The advisory indicates that passengers and nationals from EVD-affected states must present proper documentation before embarking on a flight to Saint Lucia.

The Immigration Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is strengthening border control measures at the various ports of entry on the island, as part of the Ministry of Health’s strategy to prevent the Ebola virus from reaching our shores.

Assistant Superintendant of Police with the Immigration Department, Crusita Descartes Pelius, said port officials have met to discuss their roles and responsibilities in dealing with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

“The officers at the ports of entry have been informed and trained to handle passengers and  nationals from the affected countries of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Liberia,” she said. “Persons from these states all require visas, which means they need to apply for a visa before they can enter the state.”

Pelius said that additional measures are being taken to control the entry of nationals from Sierra Leone and Guinea into Saint Lucia.

“We have been in dialog with the Office of the Prime Minister to ensure that the proper advisory is being sent to the airlines, so that persons coming from Sierra Leone and Guinea will not board an aircraft to Saint Lucia, only to be told at the port of entry that they are denied entry.

“First, we’re ensuring that the airlines and the travel agents are aware and properly informed of the regulations for entry into Saint Lucia, so that passengers and  persons coming from these countries will not be allowed to board the aircraft.”

Pelius added all front line personnel at the island’s ports of entry are familiar with the protocol implemented by the Ministry of Health in the handling of Ebola cases.