 Meanwhile, the St. Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, SLHTA, has welcomed the amendments to the COVID-19 protocols. The SLHTA believes these amendments will have a positive economic impact on the lives of the thousands of people who have been displaced within the sector since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year. The SLHTA recognizes that these amendments to the protocols are critical as they convey excellent news to small and medium enterprises, which can now come back on the stream after suffering a tremendous economic blow. While the science is informing the decisions the SLHTA maintains that all nationals have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the safety protocols and avail themselves of the vaccines, the SLHTA also indicated that it appreciated the quality of engagement between the association and the various government agencies that predated these amendments. President Paul Kolimos says relaxing the protocols positions the island to benefit from the windfall of opportunities as the global economy gradually reopens and further reduced the high unemployment caused by COVID-19.