Samoan govt says stranded sailors have to stay put

Apia: The Samoan government says it will not be bringing home over 320 stranded sailors as long as countries continue to close their borders through COVID-19 precautions. This is despite a call by the International Transport Federation for the government to find ways to repatriate the sailors.

The ITF’s Scott McDine urged the government to act through an email to the Samoa Observer newspaper. “As we have said, Governments cannot continue with a mentality of out of sight, out of mind, and must use all their influence to end this humanitarian crisis,” Mr McDine said.