All Saints students denied entry into St. Martin because of Ebola

All Saint's University campus in Roseau
All Saint’s University campus in Roseau

The All Saints University School of Medicine in Dominica is looking into a matter in which nine medical students from Nigeria and Ghana, travelling to Dominica, were denied entry into St. Martin because of the Ebola outbreak in west Africa.

The students, who were to begin studies here on the island, were turned back at the Princess Juliana International Airport last week Wednesday, although media reports indicate they had tested negative for the deadly virus.

“I am aware of the situation. It is under control and is being handled,” the school’s registrar, Adiodun David, told Dominica News Online on Monday.

He said he did not wish to disclose any other details until necessary.

The incident took place just a two days before Dominica imposed a ban on travelers from Ebola-stricken countries. Nigeria and Ghana are not on the list of countries banned by Dominica.

The ban was imposed on Friday, October 24.

Media reports indicate that none of the students were ever exposed to people infected with Ebola.

According to the reports the students were sent back to Nigeria via Panama, Brazil and Togo. The trip took five days.

One parent was quoted as saying the student were treated like “deportees.”

On Monday, Octber 27, less than a week after the incident, St. Martin issued an Ebola travel ban saying it will deny entry or transit to persons who have travelled in the past 21 days to, from and through countries where Ebola is not contained.

Countries include Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nigeria and Ghana are not on the list.

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73 Comments

  1. David
    October 29, 2014

    THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
    It wasn’t St. Martin that banned the students. This story was copied by DNO from Sahara Reporters, a US-based Nigerian Media. Sahara reporters thought it was St. Martin that banned the students, and this was reflected in their write-up. But when All Saints University contacted St. Martin Immigration and Liat officials, they confirmed that it was Dominica that indeed placed the ban, and not St Martin. It was just an extension of the ban on Flavour. The question is this: if an American deliberately brought ebola to Nigeria (you can cross-check that fact) and Nigeria rose promptly to contain it, why the noise about Nigeria now? For information to the uninformed, Nigeria is different from Liberia where there is ebola. To travel from Nigeria to Liberia/Guinea/Sierra Leone, you will have to pass through Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast. There are four big countries that separate Nigeria from the ebola-striken countries. Ebola is not a West African phenomenon.

  2. From St.Maarten
    October 29, 2014

    I am glad that the island finally took precautionary measure to protect the island. Sorry to the students, however it must be done. Find another way to get to Dominica.

    • Malpardee
      October 31, 2014

      U said u are glad that measures are taken now u are saying find another way to dominica. Make up your mind.

  3. CaraW
    October 29, 2014

    Dear Admin, how did the students test negative for Ebola virus in the short time that they were ‘not allowed’ into St. Maarten?

  4. Anonymous
    October 29, 2014

    Are the authorities in St Martin denying persons.who come from the US and Spain entry also??
    This is just too blatantly discriminatory!!

  5. Obsever
    October 28, 2014

    Send back the Africans and welcome the Americans and Europeans……….. is there something wrong with that picture? I fail to understand why the university would allow the students to suffer such embarassment and suffering. why give them the green light to travel, when they know fully well that Dominica will not accept them. Their tickets should be refunded, if not, the school should be sued. And yes, I am a Dominica.

  6. Holiday Island Boy
    October 28, 2014

    The report states that the students were sent back to Nigeria via Panama, Brazil and Togo. What happens if anyone of these countries refuses to allow them entry? We could end up with “tramp air travellers.”

  7. David
    October 28, 2014

    Where ignorance is bliss— A lot of people don’t know the difference between a continent and a country. A lot of people do not know that Africa is not a country but a continent of more than 50 countries. A Liberian-American travelled from far away Liberia to Nigeria to introduce the ebola. But that was quickly contained. Right now, other countries of the world are looking to Nigeria on modalities for prompt containment of ebola. Africa is a continent, just as Asia, Europe, etc are. If there is a problem in Iraq or Iran, are you saying that Japanese and Koreans should not travel? The Nigerian government would be more than willing to send trained personnel / money to the Caribbean countries as they do to other countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia.

