Trini students head home – to quarantine

The 13 Trinidadian students at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill who were stuck here during the COVID-19 lockdown are finally home. But they were expected to be quarantined immediately on arrival in Port of Spain.

The students left the island this afternoon on a Caribbean Airlines repatriation flight that was the result of a partnership between the airline and the Trinidadian government. Each student leaving Barbados paid just over $700 (US$350) for the flight.

On Friday, Trinidadian students at UWI Mona in Jamaica also returned home on a similar flight.

As early as 10 a.m. Monday, the students in Barbados started checking in at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

A spokesperson for the group, law student Chantal Seecharan, told Barbados TODAY the students were “happy and excited” to be going home to be with their families and close friends.

But she said, they were “nervous about the state quarantine” that awaits them.

“We are still awaiting further instructions from the authorities,” she added.

The students are to be quarantined for a 14-day period at UWI St Augustine.

Prior to the flight, students were informed by the airline to wear face masks throughout their journey. No meal service was offered, and passengers were encouraged to walk with a snack and personal hygiene items such as wipes and hand sanitizers.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 13 students who were cut off from their homeland first made a plea through this media house to return home, saying they were worried about not being with their families.

But owing to the closure of Trinidad and Tobago’s borders on March 17, the Keith Rowley administration insisted that they shelter in place.

After several calls, the students were later presented with care packages at the end of April.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb