Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd announces the suspension of its cruises around the world "Given global public health circumstances [Covid-19], Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has decided to suspend the sailings of our fleet globally at midnight tonight. "

Recall that it is the Société Labadie Nord (Solano), created in 1985 which manages the private port of Labadee, in Haiti rented by the cruise company, Royal Caribbean International which brought to Haiti 721,000 cruise passengers in 2019 (which reports 12 US tax dolars by cruise line to the Treasury, in addition to local economic spinoffs) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29873-haiti-tourism-721-000-cruise-passengers-in-labadee-in-2019.html

The company says "We will conclude all current sailings as scheduled and assist our guests with their safe return home [...] As with our announcement yesterday regarding U.S. sailings, we expect to return to service on April 11, 2020."

Note that nearly 1,000 Haitian jobs working in the tourism sector in Labadeewill be affected economically by this decision : troubadours, folk troupes, artisans, merchants, hair braiders, but also guards, personnel responsible for security, maintenance and service on the beach and on the quay to disembark and embark passengers. All these employees come from the villages of the northern municipalities.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29955-haiti-health-surveillance-measures-are-deployed-in-the-country-s-ports-and-airports.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29873-haiti-tourism-721-000-cruise-passengers-in-labadee-in-2019.html

HL/ HaitiLibre