Former Love Island star Zara Holland has apologised to the Barbados Government and the Barbadian public for what she described as a “massive mix up and misunderstanding” during her most recent stay in the country.
Reports are that Holland and her boyfriend Elliott Love were stopped by officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport after one of them reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
They were subsequently placed in isolation.
Barbados TODAY understands that Holland has been released from the facility but Love remains.
In a statement issued by a representative of the family this evening, Holland said: “I firstly wish to apologise to the entire country of Barbados for what has been a massive mix up and misunderstanding during my most recent stay.
“I am currently working closely with the local authorities to rectify any issues on my part and will issue an update and full statement which I think is the only right thing to do to the Government and citizens of Barbados.
“I have been a guest of this lovely island in excess of 20 years and would never do anything to jeopardise an entire nation that I have nothing but love and respect for and which has treated me as a family.”
Earlier this week, Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George confirmed that at least two tourists were stopped at the airport as they attempted to leave the country after testing positive for the virus.
As a result, airport employees believed to have been in contact with the guests are under quarantine, pending results from two rounds of COVID-19 testing.
Officials in Barbados did not release the names of the visitors.
However, international media reports subsequently identified the couple.
Read our ePaper. Fast. Factual. Free.
Sign up and stay up to date with Barbados' FREE latest news.
Is there no fine for her or her boyfriend? What about prison since they knew what they were doing. Stop this nonsense of rich…white..privilege people not having consequences for their actions. let’s see what the law courts will do if it was a black person or a national.
No one wants your apology, words are cheap. Think before acting and no apology will be needed.
No mix uo from her. I’m reading this in London. Her actions are a small measure of the privilege white people display. She and her partner acted as if they didn’t care and would spread the virus at any cost. Lock them up and fine them. Send a signal that Barbados is serious. If that had been the other way round and the person had been Black and in Britain – they would be fined straight away and been arrested.
People are acting as if Covid19 has a suit and shoes and moves on its own. It doesnt.
To quote Forrest Gump “Stupid is as stupid does” and I am not buying this mix up BS.
Your partner tested positive. You had contact.
He goes to Harrison Point as do you. End of story.
No mix up. No confusion.
You just figured you would try to get out of Barbados by going to GAIA to buy a seat and get on a plane with others while one of you was infected.
Arrogant and criminal.
I would love both of you to spend 6 months in Dodds and pay $20000BDS each for reckless endangerment on top of the laws you have broken.
You are not special!
There is a dumb blond saying, but I cant remember it now
Did they not cut off the wrist bands flee to the airport change flights?
Where is the misunderstanding?
What a pathetic, grovelling apology. This is a deliberate act of selfishness and stupidity that’s typical of someone with a sense of entitlement.
I’ve also been visiting Barbados for over 20 years and I’m fully aware of the importance of being respectful towards the people, laws and rules, particularly during a Global Pandemic whilst the government of Barbados is doing so much good work to suppress the virus.
If this couple is indeed guilty of trying to flee the country having tested positive for Covid-19, they ought to have the book thrown at them, regardless of who they are or who they perceive themselves to be.
That’s nothing new, hiding everything from us, and the apologise for trying to make us sick, like that’s going to solve anything, it’s like jucking out a person eyes and then say sorry, thing is he still have no eyes, hope the full weight if the law come down on u. Sorry just don’t cut it.
An apology is not good enough though an they gave a Jamaican guy 6 months an others $6000 dollars,she should be made to pay in someway for her actions !
Was she charged?
Last notes: Don’t generate too many links in the time via the same Computer’s desktop. Page accessories consist of paw prints, outdoor backgrounds and earthy shades and textures. They are in effect my colleagues on broad.
These people are totally selfish. I cannot believe that they were prepared to board an aircraft and risk infecting so many people.
I hope that they face the full force of the law as there was no misunderstanding or mixup.
These people are totally worthless.
Apology NOT accepted, they knew what they were doing. She just ‘misunderstood’ that the rules also apply to her and that the ‘mix up’ was because she thought that she was more special than everyone else. So Zara, you thought the red wrist bands were meant to be cut off and that your Covid positive boyfriend should get on a long haul flight back to the UK? Sorry, when you get caught like this there are real penalties to pay…but she’s so cocky she releases a grovelling apology thinking – by doing so – that she can get away with a ticking off! She is exactly the reason covid is spreading.
She and her boyfriend literally chose purposefully to escape from the island to avoid quarantine after he tested positive – knowing that doing so could spread the virus elsewhere. These are not “mistakes” these were premediated actions by the pair taken in full knowledge of what they were doing and what the results would be. She should be held on remand in prison as a flight risk not returned to her hotel. After he recovers, they should face the court where – if justice matters – they should be jailed for a minimum of 12 months and fined massively in order to discourage others. Finally – tourists should have their passports held in the hotels’ safes until they test negative. People who test positive for Covid should not receive their results over the phone or by email – rather the Ministry of Health should deliver negative results to the hotel where they are staying and immediately take the infected individual to the St.Lucy facility for treatment.
What rubbish. She knew exactly what she was doing and is just trying to protect what’s left of her reputation. She should receive the maximum fine and be deported from the island immediately. She is a complete embarrassment to her fellow (law abiding) British countrymen.
“massive mix up and misunderstanding”
No, it was a deliberate and calculated decision on your part, showing you couldn’t care less about other people.
Your behaviour was reckless.
In my eyes, no fine is large enough – but should be accompanied by a significant prison sentence and a ten year travel ban.
Wow, if only the Jamaican Mason who was always Covid negative but left quarantine facility and went to the neighbourhood shop to buy a soft drink were so lucky. Instead he is spending 6 months in the now Covid infested Dodds. It’s TRUE what they say- “Puss and dawg nuh have de same luck!”
The love island couple are a disgrace to my nation .
They knew what they were doing when they took off their red bands .
My wife and I have done everything in our power to make sure we are not at risk ourselves, but just as important not to put anyone else at risk, our fellow travelers , and our Barbados host’s.
They should face a prison sentence as well as a fine for their irresponsible actions.
Saying you are confused is absolute rubbish, the media and authorities have made it perfectly crystal clear on what rules and criteria needs to be followed.
Shame on the pair of you