Canada still warning against travel to some Caribbean islands

Last updated: 11 January 2018, 12:08 pm

The government in Canada is still warning against all but essential travel to a number of Caribbean islands.

This is despite intense rebuilding efforts since the region was struck by two category five hurricanes in September.

Dominica, St Barts and St Martin and among those named as islands to avoid.

“Hurricane Maria swept Dominica as a major hurricane on 18 September 18 2017, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructures on the island,” an advisory said.

“Transportation routes, power and telecommunications systems have been affected throughout the island.

“Emergency and medical care, and water and food supplies have also been severely affected. Do not travel to or through the affected regions.”

This comes at a time when the Nature Island is trying desperately to reignite its tourism product.

This advisory puts the Caribbean islands in the same grouping as other nations such as Burkina Faso, Pakistan and Egypt.

It’s a similar picture for the British Virgin Islands, which also suffered damage or destruction to key infrastructure.

Both Dutch Sint Maarten and French neighbour Saint-Martin are described in Canada's advisories as offering only “limited tourist services” as “none of the resort facilities on the island are operational.”

People travelling to Puerto Rico, which also took a beating from the September weather, are advised only to exercise a high degree of caution.

According to the Canadian government, the essential travel only warning means that “there are specific safety and security concerns that could put you at risk. You should reconsider your need to travel to the country, territory or region.”