NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The government should step in and cover the cost of testing for unvaccinated Atlantis employees, according to Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis.
While addressing the issue with reporters following the opening of Parliament Dr Minnis suggested that since free testing was a commitment of the Davis administration, the government should step in and cover the cost of weekly COVID-19 tests for unvaccinated Atlantis employees as required by the company.
“Atlantis had said that individuals coming in would have to pay for their antigen testing. This government had made a commitment that antigen testing would be free. This should not be an issue. The government made the statement repeatedly that antigen testing is free. The testing is free and Atlantis is requiring individuals to pay. The government who made the statement that testing is free should pay for those individuals. That’s a statement they made and so live by your statement,” said Dr Minnis.
Prime Minister Philip Davis said on Wednesday Atlantis’ mandate that all unvaccinated employees must pay for their own weekly rapid antigen test will likely “fall away” once government fulfills its free COVID-19 testing pledge. He admitted however that it will take some time for government to implement.
Atlantis has maintained its position that unvaccinated employees must pay for their weekly rapid antigen tests despite a recent announcement from Labour and Immigration Minister Keith Bell that the resort had agreed to hold off on the policy.
The move has been met with harsh criticism from The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) whose president Darrin Woods recently told Eyewitness News that the action was unlawful.
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