Prime Minister Gives Update on National and Regional Response to Coronavirus
The Government of Saint Lucia continues to keep the nation informed on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation.
On Tuesday 10th March 2020 at a sitting of the House of Assembly, after an address by the Minister of Health and Wellness Senator the Hon. Mary Isaac, The Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Hon. Allen Chastanet proceeded to give an update on the National and Regional Response to the COVID-19 global crisis.
Prime Minister Chastanet started by acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Health, particularly the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and her team for mobilising the country into a state of vigilance and readiness.
According to the Prime Minister: “We have made initial efforts and committed significant financial resources. We continue to look at alternatives and make adjustments to our approach ensuring that we update the population on the specifics. I assure you that we are working aggressively to find a solution for a worst case scenario.”
The Prime Minister spoke specifically to recent developments regarding the harmonization of CARICOM on health protocols for cruise ships and yachts. CARICOM acted swiftly, putting together a committee which included the Ministers of Health with a subcommittee responsible for preparing a preliminary report.
After two weeks of meetings and collaboration the Prime Minister stated that: “All countries have signed onto the protocol and I can report that we all have a common protocol which establishes Standard Operating Procedures that will govern how Saint Lucia and the rest of the region deals with the cruise industry.”
Prime Minister Chastanet also informed Parliament that a Caribbean Tourism Conference is being organised by the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association (CHTA) and the World Tourism Organisation to discuss tourism and the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) fall out and the preservation of global confidence in Caribbean Tourism.
In concluding his address to Parliament, the Prime Minister cautioned the nation to prepare as though a hurricane is coming.
The Prime Minister stated: “If we are successful in spreading the word, practicing good hygiene and effectively changing our behaviours, then this is in fact the vaccine: to slow down or eliminate the ability of the virus to spread.”
For more information on the National Response to the Coronavirus visit facebook.com/ministryofhealthsaintlucia.com