Month: July 2020

Virtual Security Conference 2020: Securing Our Caribbean Community Within The Era Of COVID-19 and Beyond

From 27 – 31 July 2020, CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) will host the first ever Virtual Security Conference in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), under the heading of ‘Securing Our Caribbean Community Within The Era Of Covid-19 and Beyond’.

The crisis presented by coronavirus (COVID-19) is unprecedented in CARICOM.

To respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governments across the Region imposed several measures, including social distancing, restrictions, border closures and suspension of non-essential services to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

In support of these measures, law enforcement and security officials played a crucial role to prevent and control the spread of the virus, while at the same time managing and operating within the changing multi-dimensional security environment.

In an effort to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the security environment and the operations of law enforcement and security officials, as well as to identify best practices that can be applied to similar situations in the future; CARICOM IMPACS will bring together a network of practitioners, security experts, government officials, academics, private sector representatives and civil society officials to discuss the challenges, impact and implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Security of our Region. The Virtual Conference will address the following thematic areas such as:

  • Peace, Security & Development – A Roadmap For The Future In The Context of COVID-19;
  • Criminality & Organised Crime During COVID-19: Present and Future Trends;
  • Policing In The Time of a Pandemic- Lessons Learnt;
  • Enhancing Cyber Security In The Age of COVID-19;
  • COVID-19 & the Future of Borders;
  • Crisis and Gender Based Violence;
  • Climate Change and Security- Building Resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
  • Impact and Implications of COVID-19 on Prisons and Correctional Services; and
  • Maritime Security and the Blue Economy

CARICOM Conference Objectives

The CARICOM Virtual Security Conference will gather leading representatives from government, regional and international agencies, academia, private sector and civil society organisations to discuss the impact and implications of COVID 19 and measures to respond.

Specifically, the Virtual Security Conference will:

  • Consider how COVID-19 is shaping the security landscape today and in the future;
  • Identify how COVID-19 has impacted criminality and organized crime and the implications for the future;
  • Facilitate the constructive exchange of information, best practices and lessons identified during the COVID-19 outbreak, so that states can strengthen their abilities to continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare and respond to future pandemics;
  • Assess and evaluate the threats and opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Explore how the pandemic impacted law enforcement and security officials roles, responsibilities and standard operating procedures, resilience and food security among other issues;
  • Provide a consultative forum for discussion between leading practitioners and representatives from the government, regional and international agencies, academia, private sector and civil society. This is especially important when speaking of Border Security and border movements post-pandemic.

Conference Outcome

The Virtual Conference will serve as source material for the development of a “Lessons Learnt and Guidance Document for Preparing for and Responding to Threats such as Pandemics and other crises”.

Conference Flyers:

Flyer 2_CARICOM IMPACS Virtual SECURITY CONFERENCE 2020_July 27-31 2020_July 22

Policing In The Time of a Pandemic Flyer_CARICOM IMPACS Virtual SECURITY CONFERENCE 2020__July 22 2020- 221503QJuly 2020- FINAL

In other news:

WHO Chief: No Return To “old normal” as COVID-19 cases surpass 15 million

The post Virtual Security Conference 2020: Securing Our Caribbean Community Within The Era Of COVID-19 and Beyond appeared first on Caribbean News Now!.

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American Airlines Relaunches Flights to Turks and Caicos

 

American Airlines has kicked off its latest relaunch of service to the Caribbean, this time with a pair of nonstop routes to the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands officially relaunched its tourism sector on July 22, and American Airlines is now flying two nonstop routes to the destination. 

That includes a pair of daily flights from Miami International Airport, along with three weekly flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. 

american airlines turks and caicos
The Amanyara resort in Providenciales.

The Miami flights depart at 10:50 AM and 12:15 AM, respectively. 

The Charlotte flights, which are operating on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, depart at 9:39 AM, according to the company’s Web site.

