Good Morning Turks and Caicos, I would like to thank team TCI for their presentations in giving you an update on the state of COVID-19 within our islands.
I must say that since the beginning of the spike in early July, significant progress has been made to reduce the overall positive cases and control the spread of COVID-19. This is especially positive within the context of reopening schools for face to face learning. I would like to offer my condolences to the Gardiner family on their great loss yesterday, as well as to all those that have lost love ones since my last press conference.
Before commenting further on COVID-19, I would like to note how our number one industry is doing since the introduction of the new measures on September 1st 2021. The following statistics were provided by the TCI Airports Authority and the TCI Tourist Board. In terms of passenger arrivals, September 2021 saw a 10% increase in arrivals compared to September 2019 i.e. just over 22,000 passengers versus slightly over 20,000 passengers.
With the reintroduction of airline flights like Southwest Airlines and other carriers that will begin to fly again into our destination for the high season, we will continue to see positive growth.
In terms of projected room nights, October 2021 is projected to have 10% more bookings compared to October 2019. This is almost double the numbers from September 2021. As we look around, we can see more life and activity returning to these islands.
In East Harbour last week where cabinet held it’s Strategic Retreat, I can tell you that having stayed at the East Bay Resort several times previously that place was full of life and activity for the first time. The new management group has found a way to attract folks to visit and the future looks brighter for the Big South.
As we’ve all seen by now, just days ago, your good, good government, the people’s government signed the amended development agreement with Carnival Cruise Line for the return of ships to the Nation’s Capital Grand Turk for December 7th, 2021 along with a $25 Million pier extension project to accommodate bigger ships. This doesn’t even include the $4 million of infrastructural works that is allocated for improvements to get Grand Turk ready for the return of the cruising industry. All and all, I dare say in the words of Patrice Roberts “Better days are coming”.
Now to COVID-19. There will be no changes to the Health regulations as they currently stand. That is for several reasons.
1. We have made significant progress but we are not out of the woods just yet. Our Positivity rate is at 2.0% down from as high as 3.7% and we only have one person hospitalized in relation to COVID-19 directly. We unfortunately, are still on Level 3 on the CDC travel list which I believe is too high but I’m hopeful that we will be moved to least a level 2 after the next round of country assessments.
The second reason that there is no change. My Ministry is in the process of reviewing all protocols to find a long-term balance for the safety of lives and livelihoods. We are fast approaching an 80-85% vaccination rate for the adult segment of the population and are approaching 70% for all persons eligible for the vaccine inclusive of those 12-15 years of age where there is a low uptick.
At some pont personal responsibility will become the order of the day. While we may not relax all regulations at once, we do want to put in place the minimum amount of measures to produce the desired outcome, which again is balancing lives and livelihoods.
Thank you.