  8. out of south city
    October 28, 2014

    This Ebola hysteria has been really causing more hatred, division, fear and confusion among our race. The plan continues and I am not surprised. Can’t we see that this has set us against our brothers and sisters on the continent? This further causes us to look down on our own race by calling our brothers and sisters names such as liars and saying that they have poor hygiene.
    My people, now is not the time for condemnation but rather to feel the pain that they are going through. Where is the love that we are supposed to have for each other?
    This is a dilemma that they are faced with and we should not demonstrate our arrogance, apathy and ignorance at such a time like this. Why don’t we show that same agression towards America? America is closer to us and people migrate to and fro all the time but there has not been any ban against her.
    Why are we so naive?
    The plan to further divide and conquer is well in place and we just can’t see. We are too blinded by the ones who are still in control of us the world over. We need a reality check.
    ONE LOVE.

    • Obsever
      October 30, 2014

      A reality check indeed, this is exactly what we need. I am embarrass by what I am reading here, so sad, so very sad.

  9. The Facts
    October 28, 2014

    Were the students not informed about the ban in some countries? The head of the D/can University should have informed them about this ban and that it was not wise to travel to any country.
    If they were not advised, why did the university authorities not advise them while they were in their country? This would have avoided them from being humiliated. As one mother stated, being treated as refugees.

    DNO since the results of their tests proved negative, should the heading of this article not read “…due to the Ebola crisis?” Some words to that effect.

  10. October 28, 2014

    What happen to medical reports and site testing. St Martin haven’t reach that stage yet. We have to be very careful with denying persons the freedom of movements.And if the aauthority is concern about Ebola then the entire flight and TSA agents in st. Martin should be checked out. The thing that we in the Caribbean haven’t start discussing is implementing proper systematic procedures on how to deal with Ebola at our ports of entry, hospitals, homes and in public places.

  11. Anonymous
    October 28, 2014

    Most of you’ll are just ignorant. Anybody can get Ebola, and stop putting pressure and harassing Nigerians and Ghanians…..dealing with Ebola first is all abt personal hygiene, if ebola were to b in Dominica I bet almost half of the country would be gone, cos Ders no facilities for dat either……those Nigerians,Liberians and other court toes affected never asked God for it…. The students are here to learn and not to transmit Ebola….pray for your life and family not to get 1 and also pray for the families dat lost deir people…….once again EBOLA IS A VIRUS!!!! Take care of yourself, keep your environment clean, watch wat your eat……thanks you

  12. random
    October 28, 2014

    Y’all realize that they did blood test that showed that they dont have ebola before coming right?

    It’s funny how most of you don’t read but are so quick to comment and be rude.

    NO CASE OF EBOLA IN NIGERIA AND GHANA RIGHT NOW. THER ARE CASES IN THE US RIGHT NOW.
    I don’t see y’all banning them. Smh

    Stop the stigmatization and take proper precautions to stop Ebola.
    Ignorance is a disease.

  13. Aa
    October 28, 2014

    Remember they travelled on a plane so check out the other passengers

  14. love I
    October 28, 2014

    We have to take precaution……it is not a matter of making persons feel bad, but Prevention is better.

    • yea
      October 28, 2014

      Umm….Nigeria is the only African Country to contain the virus…

  15. Anonymous
    October 28, 2014

    well well well, lets talk about ebola prevent!!! they sent only the students back right? if u re scared of Ebola and if the students were “risk” since some of the students were from Ebola free countries. QUESTION ONE … if u are thinking of Ebola then every one on the Plan with them are all at risk already… lol 2) airport officials that stood by them haa are at risk already… 3) those that were allowed in that flew on the same plane can as well be infected right now ….. Guess what those folks are in St Martins already . Just Saying

    • Anonymous
      October 28, 2014

      It seems that you don’t quite understand how the virus is transmitted. Individuals have to already be showing symptoms of disease for them to be able to transmit the virus- and transmission is through body fluids. Just saying. There was no mention of the individuals being ill.

