The government has lifted entry restrictions to enable residents’ relatives and friends to visit the territory to ensure their well-being and assist in the recovery effort, officials announced Thursday.
Such visitors will be allowed remain in the territory for four weeks, though extensions will be granted “sparingly” on a “case-by-case basis,” according to Government Information Services.
“Whilst providing some sort of comfort to families is essential, we are also conscious of the limited resources and unfavourable conditions that exist locally,” said Chief Immigration Officer Geraldine Ritter-Freeman. “Hence, monitoring the number of persons that come into the territory is important for the future recovery and development.”
Visitors are asked to comply with immigration rules by having a return ticket on hand and departing the territory before the expiration of the time granted by immigration authorities.
Government also announced that on Oct. 11 heads of departments and military officers met for a planning day to “create a six-week plan in preparing the territory for visitors” by Dec. 1.
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