For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the population is being told TT's borders could reopen soon and people who want to return to the country will be able to do so without having to go through an exemption process.
On Friday, the Prime Minister met with a team of ministers and Caribbean Airlines (CAL), and in the coming week, that team will again meet with CAL to make further arrangements to open the borders in the next four-six weeks, 'barring any flare-up or general misconduct.'
He also said TT would be getting more vaccines, enough for the government to set a new target of vaccinating 500,000 people - about half the adult population.
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said with the additional vaccines the country had the capacity to vaccinate 300,000 people a month using all the health centres across the country as well as mobile units. He said in three months 900,000 people could be vaccinated.
In the meantime, there will be new, extended weekend curfew hours.
Dr Rowley made the announcements on Saturday at a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's.
'As we vaccinate, and as vaccination has been accelerated in North America in particular, the situation is different now. The populations of North America and the Caribbean can now more easily mix, and we are better able to manage people coming into the country.
'And I look forward to the day when nobody would have to ask permission to come home, but you qualify to get in under certain circumstances, which are your responsibility, and not for the government to tell you yea or nay.'
He said CAL would fly scheduled flights, one of the requirements for entry would be vaccination, and there would be 'controls and categorisations of people's conditions.' Further information will be available by the end of next week.
Despite this relaxation of policy, he gave no hint as to any early opening of the economy, which remains closed at least until July 4, though he spoke of the logistics of that process, which will also involve vaccination.
Instead, Rowley announced further restrictions to help things go 'in the right direction faster' in the form of longer weekend curfew hours. As of June 6, there will be a 7 pm-5 am curfew. The new ten-hour curfew will continue every weekend for the month of June, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
More vaccines coming
Rowley said a 'significant shipment' of Sinopharm vaccines, more than the 100,000 doses donated by China in May, should arrive in the country on Thursday. Through bilateral discussions, the government arranged to buy vaccines directly from China and made a payment recently.
Another source of vaccines will be the African Medical Supply Platforms. At the level of Caricom, TT aligned with the organisation and is in line to get 800,000 doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) one-dose vaccine. The first batch is expected to arrive in August.
At some point he also expects to r
