Minister of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives, Denise Charles is urging all taxi operators on the island to get vaccinated in order to participate in the many income-earning opportunities that have opened up within the tourism sector since the reopening of the cruise sector.
Although these offers are now available to citizens, the minister revealed that the government began an initiative called ‘Safe in Nature’ which only allows vaccinated persons to be involved.
She said the “Safe in Nature” brand is “fantastic” adding that with the resumption of cruise ships, Taxi operators are being engaged and the vendors are back selling their products.
“It’s very important for stakeholders who want to partake and there’s plenty room for them to partake because there’s a great demand for cruise travel right now,” she said on Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s ‘Annou Pale program on Sunday.
“We have a capacity issue in terms of the number of coasters and taxi vehicles that we have on island so there’s opportunity for taxi operators and more vendors to participate. The only thing is that we need them to get vaccinated to reduce the spread of the virus…”
She noted that some taxi operators who want to participate in this venture only want to do an antigen test but this would not be allowed.
“Some taxi operators who want to participate in the bubble [only] want to do an antigen test and I have to say to them that the risk involved is too great. As you know, the first outbreak of COVID occurred on a cruise vessel and there are strict regulations by CDC and we also have strict agreements with them that we cannot breach,” she said.
The minister revealed that so far, the government has seen 60% of Tourism providers vaccinated. However, she thinks tourism should be the first industry to reach herd immunity given the importance of it to the economy.
Charles added that since the cruise ship season has started about ten thousand people have disembarked and gone on tours to the extent that the cruise lines are saying that this is the best season they have sold out on many of the organizers and some of them are asking for private tours.
The minster further publicized that the government has already started discussions with “combined taxi” to offer private tours to tourists who want to go and explore the country.
She hopes that by next week everything will be in place for taxi operators as the government has already signed the agreement with combined taxi.
“We were able to get about 71 certified properties who could receive guests and we allow guests of a managed experience. Guests could still go and visit different attraction sites and stay at the various hotels during that period and that was a lifesaver for stakeholders in the tourism industry and many of them would tell you that it helped them survive during this very crucial period,” she added.
Charles further added that she is pleased to see that in her last few meetings with hotel stakeholders that operations are looking up for Dominica in tourism.
“Bookings are up for December and the first quarter of 2022 looks bright and so we are beginning to see signs of a rebound and so with the addition of this direct service, I expect when I speak to them next month that certainly, there will be a major increase in bookings for the accommodation sector,” she said.
OMG Denise Charles thinks Covid started on a cruise ship. There’s no hope.
Never mind the small talk, Denise has a beautiful face eh, nothing against wigs but she just needs to lose those wigs for natural hair.
Trying to argue the point with a Politician won’t get you very far. Imagine after almost two years they still cannot come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with COVID. The emphasis is still on Vaccination while the general population still do not appear to know how to manage the protocols especially MASKING.
They use Billboards to campaign for votes but don’t think that COVID is serious enough to employ Billboards for educating the people on COVID.
They’re flu shots. Not like Caribbean people are unaware… but honestly this insanity is just one big psychosis event.
Interesting that she associates vaccination with money rather than health. Pretty typical really. The Ministry of Tourism constantly puts money before welfare and the environment. Cruise ships are major polluters and the more buses that drive around ferrying passengers, the more pollution is generated. Add to that the threat of Omicron and your have a set of policy-makers that simply don’t care about people or planet.
I’d rather take the BOOSTER than the VACCINE.
when you have a position such as this lady’s position, what area (s) of such position makes you an authority on Vaccine? These are just sheep following blind shepherds.
Jey Jey a booster is not a rooster. Even Toto knows it is a vaccine shot an extra one in addition to the original one you took. It supposed to boost your immunity my boy, simple as that. I don’t want people to think all Dominicans are ignorant so.
Hey Toto, could you go over your comment? Because I read it a few times without understanding anything you were attempting to say. Don’t let folks know how simple you are. Oops!!! DNO doesn’t allow for “self correction.” So you are really ignorant.
I would like to ask the Minister what is the risk involved that is too great to administer an Antigen test as an option to be vaccinated as requested by drivers, when the Antigen test is used to test people coming into the country, and the many other uses which it is an applied protocol in detecting an active infection with SARS-CoV-2, virus. I wonder if the strict agreements signed with the CDC forbids choices and recommends vaccination as the only alternative or else.
