Bahamian stuck abroad waiting to return to family

Tonia-Kaye Moss, 27, was returning home from school in Jamaica when the government closed the Bahamian border.

“The borders were closed during my connecting flight home,” Moss told The Nassau Guardian.

Describing the moment she realized she couldn’t return to The Bahamas, Moss said, “I panicked for a good minute. I stood frozen but my mother raised a resilient woman.

“I took a deep breath [for] maybe 10 [seconds]. Then, I reached out to a great friend, who’s also a part of the consulate family but resides in Atlanta, while my partner back home did the same [by] driving to government buildings [and] the works.”

Today marks one month since she has been stuck in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Moss is staying at a hotel there until she is able to return home.

“I mean I have a roof over my head so I’m not homeless,” she said.

“But the lack of care the Floridians are putting into this pandemic gives me anxiety.

“I empathize with anyone who’s missing family, even if they are 10 minutes apart. Seeing that I’m quite family-oriented, it would have been ideal to endure this together than apart.

“Continually, to those who are restless, I can relate. Having a routine is what keeps us going. To have that abruptly discontinued with no signs of when normalcy [is] being returned is scary.”

On March 27, the government announced that the Bahamian border would close to all incoming individuals, including citizens and residents.

The step was taken as an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19 in The Bahamas.

Moss said she would not have traveled if she knew the border was going to close.

“But, as we’re now in this predicament, I feel there should be an exception but not at the expense of the populous back home,” she told The Guardian.

“If the necessary measures are taken upon our arrival then yes. I would be devastated if I cause my family harm.”

While noting that she isn’t sick, Moss said she would be willing to be quarantined upon arrival to The Bahamas.

“It’s like [New York] Governor [Andrew] Cuomo said: sacrifice the I for we,” she said, adding, “At least I will be on home soil but the facilitation has to be flawless.”

Moss said the Bahamian consulate in Miami has been “helpful in liaison between the government and myself”.

“I’m sure they’re overwhelmed themselves, but they have been nothing but a great pseudo family away from my family,” she said.

Last week, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States Sidney Collie told The Guardian that he planned to recommend that the government make “an exception” and allow some Bahamians to return home despite the closure of The Bahamas’ border.

“What we are looking at is the cost to the government to have to house and feed a large number of students throughout the United States; paying for hotels and motels and other accommodation versus the cost of making an exception with the border and getting them back home,” he said.

“That would be the driving motive behind making that recommendation. So, we have a number of recommendations we want to make but I will leave that until my list of recommendations from consul generals [is] complete.”

There are at least 250 Bahamians stuck in Florida, according to Collie.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/04/27/bahamian-stuck-abroad-waiting-to-return-to-family/