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Royalton's Maskless Pool Party: The Questions It Raises
The management of the Royalton Hotel in Antigua is being roundly criticized after videos circulated of a recent pool party on its premises, reportedly marking Labour Day. In this episode we ask: What, if anything, was wrong with what we saw happening at the hotel, and should anyone be made accountable?
There were dozens and dozens of people visible in the videos shared, and the event reportedly went on for more than a day. People could be seen crowding closely together, filling up a pool, and dancing to music. There appeared to be no distancing, no masks, and no observance of the lawful restriction on numbers. And it appears to have been an openly promoted event. It has upset many residents who feel that what they saw was reckless, and that there is lax enforcement of Covid rules at hotels and amongst visitors. On this programme back in February, we discussed a controversy at the Hodges Bay Resort over a Valentine’s Day party where Covid rules were not observed.
As for the Royalton controversy; it’s worth mentioning that around mid-August, it was revealed that there had been 31 Covid-19 positive cases at the very same hotel after 500 employees were tested. So to see the hotel hosting a maskless, no distancing, crowded party less than a month later, was startling. Bar owners and their patrons have had premises raided and have been arrested for similar offenses. But the police have not made any statements about the Royalton party, though the Information Minister Medford Nicholas says the Cabinet feels it's a matter for law enforcement and the director of public prosecutions (DPP). Wait. Were the police waiting on the Cabinet to decide if it was for them to address?
The controversial party has raised the issue of continued misconceptions over what vaccinated people are, and are not advised to do. While the Royalton Hotel itself has not made a statement up to this point, an Antigua Newsroom article notes that one supposed party attendee used Facebook to defend the event on the grounds that attendees were all vaccinated. Even if this were the case, vaccinated persons are not being advised by local public health authorities that crowding, going maskless, and not distancing amongst each other is allowable. In fact, public health officials in Antigua and Barbuda have been discussing more and more, that due to the Delta variant's higher incidence of symptomatic breakthrough infections, more fully vaccinated people will become carriers and spreaders of the virus than with past strains, though they remain strongly protected against hospitalisation.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on September 12th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.
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By The Big Issues Production TeamThe management of the Royalton Hotel in Antigua is being roundly criticized after videos circulated of a recent pool party on its premises, reportedly marking Labour Day. In this episode we ask: What, if anything, was wrong with what we saw happening at the hotel, and should anyone be made accountable?
There were dozens and dozens of people visible in the videos shared, and the event reportedly went on for more than a day. People could be seen crowding closely together, filling up a pool, and dancing to music. There appeared to be no distancing, no masks, and no observance of the lawful restriction on numbers. And it appears to have been an openly promoted event. It has upset many residents who feel that what they saw was reckless, and that there is lax enforcement of Covid rules at hotels and amongst visitors. On this programme back in February, we discussed a controversy at the Hodges Bay Resort over a Valentine’s Day party where Covid rules were not observed.
As for the Royalton controversy; it’s worth mentioning that around mid-August, it was revealed that there had been 31 Covid-19 positive cases at the very same hotel after 500 employees were tested. So to see the hotel hosting a maskless, no distancing, crowded party less than a month later, was startling. Bar owners and their patrons have had premises raided and have been arrested for similar offenses. But the police have not made any statements about the Royalton party, though the Information Minister Medford Nicholas says the Cabinet feels it's a matter for law enforcement and the director of public prosecutions (DPP). Wait. Were the police waiting on the Cabinet to decide if it was for them to address?
The controversial party has raised the issue of continued misconceptions over what vaccinated people are, and are not advised to do. While the Royalton Hotel itself has not made a statement up to this point, an Antigua Newsroom article notes that one supposed party attendee used Facebook to defend the event on the grounds that attendees were all vaccinated. Even if this were the case, vaccinated persons are not being advised by local public health authorities that crowding, going maskless, and not distancing amongst each other is allowable. In fact, public health officials in Antigua and Barbuda have been discussing more and more, that due to the Delta variant's higher incidence of symptomatic breakthrough infections, more fully vaccinated people will become carriers and spreaders of the virus than with past strains, though they remain strongly protected against hospitalisation.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on September 12th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.