I would caution the Minister, do not get overexcited and carried away when certain things are not entirely under her control, otherwise she is deceiving herself and the people of Dominica. Elected officials must not say they have no choices, if they do, they are relieving themselves of responsibility in serving the people to whom they were elected to serve and protect. Choice is what makes the man/woman a divine being, free will, and it should be exercised.
#SafeInNature is a great program in order to ensure that Dominica gets its share of the tourism market. If the Government do nothing to curb the spread of the virus, then Dominica will become a country where travel is not advised. The cruise operators will then have to protect their interest and not make landings in Dominica. While everyone has the right/freedom to make decisions concerning their personal health and lifestyle, (going to the doctor when sick, drinking bush tea, going to the dentist, wearing or not wearing a condom during sex, etc), when our actions/inactions may lead to a national health crisis, then the Government has the right to protect the country from becoming overwhelmed by the pandemic. The vaccine was made available and everyone was urged to get vaccinated. In order to participate in certain programs, you need to get vaccinated. If you chose not to, then you have not met the requirements to participate. Vaccines + Masking x Testing = Reopening
#OLD
” The only thing is that we need them to get vaccinated to reduce the spread of the virus…”
How? The vaccine doesn’t stop the spread of the virus. If that was the case there wouldn’t be any requirement on taxi drivers because all the tourists have to be vaccinated. Don’t they? If not that would be highly ironic the people entering the country can be unvaccinated but the people in the country have to be?
“She noted that some taxi operators who want to participate in this venture only want to do an antigen test but this would not be allowed.”
But that is the ONLY way to be sure that you do not have the virus. Again vaccinated people are testing positive ALL THE TIME. This is not some conspiracy anymore.
“As you know, the first outbreak of COVID occurred on a cruise vessel …”
That is FALSE. The first outbreak happened in Wuhan, CHINA.
Double standard. You don’t want to expose cruise passengers to be exposed to unvaccinated drivers but it is ok for the common people of Dominica. That is wrong Denise. Everyone should be protected. You only thinking of your precious dollars again, never mind our own citizens.
I am sure you would not mind taking in a taxi driver and his family until the pandemic is over.
It is easy for people to advise others about what they should do, when it does not affect them.
The so-called vaccine which is a gene therapy drug product, protects you from nothing. Read the studies. This is coercion by depriving people from making a living if they don’t comply.
How do these people sleep at night. Phew!!!
According to the pro-Covid ‘vaccine’ proselytizers, the main selling point of the thing they call a vaccine is not that it necessarily prevents Covid infection nor that it necessarily prevents the transmission of Covid to others including the vulnerable but rather that it reduces the severity of symptoms and possibly death due Covid.
Uuummmmm duuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh. The goal of EVERY MEDICATION known to man is to reduce severity of symptoms and death from illness. EVERY MEDICATION!!!!!!!!
So what is so special about these pharmaceuticals from Pfizer & Co that justifies blocking persons who are WISELY cautious about taking them from making an honest day living?
I repeat -> These vaccination mandates have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with GENUINE medical science.
#StopDeceivingPeople
I’m sorry to say this is not a vaccine when you have to take it 3 times a year.
Pregnant women having dead borned baby. https://www.facebook.com/1480245010/videos/855476401813854/
Why am I not surprised people like you get you “scientific” information from Facebook.
Zandoli, you make me laugh, but I also agree with you!
Those certain people are so senseless, they don’t even know how much.
Here’s what senseless https://medicalkidnap.com/2021/12/04/2809-dead-babies-in-vaers-following-covid-shots-as-new-documents-prove-pfizer-the-fda-and-the-cdc-knew-the-shots-were-not-safe-for-pregnant-women/
“Some taxi operators who want to participate in the bubble [only] want to do an antigen test and I have to say to them that the risk involved is too great.”
But as vaccination does not prevent transmission, and as a cruise ship presents the perfect environment for transmitting the virus from one passenger to another – and by extension, to those they come in contact with ashore – surely it is the risk involved in welcoming cruise ships at this point in time that is too great.
What best cruise when the ship is empty stop telling people to take vaccine they have to be negative of covid before they take the vaccine thats why you all have so many death now