CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - DESPITE the national measures taken to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, the Nevis Island Administration has left the island open, as there has been no recorded case since March.
All of this comes as sister island St. Kitts remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the Federation, forcing the Federal Government to implement strict measures to combat its spread which continues to largely increase in the workplaces.
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, in a national address on Friday evening (June 11), announced that the Federation would go into a two-week lockdown which would see all non-essential business establishments closing for that period and staff working remotely, including public servants.
Additionally, the two islands were placed under a 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew for the same period in the first instance.
Premier Mark Brantley, during an address over the weekend, announced, among other things, that based on the available evidence that the spread being experienced is localised to sister island St. Kitts, and thus far schools have been closed on the island in support of the national effort.
That, he noted, is part of the larger measures implemented, such as the restriction of buses to 50 percent passenger capacity and the imposition of a curfew on Nevisians, all in support of the national effort.
But he noted that his Government is there to serve the people of Nevis, which include listening to them and seeking to make decisions that are in their best interest and not harming the national interest.
“To this end, and after careful deliberations, I have advised the Honourable Prime Minister that government offices and businesses on Nevis shall remain open provided that all protocols as to mask-wearing, physical distancing, and hand sanitising are in place. All workers then should report to work on time and wearing their masks. It will be for individual businesses to determine how best to schedule their workers to ensure the overall objective of keeping Nevis safe,” the Premier explained.
He asserted that it is the small business sector that has been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and there is a growing fear that if forced to close now when there are no COVID-19 cases in Nevis, they might never reopen.
Travel between the two islands has been restricted to essential reasons, such as work or health care.
“I have consulted with the Chairman of the Board at the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA), which manages the Charlestown ferry dock and the Oualie water taxi pier, and through the team at NASPA initiated an urgent discussion with the ferry and water taxi operators.
“The purpose of this discussion was to restrict the movement of ferries and water taxis and to require that only essential travel be undertaken, such as travel for work, essential services such as police, fire, health and prison services, and travel for medical reasons such as our patients requiring dialysis on St. Kitts at this time. These restrictions will prevent persons moving between the islands only for leisure or to engage with friends or loved ones. To put it differently, if you have no urgent need to move between St. Kitts and Nevis, then please do not attempt to do so,” Brantley added.
According to the Premier, Wesk Agency has agreed to do a single round trip in the morning and one in the evening via MV Mark Twain, but restricted only to essential travellers. The water taxis have voluntarily decided to suspend their services except for charters.
That decision has raised alarm bells by many, including constitutional scholars who questioned whether the Premier has the authority to subvert a decision that was made at the Federal level.
But Premier Brantley has hit back at his critics, stating in part of a social media post: “ I am seeing a lot of chatter about my message to Nevisians last evening and seeing several constitutional experts popping up all over. I will not engage in a debate about my Cabinet’s position as expressed by me in my address but I wish to make something pellucid to those who are pretending not to understand. I shall not be deterred by anyone in seeking the best interest of the people of Nevis!”
He started the hashtag #IStandWithNevis, which has caught on with some members of the public.
