Excerpt from the Jamiaca Observer column published Monday, June 28, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Fully vaccinated, we headed to the drive-through Antigen testing site at Old Hope Road as we prepared for our first overseas visit in fifteen months. It was an easy process; there was no need to leave the car as they brought out a card with a QR code so we could answer a few questions on WhatsApp, pay via a mobile card machine and 30 minutes later our results were in our inbox.
Because we didn’t want to change flights, we got a ride to Montego Bay to catch Southwest to Baltimore. Our favourite spot in the airport Club Mobay was buzzing, with attentive staff and great snacks. There were frequent reminders that masks had to be worn in the airport and on the flight.
The jovial flight attendant announced that no liquor was available – this after a rowdy passenger had attacked a Southwest attendant a few weeks before on a US domestic flight. The plane looked spotless but we did wipe down the arms of the seat just to be sure.
On arrival, there were no questions about vaccination and testing as all this had been checked in Montego Bay, but lots of questions about agricultural products. We detailed everything we had in our bags, but along with the few Jamaicans, were still directed to the agricultural line where the lady wrote down the items: coffee, coconut drops, bun, tamarind balls, rum cream – “No ma’am, no mangoes” – how I wished I could have taken the lovely mangoes from my trees. My relatives have been buying them for a fortune at the West Indian store.
So here we were in the fully opened state of Maryland. Many folks were not wearing masks, but we kept them on wherever we went. There was indoor dining and we understand that cinemas and other places of entertainment were well attended. What a difference vaccination makes. What a tragedy that there are still so-called pastors dissuading their congregants there and here in Jamaica from taking the vaccine. It is the unvaccinated who are accounting for those Covid deaths still occurring.
We had to be tested to return to Jamaica, benefiting from the free PCR tests offered by the US Government for anyone, whether citizen or not.
Returning home, there was not one empty seat on the flight and most were tourists. The Montego Bay Airport was busy and Club Mobay was packed to capacity. Our Red Cap porter Mr Nelson regaled us with stories as we crossed to the Knutsford Express on the airport premises. Let us pause to congratulate the founder of Knutsford Express, Oliver Townsend for creating this islandwide transportation system that is professionally run. You can set your watch on its departures. It has been a Godsend for Jamaicans travelers.
Jamaica Highlights 