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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 23, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis continues its phased approach reopening to the world, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris emphasized that this is being done in a manner that safeguards citizens, residents and visitors alike from the possible transmission of the deadly COVID-19 disease.

“Like the rest of the world, we are slowly moving out of the shadow of COVID-19 and we are doing it in a careful manner. Careful, because everywhere, once we drop our guard we are certain to return from whence we came in the battle against COVID-19,” Prime Minister Harris said during a plaque exchange ceremony on the occasion of the inaugural call of the Enchanted Princess cruise ship to St. Kitts today, Tuesday, November 22, 2021.

The Enchanted Princess was one of three cruise vessels that docked at St. Kitts’ main cruise port, Port Zante, on November 23.  The two other vessels in port are the Seabourn Odyssey and the AIDAluna cruise ships.

Prime Minister Harris assured the captain, crew and passengers of the Enchanted Princess, and all other cruises that visit the Federation, that his administration takes their health and safety, as well as that of its citizens and residents seriously. In this regard, the prime minister noted that St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the Hemisphere.

“We are nigh on the point of achieving an 80 percent vaccination rate among the adults in St. Kitts and Nevis. In fact, we have about 79.6 percent of the adult population already vaccinated [with the first dose] and 73 percent of the adult population are fully vaccinated at this time. These are significant numbers that can compare to any [number]in the advanced countries or anywhere else in the world. The point then is that we have taken every precaution to ensure that both you and your passengers who visit would operate in a safe place, and we hope that they too will abide by and comply with the non-pharmaceutical measures,” said Dr. Harris.

The honourable prime minister noted that his administration will continue to open up more sectors of the country for the benefit of all, particularly persons who reside in the twin-island Federation.

He added, “St. Kitts and Nevis is open to doing business, and open to doing business in a manner that takes account of the reality that COVID-19 is with us and from all predictions it will be with us for some time in the future. Therefore, whatever we do we must comply with the health protocols that we are advised will help to take us through.”

Prime Minister Harris commended several individuals and stakeholders, including Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant and his team at the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, along with the COVID-19 Task Force, for their systematic approach to the protection of lives and livelihoods during this time of a global health pandemic.