 months ago
Keeping in mind this request is coming from someone with the name "Clamshell" "Clamshell"is requesting the real-names of these commercial airlines. This is what we call a Contradiction.
Clamshell 2 years, 9 months ago
If I was fined by the government, I would be fined under my real name.
professionalbahamian 2 years, 9 months ago
What b$llsh#t.
Only vaccinated allowed inside a restaurant after all this time! Probably 70 % of the population now has herd immunity. Anyone still respecting science / Data at the top? Might as well label the tables - and add unvaccinated locations scattered amongst vaccinated tables for protection lol- next it will be only certain colours allowed indoors or nationalities - think about it.
Better yet just offer free rapid antigen tests at the f front door.
Let the vaccinated enjoy their protection and remove their fear but stop taking away everyone else’s freedoms!
baclarke 2 years, 9 months ago
This inept government seems to thrive on fear and aims to divide the populace, a false dichotomy of vaccinated vs unvaccinated. Can't wait to vote these guys out of office.
ohdrap4 2 years, 9 months ago
Proud and loud is going to turn you in.
tribanon 2 years, 9 months ago
I'm with you.....not even the PLP on their worst day could be as bad as these guys on their best day! And that's of course saying a whole hell-of-a-lot!!!
John 2 years, 9 months ago
D’Aguilar says the hotels were ‘90 percent full’ during the US Independence weekend. And whilst the hotels seem to be doing a good job monitoring their guests, airlines must also be accountable. An infected person on a three hour flight has the potential of infecting many others. Then there’s also other issue of cruise ships, especially those that are home porting here. So passengers have to be flown in. Getting infected from someone on the flight can cause major problems for the cruise.
ColumbusPillow 2 years, 9 months ago
NOTE! You cannot get a Travel Visa unless you apply no more than 2 weeks of your arrival even if you are fully vaxxed! Most tourists plan on coming much more than 2 weeks before intended arrival How discouraging.
DillyTree 2 years, 9 months ago
It would be nice ot know who these airlines are so people can avoid flying with them. All it takes is one person who has not followed protocol to infect an entire plane or cruise ship. While nothing is 100%, the rules exist for a reason. If you're not willing to follow the rules -- stay home!
And that also applies to our local fools who think the rules don't apply to them. This isn't about YOU, folks!
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