How are Caledonians reacting to the border closures until March 2021?
We must now justify his visit to the government and the airlines to be able to go to Nouméa.
CC / Wikimedia
Text by: Lou Roméo Follow
7 min
On September 1, the government of New Caledonia announced the extension of the fortnight and the suspension of the majority of international flights to the archipelago until March 27, 2021. Drastic measures, but rather well experienced by Caledonians, who recognize the effectiveness of the government's management of the crisis, despite its impact on the local economy.
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“
We are a small Gallic village which is resisting.
We have a responsibility to maintain this favorable situation
”declared Thierry Santa, President of the Caledonian government, announcing on September 1, 2020 the extension of the suspension of the majority of international flights to its territory as well as that of the fortnight measures for all. arrivals until March 27, 2021.
The South Pacific archipelago has so far recorded only 26 cases of coronavirus contamination.
By this putting under a bell, the executive intends to preserve this situation and prevent the spread of the epidemic on its territory.
Travelers traveling to Noumea must therefore spend 14 days in isolation at the hotel to ensure that they are not carriers of the Covid-19.
The Caledonian government also keeps a daily count of cases and people placed in fourteen on
its Facebook account
.
A strict measure for some and justified for others, despite its weight on the local economy.
“
It's a disaster
”: for this employee of a diving company in the Nouméa region, the measures taken by the Caledonian government are “
surreal
”.
The company's activity has fallen by nearly 70% during the summer months, which are normally among the busiest.
Metropolitan families such as Japanese, Australian or New Zealand tourists who usually come to discover the coral reef are absent subscribers.
A "
compelling
" reason
for going to New Caledonia
It is indeed necessary to justify a "
compelling reason
" to obtain a seat on a flight serving New Caledonia.
And tourism is obviously not one of them.
Thierry Santa, the president of the government of the island, declared: “
We are still in a situation of crisis.
It is our duty to preserve the favorable situation of New Caledonia.
This is why I appeal to everyone's responsibility and civility to understand that there is no question of resuming pleasure travel.
"
International flights regulated until marshttps: //t.co/kgE7koQbZb pic.twitter.com/X4NY0UHtls
GovernmentNC (@GouvNC) September 1, 2020
In order not to saturate the capacity of fourteen hotels, flights have been reduced to three per week, two arriving from Sydney and one from Paris via Tokyo.
The reservation book is already complete until December,
according to a document posted online by Aircalin, the main Caledonian airline.
A link without a fortnight is also maintained with Wallis-and-Futuna, the only overseas collectivity not knowing any case of Covid-19.
And the consequences are not long in coming.
"
We are going to enter the winter period,"
laments the diver
.
I don't know how we're going to be able to hold out for the next few months, I have the impression of being under the cover
.
"
Financial aid to support businesses
The Caledonian government has, however, set up
financial aid for businesses
affected by these protective measures
.
Financed by a loan of 28.5 billion CFP, or approximately 240 million euros, granted by the French Development Agency (AFD) and guaranteed by the French State, they can be claimed by companies according to their size and location.
Plumber-electrician in Nouméa, Julien was surprised by the efficiency of the support he received: “
The government was very quick.
In barely 15 days, I received an aid which allowed me to hold out at a time when my activity was declining.
"For him, the closure of the borders of New Caledonia is proving to be advantageous:"
Caledonians who had planned to go on a trip are deferring their budget to the development of their habitat.
I have never had so many orders!
», He rejoices.
All sectors of activity therefore do not suffer in the same way from the island's closure.
But it still upsets the plans of many inhabitants.
Zoé Rogala had planned to marry her Brazilian companion by organizing a big ceremony in New Caledonia: “
We
were planning to
invite 90
people from Brazil, France, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
It has become impossible, but ultimately we maintain a more modest ceremony.
And we will be celebrating in Brazil next year!
She hopes.
The example of Polynesia
The population seems to accept the government's decision, considered legitimate.
The neighboring example of Polynesia stirs people's minds: an inverted mirror of New Caledonia, the overseas community has
decided to reopen its borders and give priority to tourism in the face of the epidemic
.
Result: if the economy is maintained, cases of Covid-19 explode on the archipelago, which deplores its first death linked to the virus.
“
When we see the trajectory of Polynesia
, analyzes Marie Chaumont, a New Caledonian nurse student in metropolitan France,
we cannot contradict the Caledonian government.
As a nursing student, I can only rejoice over this measure, which has protected elders and populations at risk.
"
And too bad, if like many other Caledonians and expatriates, she had to sacrifice two weeks of vacation, spent in fourteen.
“
I have a good impression of it
,” recalls Alexia Bellucci, an expatriate who has recently settled in the archipelago.
The meals were good and the rooms spacious.
And it was all free.
"
300 hotel rooms requisitioned by the government
The Caledonian government has in fact requisitioned 300 hotel rooms to ensure the fortnight on the island, and supports the stay and food of those confined during this period.
“
The hotel staff did everything to make us feel comfortable.
Thanks to them, this new confinement was not anxiety-provoking,
”adds Michel Ferrand, left the fortnight last week.
Olivier Hamel is a cook at the Hôtel du Château Royal, requisitioned by the government for five months already to accommodate the confined.
He prepares about 80 meal trays three times a day to supply the recluses.
Thanks to this, the restaurant team returned to work full time.
“
This requisition is ultimately a real chance for us,” he
says.
Unlike many others, the hotel continues to operate, even though we are not making a profit.
The management of the establishment has just announced to its employees the extension of the requisition.
And they will welcome, from mid-September, many international observers.
Coming to attend the self-determination referendum,
which will take place on October 4, 2020
, they too will have to spend the fortnight.
► To read also
: A case of coronavirus confirmed on board a cruise ship in French Polynesia.
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