St Kitts and Nevis Works on Protocols to Reopen Borders

24/06/2020 14:48

LONDON, June 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis will open its borders upon scientific advice, other countries' experience and close coordination with other Caribbean neighbours. Prime Minister Timothy Harris explained this during a radio broadcast on June 23^rd. Meanwhile, the economy is steadily reopening, and foreign investors continue applying to the country's Citizenship by Investment Programme remotely.

PM Harris told listeners that regional leaders have been discussing their coordinated response to border control. St Kitts and Nevis successfully contained the spread of COVID-19 with only 15 cases and no deaths. However, Prime Minister Harris warns of the risks of a second wave that may come with allowing visitors back to the Caribbean.

"Any decision to open the borders will again be based on health advice," says PM Harris. He announced that the National Emergency Operating Centre "are giving consideration to behold the protocols that must be in place […] when it is deemed prudent to open the borders." The Prime Minister explained that the Government was also "looking at what is happening in countries where the borders have opened."

Following talks with other Caribbean leaders, PM Harris said that "the advice is that it has to be done in a very thoughtful way," considering a "second surge, if it were to come, could be even more difficult than the first one." However, the Prime Minister reassured that the country's healthcare system was not overwhelmed, continuing preventive and contact tracing measures.

Regarding economic revival, the PM said: "we put the welfare of the people of St Kitts and Nevis first and we have to always strive for that delicate balance between people's livelihood and people's life. We appreciate that opening of the economy is critically important and we have had so far a well-managed approach."

In March, St Kitts and Nevis made it easier for foreign investors seeking second citizenship to apply remotely to its Citizenship by Investment Programme. The fund option remained the fastest way to obtain the country's valuable citizenship, bringing important revenue to the country's national budget. In return, new economic citizens earn the right to live, work and study on the twin islands. They can also travel visa-free to over 150 countries and territories, a list that grew by 17 destinations thanks to re-elected Foreign Minister and Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley.

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