    • CaraW
      October 29, 2014

      No, that is not true. Everyone on the plane would only be at risk if the students had symptoms of Ebola, not if they were incubating the virus. Hence sending them back, although unkind, is a safe thing to do. The measures are precautionary.

    • koKo Naughts
      October 29, 2014

      Read up on how Ebola is spread and we will give u a chance to edit your post. But FYI, these students could look as healthy as pigeon peas on their way here and then fall gravely ill while shopping at your favorite supermarket.

  16. editor
    October 28, 2014

    Admin please be advised that your headline suggests that the students had ebola hence the reason for allowing them entry. It should perhaps read ” all saints studehts denied entry into starting as precautionary measures against ebola

    • editor
      October 28, 2014

      *not allowing

      *st. Martin

  17. October 28, 2014

    Thank you ,St,Maarten.

  18. Binkie
    October 28, 2014

    **Before spreading the wrong info**Liat refused to take 6 African passengers that came in on Copa Airlines because Dominica immigration advised them not to send them**SXM immigration had to send them back on Copa Airlines because they were not holding any documentation to be able enter & stay on our island**as they were intransit**

    • Free
      October 29, 2014

      Stop telling lies.. The passenger wasn’t even cleared by ur immigration department how could liat refuse them…there were no ban on those african students and for ur info that very same day african students arrived in dominica on liat via Barbados… Don’t make it about liat..

  19. KoKo Naughts
    October 28, 2014

    Duncan said he was not exposed wii, and guess what happened? I know it’s extreme, but we have to do it to protect ourselves and our love ones in our very vulnerable Caribbean. So if is no school is no school for them eh, until this Ebola thing blows over. This thing is no JOKE.

  20. Tina Alexander
    October 28, 2014

    I think people are confused between Liberia and Nigeria. there is no need to ban people from Nigeria unless they have had contact with people with Ebola.If you want to be totally sure then make them have a bloodtest.

    A travel ban on people coming from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea and now Mali! makes sense because quarantine is not properly imposed there and so it is possible to be near sick people and not know.

    People have died in Nigeria, however they have also died in the US, Spain and Germany.

  21. Anonymous
    October 28, 2014

    Dont care if u dont have Ebola…if u come from africa or europe.. gooo backk !!

    • ebola
      October 28, 2014

      stop making this reply column look like only UNSMART people comment

    • budman
      October 29, 2014

      and 12 idiots gave this piece of crap comment a thumbs up. stupidity abounds

    • lol
      October 29, 2014

      China good tho. :lol:

  22. julie
    October 28, 2014

    DA has a ban in place. So they would be send back when then reach DA anyway. SXM did them a favor

    • Free
      October 29, 2014

      Dominica had no restrictions in place until less than a week ago and even so Nigeria is not on the list of countries banned.

  23. sxm
    October 28, 2014

    Well done. On behalf of all of us in st.martin dominica n the entire caribbean well done. Thanks for wisdom may God mighty protect us all. Thank you.

  24. Anon Again
    October 28, 2014

    Our level of misunderstanding of ebola, or our refusal to make an effort to understand what is happening, saddens me. Here are some facts that are easily obtainable online. Of the 10,000 reported ebola cases worldwide, on 27 have been reported outside Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. There are more cases of ebola in the US than in Ghana. Yet we beat our chests and scream send them home. Has any of you thought of the consequences to our economy?

    The three worst countries combined have a population of over 20 million people, of these, 10,000 have contracted ebola. That’s less than one half of one per cent. Despite their lack of proper medical facilities and their socio-economic condition, more than half of the people who contracted ebola live. They did not die. Yet we scream and shout without thinking. We heard the same thing about SARS just a few short years ago. It’s time we put aside our emotion and learn about the virus and its impact

  25. October 28, 2014

    I strongly believe if this ebola virus has any outbreak in the caribbean gonna be travelers from the U S , our focus only on West Africa only. Nigeria contain ebola virus quickly, it takes 21 days before this symptom show 5 airports who does screening in the U S to travelers from 3 main countries affected ebola virus in West Africa, they only checked for fever in these airports.

