Some two hundred Anguillians were repatriated to their homeland under the existing official Covid-19 arrangements for the island. One of them, who underwent the initial testing and the required 14-day quarantine before being released into the community, was Mr. Conrad Rogers. He is originally from Stoney Ground and is the second son of the late revolutionary hero, Mr. John (Bob) Rogers.
Conrad, as he is simply called, turned up at The Anguillian newspaper, several days ago, to express gratitude to the former Government, and its team of health professionals, for approving his repatriation from Atlanta, Georgia. He is a registered architect, but is currently employed as an official in the fourth largest Fulton County School District in the Atlanta Metropolitan area.
“The passing of my dad, on June first, brought me to Anguilla. After I learnt about the Covid-19 repatriation process I filled out the repatriation forms,” he said. “One the forms required a commitment to taking the Covid-19 test and to be quarantined for fourteen days, and I went through the process. I was quarantined at Easy Corner’s Villas in South Hill. I found the process to be well-organised and very professionally executed. The living conditions were fine and I had no complaints. I am extremely grateful that I was able to experience a Covid-free environment in Anguilla when the rest of the world is not Covid-free, and people are protesting, feeling disenfranchised, because of the restrictions their Governments have put in place.
“I have now taken three tests. The first was in preparation for coming to Anguilla before boarding the plane which showed I did not have the virus. When I arrived in Anguilla, on the evening of June 12, I was met by members of the repatriation health team – and my fellow passengers and I were subjected to a Covid-19 test and later on to other related subsequent tests. On day fourteen, I took my final test which proved negative and I was released from quarantine.
“I had flown from Atlanta to Puerto Rico on a Delta flight and from there to Anguilla on Air Sunshine. It was rather expensive but it was a price I was willing to pay and to be in a Covid-free environment in Anguilla. Outside of the restrictions, I believe the trip was worth the effort.”
Asked to compare Covid-free Anguilla to other countries where the virus is raging, Conrad replied:
“I think Anguilla is a model that the larger countries can adopt – in that the minute we had two confirmed cases we close our borders, and I think that was the right thing to do by the decision-makers – the Government of Anguilla, the Health Authority and whoever else was involved. They should be commended for it. If America had done what Anguilla did, I don’t think the rest of the world would be concerned about America as it is today.
“Certainly, Anguilla’s economy has taken a hard hit, but the flip side is that the economy would have taken a hit if Anguilla was ravaged by Covid-19 anyhow. I think the opportunity for the economy to rebound has been preserved by the actions taken by the Government and the Health Authority of Anguilla. I think now that we are Covid-free, and that we have an enjoyable process, based on my experience, there may be an opportunity for us to carefully reengage some aspects of the economy.
“What I mean is that people will pay money for the opportunity I now have. I can sit with you and go anywhere in Anguilla because I have a certificate indicating that I am Covid-free after undergoing a process. I think people in the rest of the world would be willing to spend fourteen days in quarantine; do the right thing by submitting to the Covid-19 tests, the temperature tests and, at the back end, enjoy a Covid-free environment.”
Conrad added: “When it is said that Anguilla should open its borders, I think we have to be smart about which aspect of our borders we should open – and to whom. I think a low-hanging fruit is the fact that we have a lot of private jets flying directly to Anguilla; and the fact that we have many private villas that lend themselves well – as quarantine facilities isolated from other larger groups of people. There is an opportunity for us to market that kind of access to Anguilla without having to use commercial flights. In that case, by using the private sets flying to Anguilla, we will control that service in the region and having tourists coming to our island.”
Conrad delivered the eulogy during the National Funeral for his father at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary’s on Saturday, July 4. He has since returned to Atlanta.
