Cooper Foreshadows End Of Travel Health Visa

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The travel health visa is back in the spotlight again as Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper suggests it may come to an end soon.

Berthony Mcdermott reports.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper foreshadowed the termination of the travel health visa.

Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Cooper said the decision will be based on the country’s COVID-19 cases.

The Exumas and Ragged Island Member of Parliament were unable to give a timeline on this.

The travel health visa was implemented back in 2020, as the country reopened its borders amid the ongoing pandemic.

While in opposition, Cooper along with his Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) colleagues slammed the idea by the Minnis administration.

His comments come after Free National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard accused the government of subsidizing COVID-19 tests for tourists, which Cooper called political nonsense.

In a statement, Pintard called the policy a shameful one.

Cooper said there was no change in cost or change in the model.

According to Pintard, the price of the health visa is not sufficient to cover the test prices.

In his calculation, the $40 for the health visa is sufficient to cover the cost of the health insurance at $25, administrative overhead at $10, and generate a small surplus of $5.

When the cost of the COVID-19 test of $23 is factored in, the total cost of a health visa increases to $58.