ST LUCIAN health authorities have conditionally lifted the quarantine on St Vincent & the Grenadines-registered cargo vessel Lady Zai, which had departed Guyana on March 9, 2014 for St Lucia with 10 Guyanese crew members and a consignment of bulk cargo on board.

During that voyage, one crew member died and another became ill and was subsequently hospitalized in St Lucia. He has since been discharged from hospital.

Prior to the vessel’s arrival in St Lucia, Port Health Authorities had been informed of the situation, hence the quarantine.

Officials from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) are continuing collaboration with their colleagues in St Lucia and in St Vincent & the Grenadines; and with the owners of the vessel with respect to the welfare of the Guyanese seafarers. They are also in contact with the local health authorities on this matter.

According to the St. Lucia Ministry of Health, the deceased was taken off the Lady Zai and an emergency post-mortem was done on the body. The other sick crew member was simultaneously taken to a hospital, even as the other members of the ship’s crew were ordered to remain on board, where their condition was being monitored until the exact nature of the death and illness have been determined.

This is a usual precautionary measure to protect the local population from contracting any possible communicable disease.