Mr. Evans Rogers 
Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge 
Premier Victor Banks
The public meeting held by the Anguilla United Front at George Hill, in District 4, on Saturday, March 14, switched from the political campaign to health protection, as the coronavirus, now threatening the island, continued to take centre stage.
Minister of Home Affairs and Education, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge, whose Ministry has introduced policy decisions to protect schoolchildren and teachers from the disease, chaired the meeting. “These are some difficult times,” she observed. “It is difficult because not only our health is potentially impacted, but also the economy. The coronavirus has serious implications for our private sector, and on labour, and on all our facets throughout Anguilla. Over the next few days, and weeks, tough decisions will have to be made for and on behalf of the people of Anguilla. But we, in this United Front Government, are ready. This Government has had to face many difficult decisions during these five years. We are ready, competent and capable to address this worldwide situation as a team.”
The Minister continued: “During this period, we are asking you, our people, to stay calm; to keep abreast of the local and international news; and to continue your good hygienic habits such as washing hands regularly. It is a strange thing to consider that while we are dealing with this worldwide situation we at home still have to move ahead. Families need to be taken care of; obligations need to be addressed; and matters like general elections still have to be dealt with. But tonight is a different night. You will hear from us as leaders, as Ministers with portfolios, who have to deal with an emerging situation: the coronavirus and how it affects Anguilla.”
Minister of Health, Mr. Evans Rogers, spoke about the work of his Ministry, and the Health Authority of Anguilla, to stop the virus from entering and spreading on the island. “Because of the situation in terms of cancelling flights and individuals coming in , and the cancellations at the various hotels, a lot of persons are very nervous and some rightly so – and there is panic is settling in. But I can assure you that there are medical persons at the ports who are running the checks and protocol…There are also protocols that if tourists are going to a hotel, or a villa, they can be quarantined there and can be served and treated by healthcare professionals [if necessary]. Limited as we are, we are doing what we can.”
Mr. Rogers stressed that there was a need to take special care of Anguilla’s elderly population – with certain underlying illnesses – as they were more vulnerable to the transmission of the virus.
He went on: “I wish to recognise and say thank you to the British taxpayers, the British Government and the Governor here in Anguilla, for the assistance that they have given to the people of Anguilla. We are in the process of acquiring approved test kits from the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control, and Public Health England, so that we can do the preliminary testing here in Anguilla of individuals who would have been exposed, but not showing signs and symptoms of the virus. God forbid that there is a positive – we will still have to send that specimen down to CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) in Trinidad for the confirmatory test.
“We are using the opportunity of the coronavirus outbreak to expand the laboratory services in Anguilla. We are looking at a situation whereby we would be able to do the confirmatory tests here in Anguilla. The British Government and the Governor’s Office are assisting us with that. We are not alone in this, as you imagine, because of the pandemic all over the world will be looking to get the testing equipment and so forth but we are on our way to do that. The equipment that we are getting will not only be for the coronavirus but for all the other viruses that from time to time may crop up. With our unique situation, we must be able to do the preliminary testing and the confirmatory tests as well.”
Minister Rogers was confident that with the team of the Anguilla United Front Government the virus would be dealt with. “This not a time to panic because we know that, as a Government, we can put our heads together and do what is right – facing not only the hurricane situation, but the coronavirus threat as well. Ours is a tested administration, and we are not afraid to take on and make difficult decisions for the people of Anguilla.”
He was aware that all of the stakeholders might not be totally satisfied – but that the Government of Anguilla had to make the decisions that were in the best interest of the vast majority of the people of the island. The Minister of Health exerted that the Anguilla Government was way ahead in its preparations than some of the other islands in the region, notwithstanding the smallness and limited resources of the island. He advised, however, that care must be taken to keep Anguilla as safe and secure as possible.
Premier Victor Banks spoke extensively about the Anguilla Government’s efforts to stem the virus. “As you know, this situation with the coronavirus pandemic is a fluid situation and every hour, every day, sometimes every minute, things change. Today, you might have heard that there was a release from the Prime Minister of St. Maarten regarding international flights coming into St. Maarten from the UK, United States, Canada and Europe. The release stated that there would be restrictions on those flights after Tuesday, March 17th.
“It is important that we who depend very heavily on St. Maarten, for access to our jurisdiction, would have to be concerned about the impact that this would have. As a matter of fact, 90 percent of the tourists and other persons arriving in Anguilla come through the Blowing Point Port from St. Maarten.”
Premier Banks said it was important for the Anguilla Government to see the document released by the St. Maarten Government – and that the Prime Minister had promised to send him an official copy by email. “This is so that we can discuss it at the highest level, and share it with our stakeholders in the industry and in the community, the social sector and in Anguilla as a whole.”
Further information regarding the St. Maarten Government’s release, and arrangements by the Government of Anguilla, on this and other matters related to the coronavirus, has been printed elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper.
