The Permanent Secretary responsible for Health and Social Development in Anguilla, Mr. Foster Rogers, has made an urgent plea to persons travelling from or entering illegal ports on the island to desist, because it is putting Anguilla at risk of the COVID-19.
This comes in the wake of steps taken at the ports of entry to screen persons entering Anguilla from coronavirus-affected countries and territories.
Speaking at the Government of Anguilla’s consultation with stakeholders on Tuesday, March 17, Mr. Rogers said: “A challenge we have is the unconstrained moving of people between the islands for illegal trade. There are many people who leave Anguilla at nights on boats, go to St. Martin/St. Maarten, and God knows where else. This is a challenge for us. We cannot monitor these persons and the Royal Anguilla Police Force does not have the resources to monitor them.
“We are therefore asking for an immediate cessation of persons leaving and entering Anguilla through illegal ports of entry. It is putting the public at risk. We cannot observe these persons or do a risk assessment; and we do not know what is coming to Anguilla through this mechanism. We are asking persons to bear with us, please. We want to be very careful that we ensure the public’s health.”
Mr. Rogers went on: “One of the other challenges we are having is that day-trippers coming from St. Martin/St. Maarten to Anguilla are not arriving at an official port of entry. The way that these trips should work – and we hope that they work – is that persons should first call the Sandy Ground Port before anchoring in Anguilla’s waters. We do not have the human resources to monitor the beaches – whether they are Meads Bay, Maundays Bay, Sandy Ground and the keys.
“We are asking agents for boats, with day-trippers, to ensure that before they enter Anguilla they have proper clearance from Customs or Immigration. If not, please don’t let them come because our population is being placed at risk.”
