MORE BAHAMIAN NATIONALS AND RESIDENTS RETURN ON REPATRIATION FLIGHT

Ambassador Sharon Brennen-Haylock (left), Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks with one of the returning Bahamians. Directly behind her is Eugene Torchon-Newry, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photos by Kemuel Stubbs)

NASSAU, Bahamas — More than 100 Bahamian citizens and residents returned to the country on a repatriation flight from the United States on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Tribune reported on May 25.

One hundred and thirty-five nationals and residents, as well as three infants, were on board. The Bahamasair flight, which originated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, first touched down in Grand Bahama, where 60 people disembarked. Afterwards it flew to New Providence, where the remainder of those on board disembarked.

Fourteen of these returnees are now at a government quarantine facility in Grand Bahama while 42 are at a quarantine facility in New Providence.

According to a press release, the consul-general and staff members of the Bahamas Consulate in Miami were present at the airport in Fort Lauderdale to monitor the process until the flight departed.

“Also present were two doctors from the Ministry of Health, who verified the COVID-19 test results,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “Returning nationals and residents were met in Grand Bahama and New Providence by government officials, inclusive of senior staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health.

“All returning nationals and residents were taken to the government quarantine facilities in both Grand Bahama and New Providence, where assessments took place to determine who would be placed in quarantine and who would be permitted to self-quarantine. With respect to those placed in the government quarantine facilities, there are 14 persons in the Grand Bahama facility and 42 in the New Providence facility, respectively,” the ministry said. See full Tribune article at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/may/25/more-people-manage-to-fly-back-home/