International carriers will be operating in Trinidad and Tobago when borders reopen on July 17 and the details are to be worked out between relevant authorities in the coming days.
Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan confirmed this in Parliament yesterday, while replying to Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh’s queries on whether border reopening will involve international carriers coming to this country similar to pre-COVID operations.
Sinanan said the intention is for the border reopening to be managed responsibly and details are being worked on this, including with Caribbean Airlines and all other carriers.
Naparima MP Rodney Charles said loudly that announcing policy and working out details afterwards was “bad management”.
On another query, regarding criteria for private firms to import COVID-19 vaccines, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh indicated to Oropouche East MP Roodal Moonilal that people have applied to import vaccines but that information wasn’t available to him. Moonilal had asked which private entities have applied to import vaccines.
Deyalsingh, who maintained Trinidad and Tobago’s vaccination rates are going up, reiterated the contents of a letter that the ministry sends to any firm seeking to import any drugs, new drugs or vaccines.
The criteria includes requiring information from the manufacturing country of origin to vaccine sites and equipment for resuscitation, plus weekly reports on those vaccinated and any adverse reactions.
Deyalsingh said it is what the ministry is doing, adding that it is a procedure used for years and is being adapted for vaccinations also.