‘SCRAPPING VISA A HUGE MISTAKE’: Minnis attacks decision to remove health visa requirement for locals

Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

As of Monday, December 13, 2021

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis says the Davis administration has made a “grave mistake” by removing the travel health visa requirement for Bahamians and residents who are returning to the country from international travel.

He believes the government should reconsider the decision, saying the data gleaned from the travel health visa was an important tool in contact tracing. He also said removing the requirement for returning citizens and residents opens up the possibility of fraudulent COVID-19 tests going undetected.

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“The government is making a grave and serious mistake,” he said yesterday.

“There is no shame in saying you were wrong, after all you’re talking about jeopardising the Bahamian economy as well as lives and (people’s) livelihood.

“This is an important health tool in terms of tracing and quarantine and (removing it is) a set-up for a disaster and catastrophe.

“The government is making a grave mistake (removing the travel visa requirement) with nothing in place and I advise them to reconsider.”

Last week, Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper announced that beginning today, citizens and residents will no longer need a travel health visa to come home from abroad.

The move was welcomed by Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville.

Mr Cooper said despite this change, testing requirements will remain in place and visitors with citizenship in other jurisdictions will still need a travel health visa to enter the country.

Dr Minnis said he doubts officials in the health and tourism sector are on board with the change.

“I find it very difficult to believe that the health professionals and tourism will agree to it, knowing the impact it will have on tourism, the economy and livelihood,” the Killarney MP said, adding that the decision will leave “our borders completely open”.

He said protocols in place under the travel visa system were there to help spot fraudulent tests.

Dr Minnis said his administration dealt with the issue of people presenting fraudulent COVID-19 tests to travel, however he said officials trained personnel to crack down on this practice. He questioned if the removal of the travel visa will lead to a proliferation of fake tests possibly going undetected.

“. . .We went through that process and we did that because it was difficult to confirm the validity of the tests.

“We had that problem before, we had excess training with personnel to ensure we were not exposed to fraudulent illegitimate tests. . .they have not said what process they are going to utilise, the airlines can’t confirm the legitimacy of the test.”

The health visa was implemented in November 2020 and had a fee attached in order to be obtained. Some people have welcomed the removal of the travel health visa requirement due to it being seen as an unneeded barrier for a person to re-enter their home country. Asked about this, Dr Minnis said while there were one or two problem areas with the system, it was something that was applauded by other countries which asked for advice on how to implement the system in their jurisdictions.

“We would have had one or two problematic areas, in any new system you encounter challenges, but you don’t dismantle it, especially when other countries are trying to model after that. So they are interested in it and The Bahamas wants to dismantle it? That is one of the most effective tools for contact tracing.”

Dr Minnis said data from the country’s first wave showed that the cases were not as a result of tourists entering this country, but Bahamians travelling home from overseas.

“You have private aircrafts coming, (people) coming in on boats, the southern borders are open, how are they going to monitor all that?

“The Omicron virus doubles every two to three days, Delta is still flaring up. . .if you watch the movement of the wave it’s moving from the north (United States) coming down to the south, it’s moving slowly towards us,” Dr Minnis said.

Bigrocks 2 years, 4 months ago

Yada Yada Yada

KapunkleUp 2 years, 4 months ago

You made things worse and lost. Now it's time to retire and shut up. Give others a chance to screw things up even more.

M0J0 2 years, 4 months ago

He always lost and begn for attention, they only removed the payment option which should of never been implemented for Bahamian citizens.

pro_test 2 years, 4 months ago

This Man Head good "jeopardising the Bahamian economy as well as lives and (people’s) livelihood". He trying to be funny hey? LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 4 months ago

lol. "this man head good"

mandela 2 years, 4 months ago

The PM who called an election at the height of a killer pandemic, please former PM Mr. Minnis go away, anywhere, just please go.

TalRussell 2 years, 4 months ago

I tried reposition my cheeks stop laughin' at this man but still it took like 20 minutes that feels just like Gas but with a real hurtin' began go away and everything else like this and that my face returned normal, ― Yes?

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 4 months ago

yes

ohdrap4 2 years, 4 months ago

Tell us commander, what do you think? 'Cause we know that you love all that power Is it on then, are we on the brink? We wish you'd all throw in the towel

We'll not fade out too soon Not in this finest hour Whistle your favourite tune We'll send a card and a flower

Saying it's a mistake It's a mistake It's a mistake It's a mistake, ooh

OLD ROCK SONG BY MEN AT WORK

TalRussell 2 years, 4 months ago

Looks like de Guardian's Revolutionist talkie show host is resetting come woken up in New Year of 2022. But apparently not sufficient talkie disciple start em's talkie show at the appointed hour?
Says em's goin' off the liquor and crème soda pop and everything else like this and that readjustment de comrade goin' “De Yang method to Small up heself! and shed bad habits.'” But will de Revolutionist allow the return of Anthon and Sparky de Firecracker, early in de show's programming New Year, ― Yes?

