Finally...1,044 Jamaican ship workers dock in Falmouth
Published:Tuesday | May 19, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas with some 1,044 Jamaican ship workers on board has arrived at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny.
The Jamaicans will disembark in batches of 200 every 48 to 72 hours and will be tested for COVID-19 and transported to the Bahia Principe hotel in St Ann to await their results.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday told a press conference that ship workers who test positive will go into a state facility for isolation while those who test negative will be allowed to quarantine at home for 14 days.
Persons in home quarantine will have their location tracked and must do video check-ins multiple times a day, Holness said.
It was emotional for many of the Jamaicans as the pulled into the Falmouth pier.
It has been emotional for Jamaicans who docked at the Falmouth pier this afternoon after weeks in quarantine. While awaiting disembarkation, the Jamaicans broke out singing the national anthem. They are to disembark in groups over the next 48-72 hours. - Contributed video pic.twitter.com/yWejdmZ774
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) May 19, 2020
Some of them have been on board in quarantine for the past month, others for just over a week.
Although grateful to be home, one of the ship workers said she was disappointed at the government's handling of the process for their repatriation.
"Usually when you are arriving in Jamaica by sea or by plane, the feeling of excitement usually take you over so much you cant wait to touch Jamaica land we love and when I was coming in today and saw the security forces I felt a sense of melancholy grasp me, then I looked forward across the streets and saw a citizen waving a big Jamaican flag and that's when a tear fell from my eyes to know that look there's is still hope in Jamaica," she said.
IN PHOTO: LaMar Spence and Britanya Nickle with a Jamaican flag at the Falmouth pier.
The woman in her 30's said she felt indebted to that person.
"I thank that one citizen in that moment for letting us feel somewhat welcome in our own country," she said.
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