MS Braemar (file photo)
The Ministry of Transport has released the following statement regarding the MS Braemar cruise ship:
The Ministry of Transport and Local Government reiterates that the MS Braemar cruise ship will not be permitted to dock at any port in The Bahamas and no persons will be permitted to disembark the vessel.
As stated previously, the Government of The Bahamas will provide the Braemar with humanitarian assistance.
In a Diplomatic Note issued this evening, the United Kingdom requested from the Government of The Bahamas clearance for two British Government personnel to enter the country via air.
The British personnel will deploy to Freeport, Grand Bahama on Saturday 14 March to help the High Commissioner with ensuring medicines reach the MS Braemar.
They will be in The Bahamas for a short period while the ship is refueling and the Braemar will leave The Bahamas immediately thereafter.
In order to receive this assistance, the vessel is scheduled to anchor 25 miles out to sea in the northern Bahamas away from any land mass.
The Braemar is carrying five persons who have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) continues to be in constant communication with the owners of the Braemer, which is a Bahamas-flagged ship.
The BMA continues to monitor the well-being of passengers and crew with updates at regular intervals.
The Government of The Bahamas reaffirms its continued commitment to take action in the best interest of the public health and safety and well-being of the Bahamian people and residents of The Bahamas.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people who have contracted the coronavirus and who are at immediate risk.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
This is all utter nonsense and just as bad as letting this Covid-19 carrier dock at one of our major ports. Bahamians and British personnel resident in the Bahamas who step foot on this infectious ship to interact with its crew and/or passengers are at great risk of being infected with Covid-19 and will therefore be endangering the lives of many Bahamians when they return to shore.
What should have been done is simple. The UK government should have arranged with the US government for the US Coast Guard to use one or more of its helicopters to air drop the necessary supplies, medicines, etc. on to this most dangerous ship. Our government should have only allowed access to our territorial waters for that singular purpose and should have otherwise completely stayed out of this matter.
We are a small highly vulnerable island nation that has nowhere near the resources that the US and UK governments can devote to this matter by liaising directly with each other. Minnis needs to stop trying to win foreign friends and start solely focusing on protecting the Bahamian people and residents of the Bahamas from this deadly pandemic. Why didn't Minnis himself put the simple US Coast Guard helicopter solution to the British High Commission in The Bahamas? Where is this man's common sense and sense of duty to the Bahamian people?! US Coast Guard ships could also assist with any necessary refueling so that this ship can get on its way to a destination other than The Bahamas.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 1 month ago
They could have let the ship come to our anchorage, no one will need to actually go on board, all they need is their provisions loaded and fuel pumped, no reason for that 25 mile bumper this virus is not airborne. This is just not a big deal at all. I go out on the launch to clear her in before I'd get on a plane to Nassau....
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
Covid-19 can float in the air for up to three hours. It can also last for more than 24 hours on most surfaces, especially metal and plastic surfaces. Please get your info from reliable sources.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
The UK is now a raging hot spot for Covid-19 with the number of identified cases rising exponentially with each passing hour. Our government should be suspending all travel between the Bahamas and the UK with immediate effect, at least for the next 30 days. Spain is about to go into total lockdown if it has not done so already. And notwithstanding Italy's lockdown, the virus has taken thousands of lives. Europe is definitely the new epicentre for Covid-19 and the Bhamas should have rigorous air and sea passenger travel restrictions imposed on all European countries for at least the next 30 days.
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
Ma Comrades, each ministerial portfolio has been charged to appear be forcefully reacting to the cruise ship's dilemma a.k.a pre general election talk up the official red party's campaign line's - full of absurdité de fumier de cheval. Quais non!
westbayst 4 years, 1 month ago
Its interesting. I always thought The Bahamas was a christian nation. I'm not seeing much evidence of cristian charity on these blogs. The stricken ship has a Bahamian flag, pays Nassau port registration fees, but is being very minimally supported by The Bahamas in its hour of need, and even less so by the poeple frequenting this blog. The majority of passengers of the ship are British, and are now stranded at sea with no clear way to alight. I seem to remember the UK Government was very proactive in coming to The Bahamas' assitance when Hurrican Dorian struck. Not a lot of reciprical assitance being provided, so much for The Commonwealth pulling together.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
We supplied the ship with food, water and fuel.
This isnt easy for either side but I don't think it has anything to do with being Christian, it's an infectious disease. But for arguments sake, the Christian mantra is do unto others...If I was on the ship I would want off it and the quickest way to get back to England. The best solution here might be to get the British naval hospital to aid with testing, ensuring that everyone is tested and that those infected are transferred safely to the airport. Britain sends a jet to transport it's people home. I'd forgo having them travel through the airport facility, let the buses head straight to the plane. Then there's the post cleanup of the buses used between the ship and the airport. Mindful that these same buses will likely be used to transport school children.
To put things in perspective on the monumental task this would be for the Bahamas. Our mitigation plan has a total of 20 beds. The ship has 5 infected.
Also comparing the destruction of a hurricane to the impact of an infectious disease is a false equivalence. We did not see international aid organizations for example organizing any efforts to go into China to help with infected persons. This is simply a different situation.
westbayst 4 years, 1 month ago
Excatly - a path straight through Nassau or Freeport ports and airports straight back to the UK should be being facilitated. Leaving hundreds of elderly and scared people on a ship possibly for over a week to cross the atlantic is cruel. If the Bahamas is not able to cope with such an effort, it raises the question on why it is the port of registry for so many vessels worldwide. It is a humanatrian crisis on which the Bahamas should be assisting.
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 1 month ago
Dont know...we have 20 beds total. It was easy to write it. Seems logical enough and doable but it's an infectious disease it's no easy decision for a small country
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 1 month ago
Nah, just fuel them up, load up provisions and enjoy the cruise back...
Bonefishpete 4 years, 1 month ago
Bahamian registered ship not allowed to dock in Bahamas? Don't seem right. Then strip all Bahamian registered ships from the rolls. Can't have it both ways.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
Your thought process on this is flawed. Would you feel the same way about a Bahamian registered ship known to be carrying a suicidal terrorist group armed with a detonable atomic bomb?
westbayst 4 years, 1 month ago
But that's not the case. It has neither on board. It has some elderly very scared people who just want to get home. Why can the Bahamian authorties, with the resources of being one of the largest registry of ships worldwide, make for an easy path of these individuals straight to repatiration flights, as has happened in Japan and the US.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 1 month ago
Stop playing to human emotions and go save some animals.
The Bahamas already has many more human lives to protect than it can handle with its very limited resources. And among those lives onshore that need protecting are many elderly British citizens who are residents of The Bahamas.
TalRussell 4 years, 1 month ago
The Commonwealth is made up of Colonies and former British Colonies. All its comrade nations and colonies - remain members - solely by their own choosing. Over the past 40 years I think it can be said that the Commonwealth has become a much envied crown jewel. But there remains much yet to achieve - and that are serious issues surrounding the true intent behind CAROCOM. As citizens of the Commonwealth, we have retained the right to vote in UK's General and local elections.
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