Grenada immigration concerned about illegal entry of Vincentians

Head of the Immigration Department in Grenada, Leroy Joseph, says there is a significant increase in the number of illegal migrants from St Vincent and the Grenadines entering the country, and this has become a major concern because of the continuous rise in community spread of COVID-19 in the neighbouring island.

“This is becoming a very serious challenge for us,” said Joseph, noting that more than half of the persons caught illegally entering Grenada between January 1 and June 14 this year were individuals from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Joseph said a total of 24 persons have been caught and of that amount, seven were persons from other nations, including Venezuela, Panama, Columbia, and Trinidad and Tobago. In 2020, 15 illegal immigrants were caught at the borders.

Police said that they had arrested and charged two persons from Trinidad and Tobago over the last weekend for entering the island without the consent of an immigration officer and failure to submit to a government quarantine facility.

“Both individuals arrived on island via speedboat last Thursday and were subsequently detained by immigration
authorities,” according to a police statement.

As part of the government’s efforts to contain and control the spread of COVID-19, all incoming individuals must provide a negative PCR upon arrival, reside in a quarantine facility for no more than 48 hours if fully vaccinated, or seven days if not vaccinated. Once in the quarantine facility, health officers will conduct a COVID-19 test, and once the result is negative, the individuals will be allowed to mix with the society.

The island currently has no active or new COVID-19 cases. However, since the first case was diagnosed in March last year, 161 cases were confirmed. There was one death. (The Gleaner)