At an episode of “Annou Pale”, a weekly programme hosted by the Prime Minister Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit, he announced that the time has come for persons to consider ways to live with Covid-19 as it will be here for an uncertain and prolonged period.
Accordingly, he pointed out that the government of Dominica has engaged in continuous review of the circumstances surrounding the covid-19 pandemic and has now taken a further step to open another sector of the economy and re-establish some type of normalcy. “After intense internal discussions and consultations with industry stakeholders, the government of Dominica has approved protocols for special entertainment events,” he announced. As per his remarks, the requirements for vaccination and other protocols will be made public later this week.
Moreover, he added that these protocols will firstly apply to the special events scheduled to be held between the period of February 20th to March 1st 2022. Such events will be open only to fully vaccinated patrons and will be hosted at two approved venues, the Windsor Park Sports Stadium Forecourt and the Old Mill Cultural Center. The former is the main events venue to accommodate a maximum of 500 patrons while the latter will be approved for virtual events and will cater to a maximum of 200 patrons.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister noted that all patrons should present a negative antigen test taken up to 24 hours prior to the event. Additionally, there will be no more than one event per day. “There will be no street jump ups, no carnival, no unauthorized gatherings of groups or troops and no activities without having first applied for a permit. Approved activities are intended to be managed events for vaccinated patrons within a safe zone to ensure the health and safety of patrons and the wider public,” he voiced.
Notably, Skerrit explained that scheduled events will aid the government in assessing its successes and to take note of any shortfalls so as to improve the organization of future events. “Where there are gaps we will adjust accordingly to ensure the safety of all patrons and minimize or eliminate completely the threat of covid-19,” he articulated.
One the bright side, the recommencement of events will help persons within the entertainment sector to earn their regular income. This will also be a plus as they will be able to contribute to the economic development of the country.
Remarkably, Skerrit is confident that his government has taken all possible steps to adequately manage the Covd-19 pandemic. “Our management of this virus has been unimpeachable and we have been consistent with our effort to keep people safe,” he noted.
Accordingly, persons are urged to play their part and to adhere to the health and safety protocols as the government continues to seek ways to overcome this dreadful virus.
