US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has asked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to develop a cruise exemption state ban on companies with proof of vaccination, said Florida law “could adversely affect the health and well-being of millions of Caribbean residents if cruises to the region resume.”

Bryan said ensuring the reopening of the cruise industry with vaccinated passengers is critical to the tourism economy of the USVI and the wider Caribbean.

Bryan congratulated the Florida Governor on his commitment to health, civil rights and economic recovery and called for an exemption that would allow vaccination controls for departing passengers on cruise lines.

“The law you signed (which will come into effect July 1, 2021) could adversely affect the USVI and other ports of call in the Caribbean,” said Bryan. He highlighted the CDC approvals for cruises due to begin this summer from US ports with strict health and safety guidelines such as: B. the vaccination of 95% of passengers and crew members.

similar posts

With most Caribbean cruises originating in Florida, Bryan said that “our ports are in the direct line of fire”.

Bryan said that while USVI’s two hospitals are equipped to care for residents of the Territory, they lack the resources to deal with a potentially major public health crisis.

“The lack of infrastructure puts us at a disadvantage for every crisis – health or mother nature. This applies not only to the Virgin Islands, but also to most of the countries in the region, ”wrote the governor in his letter to DeSantis.

“So I ask you to put a lens through the negative impact your legislation could have on residents of the Caribbean. The cruise lines and tourism workers, many of whom have Caribbean roots, are now almost fully vaccinated and ready to travel.” ” back to work, ”he wrote.

He asked DeSantis to consider an exemption for cruises “so that Caribbean destinations can feel safe as cruise passengers and crew arrive and disembark.

Bryan also shared a communique with the Caribbean Community leadership (CARICOM) calling on the regional leaders to work with the USVI to find a convenient way to welcome cruise ships and their passengers in the safest possible way.