JokeyJack 2 years, 4 months ago

Yes, God forbid something good should be done for those disgusting locals !!!

DDK 2 years, 4 months ago

This former PM was a HUGE mistake!

TalRussell 2 years, 4 months ago

What's that stinky smell?
It's de smell originating from de true colours as de schoolyard bullying ways was used over his politically appointed, and indebted, colleagues', witnessed during 'em's, cut short stint as de UK Colony's, most failed premiership....And everything else like this and that made 'em such embarrassing excuse occupy de office of de premier, ― Yes?

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

What a certifiable pycho sicko of the highest order!

And the longer Minnis remains in parliament, the less chance the FNM party will ever have of being resurrected from the dead.

What on earth were the Killarney voters who voted for him last September thinking?! How could they have been so foolish to let him win in the lowest voter turnout election ever? They should have turned out at the polls in droves to ensure this lunatic was voted out of parliament forevermore!

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 4 months ago

this guy...

birdiestrachan 2 years, 4 months ago

What Countries are trying to model after doc Travel VISA??. he declined to say.

Doctor Darville is a very intelligent man " roc wit doc" need to catch up.

He is trying to remain relevant. but he is the NO COME BACK kid.

Alan1 2 years, 4 months ago

The Health Visa is a disaster for tourism. So many complaints from travel agents and even regular visitors. Why bother coming to our country with all the hassles and expense of the Visa when they can go nearly everywhere else with no problems. The average tourist just wants a sun and sea vacation. They can go other places. It is bad marketing. Just requiring a proper double vaccination certificate is enough for everywhere else.

John 2 years, 4 months ago

Apparently Minnis doesn’t want to lose he seat on Da Kanoo. How much millions did it set sail with from the visa revenue again? How much revenue eventually made it into government’s coffers? Not much reports say. So several millions shared among two or three pardners is still millions each. And of course at least one is not Bahamian.

John 2 years, 4 months ago

“The Omicron virus doubles every two to three days, Delta is still flaring up. . .if you watch the movement of the wa”ve it’s moving from the north (United States) coming down to the south, it’s moving slowly towards us,” Dr Minnis said.’

John 2 years, 4 months ago

Minnis may have a good point but is he mixing apples with oranges? Firstly The Bahamas has already gone through its wave of the Delta virus. Was it from July to October. And wasn’t it through the height of this most deadly wave that Minnis decided to call an albeit early election. And wasn’t it due to , during and shortly after these elections that this country experienced its highest numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid? And just not on New Providence and Grand Bahama be even down to the Southern most island of the country. Vaccinated people who were themselves ‘protected’ went to islands where the majority of the population had never been exposed to the virus and so persons became infected. Some got sick and unfortunately some died. . . As for the Omicron strain, Doctors and experts from South Africa still maintain it is nothing to worry about, not beyond the point that any virus that is a national or global threat should be of great concern. But Omicron currently presents itself as a mild cold or flu. And the major symptoms is fatigue or excess tiredness in the patient. There is hardly a need for supplemental oxygen in hospitalized patients and most are treated with steroids and released within two days, compared to patients who remain in hospital an average of eight days when suffering from other strains of Covid. . . . And whilst the Omicron strain is highly contagious and fast moving (infections double every two days ). Deaths from Omicron are rare. In fact deaths decline even after the number of Omnicron increases. . . And the symptoms among the vaccinated, the unvaccinated and those who receive booster shots bare basically the same. And experts remain hopeful that because of its rapid spread and mild symptoms, the Omicron strain will create natural or herd immunity that can bring an end to Covid-19. And Daryl Miller would say, ‘Let us (all) pray.’

John 2 years, 4 months ago

In OTHER NEWS: Do you know that if Hubert Minnis did not make the deadly mistake and call an early misguided election in the peak of the most deadly Covid wave, he would still be Prime Minister and the FNM would still be the government of The Bahamas, with FIVE MONTHS left in their term? Even as the economy recovers. . .

China is saying the UK is now the hotspot for Covid infections and had imposed travel restrictions. .

Boris Johnson of the UK tells Britons to prepare for a tidal wave of new infections as the Omicron variants loom. He says medical facilities will be overwhelmed and urges residents to get vaccinated and take booster shots. .

. The US also urging residents to take vaccines and booster shots, BUT some officials URGE residents to go back to wearing masks, especially indoors in public buildings. Some indoor activities will be halted or restricted as the Delta strain continues to ravage parts of that country. .

South Africa claims that despite the increasing cases of Omicron (doubling every two days). The number of deaths and hospitalizations are steady or decreasing. Mostly due to the symptoms of Omicron being mild like a cold or flu. . .AS the US tells its residents to MASK UP, Bay Street and other parts of the country have apparently been MASK FREE zones for visitors to the country.

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