Group of Niueans concerned over border control holds demonstration at airport
A group of concerned citizens and residents held a demonstration this morning at the Hanan international airport in regards to the Coronavirus response plan by authorities particularly over Niue’s border.
This is despite the Cabinet’s decision on Wednesday March 25th to cancel tomorrow’s NZ 784 flight.
Led by Opposition Members of Parliament O’love Jacobsen, Vainga Tukuitonga, Stan Kalauni and Terry Coe, the group of close to 30 people marched and chanted in the airport area “ Keep Niue free from Covid-19 ”, at the same time demonstrated good practices of social distancing with each other with some also wearing face masks.
Outside the old VIP lounge, the group hung up banners on the fence that expressed their concerns for Niue’s safety and protection from the virus calling for authorities to stop flights and for both the people and government to work together.
The group also sang songs and prayed together for the nation.
“I’m not satisfied with a cancellation of a flight because after this cancellation of this flight, there will be another flight and they will bring in people. Is Niue ready? Are we capable of handling perhaps a full flight of maybe sixty people plus coming to Niue and for us to apply full quarantine measures? Last Friday a choice was given to people. Difficult for the government to say no when people are asking, can I go home, I’ve got little children. We’ve just got to be able to find out how we’re going to find out how we’re going to manage that but we’ve got to be ready because it’s not only that, its to ensure that we’ve got the legal framework in place so that we’re not unduly penalizing people and not to frighten them or put the fear in them but basically to ensure that we’re doing this correctly but we need to be fully prepared and i believe it should be one of whatever not quarantine and self isolation together. It doesn’t work , it defeats the very purpose and I guess for some would take the opportunity to relax in an accommodation that’s going to be paid for but that’s not the attitude. The attitude is to be able to close our borders for the time being. It is for the time being. Please don’t mistake this as a means of trying to gain points or find favor from people given that elections are not far away but this has got to be done in the spirit of togetherness.” said O’love Jacobsen – Opposition MP and group spokesperson
The Opposition Members of Parliament also spoke to the members of public who turned up acknowledging them for their support.
“ God loves Niue and you people today, I’m so thankful to you people for all of you who have turned up. We all represent our country , our families.” said Vainga Tukuitonga – Opposition MP
“ It’s good to see that we’ve got support for this stopping of the virus coming into Niue and it’s a pity that the public servants were not allowed to come and support us here because a lot of them have the same fear as we all do that we don’t want the virus coming here to Niue and the only it can come is through the plane and so we need to work on a better system that is operating at the moment and the communications to the public. Not at the last minute, it should have been done a long time ago and put in place so we need to get that communication and also get our loved ones back from New zealand, our residents.” said Terry Coe – Opposition MP
Currently there are no suspected or confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Niue.
Meanwhile the government has put in place measures to enforce those that are self isolating in the accommodations with regular checks performed by the health staff for the 14 days quarantine.
Cabinet held an emergency meeting yesterday sending an official request to Air New Zealand yesterday to cancel the Friday March 27th flight.