  26. crooked
    October 28, 2014

    Thank the Lord the ban came just in time. I work with Africans a lot in the US. The have a lot of tricks and lie a lot. They drive taxi cabs under alot of false pretense. We are poor in Dominica. Let them go to the US where they can handle them . The have a bad mentally about Caribbean blacks. They always say we are the slave generations. Some don’t even like Obama. Send them back please. Some have very poor hygiene. I work with them, right now i am scared.

    • I'm Just Saying
      October 28, 2014

      SMDH…
      Ignorant, however, I am not surprised at the label that a lot of outsiders give Dominicans – DummiesInCans.
      You say that they are unhygenic? Why then do 80%of the population in DA have awful oral hygiene?
      ‘Crooked’, you logic is flawed and crooked :oops:

    • duchess
      October 28, 2014

      Do not be foolish and generalize a nation its continent. I am a Dominican married to a Nigerian and the same behavior that you wrote about also speaks of some Dominican men. Be careful not to judge. Nigerians are much moire educated thgan us because Whipple there are driving taxis, they are also enrolled at university’s and latter wave their MD diplomas.

    • Just Saying
      October 28, 2014

      Just wondering, are you from the black race or white race? your comment is very disturbing/sickening.

    • budman
      October 29, 2014

      you couldn’t possibly sound any less educated.

    • Think About It
      October 29, 2014

      @ crooked……Thanks for speaking the truth nothing but the truth. I am an RN and I work with lots of them African snakes in the US who thinks they are smarter and better than us from the Caribbean,and I’m looking at them like nothing because the entire Caribbean Islands are Paridise. When I watch TV and read on my Computer about Africa my stomach hurts I feel for them especially the little children. Thanks they will give you all the thumbs downbut you are on smart brother/sister God bless.

      • .............
        October 30, 2014

        You are an unhappy person, go and pray.

  27. TAKE HEED
    October 28, 2014

    Nigeria had 20 known cases of ebola. they had 8 known deaths. isnt this enough? u mean because they are students they should be allowed to come? isnt it safer to keep 8 students away than to have 70 000 people panicking or even getting sick?
    our logic beat me

    • True
      October 28, 2014

      And some of the students do go to rhe hospitals for practical exposure.

      • anon
        October 30, 2014

        And so what? Man y’all are so stupid. I hope someone from America does not bring the virus here cuz I wonder what the comments will be about. I’m sure you’ll say the American is from Africa too. Oloshi!

      • anonyyy
        October 30, 2014

        Lmao hospitals? Yeah okay. I don’t even think that place you call Pmh should even be called a hospital. Lmao ‘hospitals’ hilarious.

  28. Anonymous
    October 28, 2014

    According to the report SXM has denied “entry or transit to persons who have travelled in the past 21 days to, from and through countries where Ebola is not contained.” Is it possible that the SXM authorities have information that they may have passed through a country where Ebola is not contained?

  29. concerned
    October 28, 2014

    I think they should be sent back if only they were not checked and monitored for 21days before their journey to Dominica with some proof.

    • Anonymous
      October 28, 2014

      And who should bear the costs associated with implementing your suggestion? SXM?

  30. caribbeanidol
    October 28, 2014

    Send dem all back. Let them study online if thats the case. The caribbean cant handle Ebola. Even though we may think we are resources ready, we all know we aren’t. We are all small underdeveloped countries who can’ t rely on the U.N. or the USA to aid us, once this deadly virus hits our land. We dont have enough nurses , doctors, quarantine spaces to hold sick people. Plus our governments surplus isn’t sufficient to maintain this virus either. Please find other alternative methods of assisting their studies, example: via online until this epidemic is under control. Note this VIRUS can wipe out the caribbean within less than a year. Its time for us to look about ourself cause everywhere else in the world is looking about themselves.