The moves are part of a wider relaunch to the Caribbean that the world’s largest airline began earlier this month. 

So what do travelers to Turks and Caicos need to know?

Every visitor must present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no more than five days prior to arrival in the destination. 

That’s along with medical insurance that covers Medevac. 

For more on Turks and Caicos’ reopening procedures, check out our recent report here.

Many of Turks and Caicos’ top resorts have relaunched, including high-profile reopenings like the Shore Club, Amanyara, The Palms, The Sands and South Caicos’ Sailrock, among others. 

American Airlines is the first major U.S. carrier to relaunch service to Turks and Caicos. 

— CJ

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Anguilla Tourist Board Names New Chairman

 

The Anguilla Tourist Board has a new chairman. 

Tourism entrepreneur Kenroy Herbert has been appointed to lead the seven-member board in overseeing its global operations. 

Herbert, the president and founder of Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel, a lifestyle management company. 

“I am honored to have been appointed to such a significant position within the Anguilla Tourist Board,” Herbert said in a statement. “I wish to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Minister of Tourism for his vote of confidence. My new chairmanship is an incredible opportunity to make a difference at a critical time in our tourism industry. I look forward to faithfully serving the people of Anguilla, growing Anguilla’s market share and the variety of immersive experiences for visitors gracing our shores.”

A new group of board representatives has also been appointed, including Stacey Liburd, Sales and Marketing Consultant, Quintessence Hotel and Long Bay Villas; Danitza Delisa Mussington, Boat Captain, Funtime Charters; Melisha Maccow Niles, Conference Services/Wedding Specialist, Four Seasons Resort;  Luisana Mendez Retde, Student & Aspiring Hospitality Professional; Condon Proctor, Event Coordinator, Lagoon Tours; and Tiago Moraes Sarmento, General Manager, Belmond Cap Juluca.

The move comes after the appointment of the island’s new Minister of Tourism, Haydn Hughes. 

— CJ

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In place of the annual celebration, this year’s Puerto Rican Day march in Allentown focuses on oppression, resistance

… in a rendition of the Puerto Rican national anthem “La Borinquena,” … week marks an anniversary of Puerto Rican resistance. On July 25, … S. invaded and seized Puerto Rico as part of the … marked one year since former Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello announced …

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New Prescreening Portal for Travelers to the US Virgin Islands

 

The US Virgin Islands, which reopened for tourism last month and has updated some of its protocols for incoming visitors, has launched a new pre-screening portal for all travelers visiting the destination. 

In other words, if you’re planning to visit the US Virgin Islands, the portal is the first step. 

The goal of the new interface is to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to the USVI Department of Tourism. 

The new portal, which can be found here, “facilitates pre-arrival processing, thereby improving efficiency, reducing delays, and providing a more seamless traveler experience,” according to a statement. 

The portal comprises a series of pages, including General Information, Terms and Conditions, Traveler Information, and the COVID-19 Traveler Screening Tool. 

All travelers from “highly-impacted areas” must upload their recent COVID-19 test results. 

What does “highly-impacted” mean?

All travelers aged 15 and older whose home state (state of residence) has a COVID-19 positivity rate greater than 10 percent will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 antigen (molecular/PCR/rapid) test result received within five days prior to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Right now, that includes states like Florida, California and Texas, for example.

Travelers can also submit positive COVID-19 antibody test results received within four months of travel to the USVI.

The information is then processed within 48 hours, and a certification code is issued. 

The USVI Department of Tourism said that, for most travelers, the portal screening and certification would eventually replace the existing manual procedure, which requires the physical completion and review of the COVID-19 Traveler Screening Tool at the Territory’s ports of entry.

“Our team has been working tirelessly to adapt to a rapidly changing operational environment in this ‘Open Doors’ phase of the pandemic,” said Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte. “And we continue to update our practices and procedures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials.” 

For more, visit the USVI Travel Advisory.

Or visit the Prescreening Portal.

— CJ

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