THE ANDREW Holness led-Cabinet is expected to determine tomorrow whether it will bow to pressure from tourism and other industry interests to abandon the long-term phased and full reopening of the economy despite protests from health officials.
Full restrictions on bars, churches and entertainment have been proposed to be lifted on July 1; border openings for Jamaicans on August 1 and tourism on October 1, according to confidential government documents obtained by The Sunday Gleaner.
Cabinet must now decide when Jamaica can start accepting tourists and whether to do so earlier than the October 1 proposal as aviation, tourism and other private sector interests increase their pressure for an earlier start.
Though it remains unclear when Jamaica’s borders will reopen to incoming passengers, regional carrier, Caribbean Airlines (CAL), told The Sunday Gleaner that it will be ready to go “once provided with adequate notice and clear guidelines” by Jamaican authorities.
Readiness among local employers appears is not optimal as the Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF) is reporting that up to 80 per cent of its members have indicated that they are not fully compliant with the guidelines established by the health ministry or to bring back all employees.
