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ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 17, 2020 (CMC) – Tourism Minister, Clarice Modeste, has denied reports that an international airline will be resuming flights to the island, as of May 7.
“There has been no approval for any flights, bringing in people, at this time. This will be carefully researched, and we will depend on the healthcare professionals to guide us in this matter,” said Modeste, who was speaking on a local radio program, recently.
On March 23, the government announced that, until further notice, all airports in the country will be closed to all commercial passenger traffic. The only flights that will allowed are those with medical supplies and medical personnel.
However, the airport had accommodated several flights, to land and depart, with outgoing passengers, who are citizens of the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Modeste told listeners that whenever a decision is made to recommence commercial flights to the Maurice Bishop International Airport, the appropriate authorities on the island will make the announcement.
“When the lockdown is released, the prime minister, or his designate, will, in an official way, do that,” she said, while pointing out that different entities may have a certain way of doing business, but the laws of the land must not be violated.
As part of control measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, which has infected millions and killed thousands, the Keith Mitchell-led administration closed the country’s borders in mid-March.
At present, there are 14 confirmed COVID-19 positive cases on the island, with no indication of significant community spread.
The island is presently in a 24-hour mandatory curfew, as part of the State of Emergency, which will conclude on April 20.
