OW Tim Stew, High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago, on Covid-19

OW Tim Stew (1984), High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago, on Covid-19:

“We have all had our own experience of C-19.  Everyone has their own story to tell.  So far mine here in Trinidad and Tobago has been bounded mainly by the end to get Brits home (more below).

While this country, like many in the region, hoped the virus simply wouldn’t reach here, of course it did – in March – given how much Trinis travel. They locked down hard and fast on 22 March.  With some very few exempted essential services, everyone had to stay home, full stop. Borders closed, everything closed internally, no-one allowed to be outside except for essential and brief food and pharmacy shopping, and challenged by the police if they were otherwise.

With 118 cases and 8 deaths in a population of 1.4 million the lockdown has been effective so far, though they worry rightly here about a second wave when the country opens up to the outside world.  Restrictions have eased steadily over the weeks to the point where now, while many restrictions remain including mandatory face masks and hand washing before entering any shop, life has returned to some normality, except for gatherings in public spaces and borders remaining closed. Others in the wider region still have it more difficult.  In some neighbouring countries you can only be out of your house for two hours a week for essential food shopping, the timing of which is dictated by the first letter of your surname.

My organisation’s IT has meant my teams here have been able to keep working throughout, from home.  Just as well, and we’ve learned a lot along the way. I would have raised an eyebrow if last year anyone had suggested we could manage the crisis that has been helping repatriate the 1.5 million Brits travelling globally at any time when working from home, whether overseas or in London.  But that’s been the task.  In our case we overcame the sudden closure of T&T’s border with some negotiation to enable flights to London to continue for a few days, helping 1000+ British tourists get home immediately on commercial flights.  A week ago the most complex Government-organised and -subsidised charter flights the Foreign Office has attempted saw 590 Brits, many elderly and vulnerable, get home to their loved ones, including 123 from T&T. 17 sweeper flights, from 11 countries in the Caribbean, delivering passengers for two transatlantic flights to Heathrow, over two days. We had some very happy passengers, though the complex process reminded me why I didn’t choose to become a travel agent…

And so, on to a reprioritised world. While we strive to reinstate important work underway pre-C19, we also continue to prioritise sourcing products to meet demand for PPE in UK, the essential work on vaccine development (delighted to see my home city leading the way globally!) and equitable distribution internationally, and taking good care of any Brits who remain here and vulnerable.

While I’ve become expert in helping others get back to the UK to their families, I’ve done less well with myself and my partner, Shabania! My planned return next month after 5 years is stalled while the borders here stay closed.  I’m hoping though to get home by the autumn and see my kids and wider family for the first time in Many months, and then spending time with them, before heading out overseas again in summer 2021 for the next adventure. ”