After Liberia traveller enters Ja without being tested for Ebola

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Following reports that a US citizen, who recently travelled to Liberia, was allowed to enter the island yesterday without being tested for the Ebola virus, some recording artistes have slammed the government, claiming that enough effort is not being invested in protecting the island from an outbreak.

According to dancehall artiste Twin of Twins, the leaders have become complacent in a state dormancy, because Jamaicans allow them to get away with their many failures.

"The leaders are caught in a situation where the majority of them can't do anything, neither do they know what to do, and this is as clear as day. We are not putting down anybody, but they should realise that this virus does not cater whether you are from uptown or downtown. Right now [Kingston] Public hospital is in a sad state. Can you imagine if we should get an Ebola outbreak? To let anybody into the country without scrutiny at this point is the highest form of incompetence and neglect," Twin of Twins said.

Quarantined

The immigration officials who allowed the man to pass through the airport were also slammed by the duo. "We are not prepared for this disease, and I don't know how much clearer we can make this point. All persons coming from infected countries should be quarantined and isolated. Mi nuh know what a gwaan inna Jamaica star. Politicians have become so complacent. They have been robbing so long and persons continue to vote for them, so they don't have the urge to do their work properly," the duo said.

Iconic dancehall artiste Lady Saw, says the Jamaican Government has taken a reactive approach unlike countries like China who recently announced that persons travelling from affected countries would be scrutinised.

"Right now I am confused. All other countries are securing themselves and their citizens. How the hell did he get here? I pray to Got that he doesn't have the virus, because right now I am in a state of shock. How can we allow this to happen? We need to step up and start screening at the airport," she said.

Elephant Man disclosed that other Caribbean islands are already executing their screening plans, and questioned why Jamaica has to be lagging behind other CARICOM countries.

Doing screening

"I think that our Government needs to be more secure about this island. This is carelessness, even other countries in the Caribbean are doing screening. I went to airports at smaller islands and dem screen people. We need to put out more effort and its not only for Liberians but for people in general, because people travelling from various places. If we continue like this, we are going to end up saying if mi did know, and wi nuh want it reach deh so," Elephant Man said.

The island's national security ministry is to issue a statement clarifying why protocols were not observed in processing the visitor who recently travelled to Liberia. Liberia is among a trio of West African countries hardest-hit by the deadly Ebola virus.