  31. rubbin
    October 28, 2014

    Send dem back at de mother home ,well done sxm

    • anon
      October 30, 2014

      Stfu man. I don’t blame you tho. Being stuck in this place has an effect on your brain. Lmao

  32. Gosh
    October 28, 2014

    DNO, you must fix your headline to reflect things properly. I would swear that the students had ebola from reading your headline.

    However, if St. Martin is banning them, then All Saints has to notify their new students. I always know that Dominica had a buffer since there is no direct flight to Dominica from the affected areas; most probably the travelers would be stopped before they reach Dominica.

    Any way, this Ebola is a scary thing and we have to be careful in all aspects.

  33. blessed Dominica
    October 28, 2014

    i have not thing to say….. smx looking out for us same way we should look our Caribbean cause God knows we can’t handle any out break…. so thanks alllllllll for what you guys for all the protective measures….

  34. Doc. Love
    October 28, 2014

    The Skeritt led administration can take two actions. First, it can allow the Krazy man to deal with the situation. Second, it can send the PRO and gentleman who claimed to have a doctorate from Togo, travel to Togo in order to extend an apology from the Skeritt led administration. :lol:

    • Nady
      October 28, 2014

      Doc Love shut ur face

    • mamacita
      October 28, 2014

      doc love, people like you should jus hush up if u all doe have nothing good to say. everything is political with u kind of people. wat does politics have to do with the people returning back to their place, stupes

    • True
      October 28, 2014

      Laughing out loud. That can be part of your compte for the independence cultural celebrations. Or pass it on to Lawrence Brumant if you cannot speak creole.

  35. what??
    October 28, 2014

    well all that good , Dominica didn’t ban as yet but sxm did , the thing is with these Africans they don’t listen , stay where you are until you get the okay to travel allu going home to come back stupes sxm do right because they does lie , is take ibuprofen to bring down their temperature and they know they are ill , allu can say what allu want Africans does lie to much

    • out of south city
      October 28, 2014

      Your race is African so does that mean you lie too?

      • what??
        October 30, 2014

        i not no African my race is Dominican and get it straight Africans don’t consider us part of their race they call us slave descendants :wink: :wink:

  36. October 28, 2014

    These students most be terrified, All Saints University should find a solution to help these students.

    • what??
      October 28, 2014

      for their selfthey terrified , make a case of Ebola hit us and you will see down too dem millet in river getting terrified
      Case Duncan:did you handle or visited anyone with Ebola?
      Answer:NO
      but as he reach Texas he run hospital ?
      because he knew damn well he was ill
      now :two nurses got ill from Ebola on in New york and mark you that is what they are telling the media we can never know the real amount
      world case: the US don’t seem to can contain the decease

      my case to you :if you want Ebola go for it but don’t ask it to come here

    • wake up
      October 28, 2014

      they must be terrified?hell i’m terrified!! terrified that they may be bringing ebola to our shores. theres an incubation period.at least one of them could have ebola at its earliest stages and travel here. tsk. get wise my people.

  37. notnice
    October 28, 2014

    well thats quite a story .. but we in dca have to look deeply within this … even they are Ebola free … cause the elbola virus took like 21 days to show symptoms .. so we gonna extra careful in dca

  38. Red
    October 28, 2014

    You are handling that, the only way to handle is, send them back right back. We cannot handle that ebola here in the Caribbean. We do not have the capacity.

  39. Red
    October 28, 2014

    Dam, to close to home. St. MARTEEN i guess is via Copa airlines that we Dominicans travel on to Panama. This is too close to home. Send them back. You see how easy it is for ebola to reach the Caribbean, but for the grace of our God.

    • Ebola
      October 28, 2014

      Are u sure u went to school at all… You sound too ignorant…so tell me how close is the carribean to the United state…..u should think before talking, some of this students got ur dengue n ur stupid joint killing chikiguyan.

      • Fact
        October 28, 2014

        Was it really OUR dengue n stupid joint killling chikingunya? I wonder who is the real owner of the chick ting????

  40. famalay
    October 28, 2014

    I no that was comeing

  41. Country Woman
    October 28, 2014

    I see, thank you SM, THANK YOU, life is not just about money!

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