By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said countries have been premature and uneven in implementing travel bans on African nations.

Last week, The Bahamas followed a number of countries around the world in introducing travel restrictions from several countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Travel from those countries was banned after the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

 “Health officials should have fairly uniform policies governing entry into the country given the fact that the new variant is in multiple countries across time zones and socio-economic brackets,” Mr Pintard said yesterday.

 “The countries that targeted the African nations did so unevenly and prematurely given the fact that it was not conclusive that Sub-Saharan Africa was the point of origin. Furthermore, the wealthy northern nations and now The Bahamas are discriminating against the very countries who were discriminated against when the vaccines were being distributed initially.

 “We are grateful to have benefitted from our neighbour to the north who provided us with large numbers of vaccine doses. Not all countries were as fortunate as we were. Developing countries were not assisted in substantial ways with their fair share of vaccines by pharmaceutical companies and wealthy countries, hence their vulnerability to new variants. We are now penalising them economically by starving off commerce on inconclusive evidence.”

 Mr Pintard said instead of travel bans, the government should adjust its testing requirements.

 “We ought to adjust testing and screening policies to require PCR for all (vaccinated and unvaccinated) 48 to 72 hours prior to travel,” he said.

 “Requiring the vaccinated to secure more than a rapid antigen test is unlikely to have deal-breaking economic consequences given the widespread availability of PCR tests, particularly in the USA. The flow of tourists and Bahamians will be minimally affected. However, this must be weighed against science relative to the severity of impact of the new variant, the ease of transmission and the efficacy of the existing vaccines. Continuation of commerce is crucial; however protection of health is paramount if commerce is to succeed.”

 The Marco City MP’s view on the matter contrasts with that of former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who last week urged the government to ban travel from African countries.

 Scientists are not yet sure if the new variant is more contagious or deadly than other strains.

 “The government has to lay out carefully but aggressively their vaccination plan and should reveal how many of their cabinet ministers are vaccinated. While our population should not be bullied relative to vaccination there should be clear signs from those that are advocating it that they have the moral authority to do so,” Mr Pintard said.

 Bahamians and residents who are travelling from the restricted African areas will not be prevented from entering the country, however they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks as a precautionary measure, officials have said.