Another Caribbean island has announced plans for a potential reopening of its borders — Grenada.
The island’s borders “could open in June,” if its government is satisfied with protocols recommended by stakeholders, according to Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell.
Grenada had closed its borders in March to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The move is part of a broader regional conversation on reopening Mitchell said was discussed at recent talks by Caribbean Community leaders.
“We collectively agreed to start gradually relaxing the restrictions for travel, as the pandemic in the region has been largely contained,” he said. “Governments, airlines and hotels are now finalising the details of this phased re-opening. Assuming that the requisite protocols are in place, we expect to open our borders in the first week of June.”
Mitchell said that “health and safety of citizens” remained a primary concern.
“We will not move unless we are satisfied that adequate health and safety guidelines are in place,” he said.
One of the island’s largest resorts, Sandals Grenada, has pegged a tentative reopening date of June 4, as part of a broader regional reopening by the Caribbean all-inclusive resort brand. That date could be timed well with a potential Grenada reopening.
In this new age of travel, many issues would also impact a potential Grenada reopening, none more crucially than the resumption of air service to the destination.
Another of Grenada’s top resorts, the Spice Island Beach Resort, recently announced that it would be reopening its doors in November.
No Caribbean destination has officially reopened its borders yet; Grenada joins Aruba as destinations that have released tentative reopening dates.
Aruba earlier this month announced a potential reopening date as early as June 15, subject to similar conditions.
— CJ