Caribbean nations can't get U.S. masks, ventilators for COVID-19 under Trump policy

[malaise]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241922071.html?fbclid=IwAR1erF0jf5yEnyOrMkKmBL7UTCfqkpguKiIHmSgTB8NQyTXIIg-IYhufkaY
<snip>
Caribbean nations struggling to save lives and prevent the deadly spread of the coronavirus in their vulnerable territories should not look to the United States as they seek to acquire scarce but much-needed protective gear to fight the global pandemic

A spokesperson from U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed to the Miami Herald that the agency is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prevent distributors from diverting personal protective equipment, or PPE, such as face masks and gloves, overseas. Ventilators also are on the prohibited list.

“To accomplish this, CBP will detain shipments of the PPE specified in the President’s Memorandum while FEMA determines whether to return the PPE for use within the United States; to purchase the PPE on behalf of the United States; or, allow it to be exported,” the statement read.

In the past week, three Caribbean nations —the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Barbados —have all had container loads of personal protective equipment purchased from U.S. vendors blocked from entering their territories by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Does Richard Branson still have a home

in the Virgin Islands? He and President Obama seem to know one another. I don't have any insider contacts...but if you know anyone it might be worth a try.