Manager of Val Ferry, Leroy Wadix Charles, has said that although the resumption of the ferry service in Dominica is “indeed wonderful news”, he is concerned about the ongoing situation in Guadeloupe.
Guadeloupe recently faced a state of emergency which ended on Sunday with the curfew now lifted.
“This situation is a little tense in Guadeloupe; there were several roadblocks yesterday and which required authorities to come in with tear gas to clear those roadblocks,” he told Dominica News Online (DNO).
Charles said two people were reported to be injured while two union members are presently in custody for questioning.
“I was also told by the Chief Consular Officer in Dominica that 5% of all gas stations are now opened. Teachers are expected to be protesting today,” he stated. “This is not going to end any time soon, but we are monitoring closely.”
Mandatory masks are now recommended and passes are required to enter restaurants and sporting complexes in Guadeloupe.
Unvaccinated people also cannot enter certain areas.
A meeting has been scheduled between Val Ferry and Dominican authorities for 2:30pm on Wednesday where, according to Charles, protocols will be further laid out.
Charles said that after this session with the authorities, they will keep monitoring the situation for some level of normalcy in Guadeloupe and then will announce the resumption and scheduling of Val Ferry service from Dominica to the French Antilles.
“ We really want to thank all our valued customers for exercising their patience. We really want to thank the authorities for bringing the ferry service back. Its has been a real tedious weight. And also, we would really want to follow all the protocols and to tell our customers let’s make sure that whatever protocols are in place, we adhere to it. “
Meantime, Charles stated that it has been 20 months since the ferry has been closed due to COVID-19. He descried this situation as catastrophic.
“I mean hundred percent of all 12 members [of] staff were laid off…trade and commerce were affected. Several people with medical appointments were forced to seek alternative medical attention; the huckster trade, the businessman who normally do business in the French Antilles and customers with relatives in the French Antilles were also affected severely,” the Val Ferry manager lamented.
I think wadix could organize a tour around dominica for vaccinated people who has not been on a boat for a small fee. Covid stress reliever
Those people who say they don’t see any of the people I suppose walking on the docks waring masks: be informed; that photography is almost or more than four years old!
Coronavirus was nowhere in sight when that photography was first posted with another article.
Happy is the owner of that boat; he sees the dollar bill, nevertheless; he said nothing about transporting people to and from Guadeloupe, an epicenter for COVID-19 in the Caribbean.
There are more infected in Guadeloupe than any other place in Caribbean region.
His boat might become a cesspool for the virus.
They say what we fear most sometimes visits us, a few weeks ago when I heard someone died in Wesley killed by the virus, I worried about my sister; my only surviving by mother. She’s an older stay at home woman, someone infected took the virus into her home and got her infected.
As I said the idiots in Dominica who refuse to get vaccinated, it is not if they will be infected, it’s when.
My sister is in the hospital
I hope this is a stock picture as no one has a FACE MASK.
Masks are mandatory but none of the people in the picture are wearing masks. Masks have been proven to be effective – Come on!!!!! Wear your masks people, protect yourself and others.
Good management strategy in attempt to keep Dominica as safe as possible. Very sad that their competitor hasn’t taken that’ “open but….let’s wait and monitor” approach. Theirs is more like a, “Chou Poul…. is go we going….who die muss bury…!” type of approach……..!
Sometimes I want to like Dr.Clayton Shillingford,this man is getting his brain cells back brilliant coming from the man Excellent.As for Oh Men,between 2014 and 2019 DLP got an additional 222 votes.Between 2014 and 2019 UWP LOST 1,163 votes,the ferry would be in favour of UWP to gain the votes they lost.Dominicans na gonna vote UWP.
Why didn’t de authorities just wait till the coast was clear before making de announcement that ferry service was resuming?
I think that they were jumping ahead of themselves without confirmation of the situation on the ground….. this situation can’t help de Grand Bay by-election
And how are Domnicans supposed to get PCR tests there in order to return home when their medical facilities are completely overwhelmed ? Also, how on earth will Dominica health authorities process a significant increase in PCR test requirements due to people from Guadeloupe travelling to Dominica? The Ministry of Tourism and DDA are demonstrating with this and with the influx of island-hopping cruise ships that they place money before the safety and wellbeing of the Dominican people. This is a poorly thought-out strategy by people who have no grasp of the reality on the ground.
Well you see if most persons were getting vaccinated early we would not now be struggling with all these problems and uncertainty But as my mother would say tete dur will get you no where
There you go again. I wonder what you would do to unvaccinated persons if you got your hands on them.
I notice the government protocol does not speak to if a VACCINATED person tests POSITIVE. How convenient! I guess those won’t
Coming in just in time to vote for Vince? Then return the next day? Bon Voage.