PM Says 25 Air Peace Passengers Will Travel to Antigua From Barbados on LIAT

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says approximately 25 passengers arriving on the new Air Peace service from Nigeria are still expected to travel to Antigua and Barbuda, even as the government takes a cautious approach amid Ebola concerns in parts of Africa.

Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne said the Air Peace flight from Lagos may bypass Antigua and land directly in Barbados before passengers destined for Antigua are transported onward by LIAT.

“That flight may go to Barbados and then the individuals who are scheduled to stay in Antigua will probably get LIAT to bring them from Barbados to Antigua,” Browne said.

The Prime Minister later confirmed that around 25 passengers are expected to continue on to Antigua despite the altered routing arrangement.

“Even though they’re landing in Barbados, about 25 of them will come here,” Browne said.

Browne said health authorities will closely monitor the travelers and ensure they are screened upon arrival.

“What we will do, though, is to make sure that they’re properly screened as best we can,” he said.

The Prime Minister explained that Antigua and Barbuda is reinstating enhanced public health measures, including infrared thermal scanners and other protocols previously used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re putting new health protocols in place, going back to the COVID framework,” Browne said.

He added that the government has also reactivated the Infectious Disease Centre as a precautionary measure in the event any arriving passenger becomes ill.

“If any of them were to take ill while they’re here, we can easily isolate them and of course do the necessary contact tracing,” Browne said.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda’s cautious approach was influenced both by current Ebola concerns and by the country’s previous experience with Antigua Airways flights involving migrants traveling from Cameroon through Nigeria in 2022 and 2023.

“We got burnt there, so we’ve been a little cautious,” Browne said.

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