4 months later USA, Canada & UK still discouraging travel to VI
As of today, Saturday January 20, 2018 three major countries that account for some 90% of the tourists travelling to the VI- the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom- are still advising their residents not to come to the VI because of various reasons.
A check moments ago on the United States Department of State webpage showed they are still asking Americans to “reconsider travel to the British Virgin Islands due to the aftermath of a natural disaster” Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
The US State Department in its travel advisory stated, in giving the VI a level 3 rating, which means to reconsider travel there, “Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage. Areas of the islands may lack adequate access to electricity, water, medicine, or food. Some roads may be impassable. Intra-island travel may be difficult.”
Director of Tourism, Sharon P. Flax-Brutus, when asked what her agency is doing in light of these travel advisories, told our newsroom today, “we are aware and have been working diligently on the back end.”
UK: Stay clear of BVI
In a check today Saturday 20, 2018, the so called ‘mother country’, the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) webpage has warned British citizens that “Visitors should be aware that recovery and clean-up efforts continue. Swimmers should be mindful that debris may remain on some beaches or in the sea, and should exercise caution.”
The FCO told British travelers, “There is widespread damage to infrastructure with a large proportion of homes and buildings very badly damaged. Some roads are impassable or the road surfaces have been washed away.”
The UK warned its citizens that terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out in the VI. They have posted on their page “Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in the British Virgin Islands, attacks can’t be ruled out.
"There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time,” the FCO stated.
In addition, they claimed that the VI has Zika virus, which posed another risk to British travelers.
The VI Ambassador to the UK and European Union, E. Benito Wheatley, did not respond to our queries as to what he was saying to the UK/EU to ease their travel advisory fears.
Zika alert in place for Canada
Canada on the other hand has soften its hurricane travel warning. However, a check of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page today January 20, 2018, some four months after the hurricanes of September 2017, the Government of Canada is still saying “Exercise a high degree of caution in the British Virgin Islands due to damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.”
It was stronger in warning that the VI has the Zika virus and told Canadians, “The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued advice for travelers on the Zika virus, recommending that Canadians practice special health precautions while travelling in affected countries. Pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to the British Virgin Islands,” the statement said.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Petrona N. Davies referred our newsroom to Dr Ronald E. Georges, the Medical Officer of Health, who said "the VI did not have a case of Zika virus since September 2016."
Dr Georges also stated that the VI has reported the information to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) of which Canada is a part, so it seems like they "are ignoring the information clearly posted by PAHO of which it [Canada] is a member country."
It remains unclear, four months after the hurricanes of last year, what the VI needs to do in order to be cleared from the three countries' travel advisory lists.
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27 Responses to “4 months later USA, Canada & UK still discouraging travel to VI”
The BVI is not doing well in its recovery at all. Like wise both Government and businesses are not doing enough to improve the situation speedily.
Have you taken a look at Sopers Hole, West End? Where will travelers find good and healthy environment here? Name 3 places.
BVI citizens safety and well-being should always take precedence over all entities including tourists, tourism, and all foreign interest.
BVIslander speaking
A lot of people don’t know the Jews had a very big hand in slavery and still do. Their holocaust was nothing compared to ours. We should never forget what happened to us and is still affecting us. Imagine being stolen from your home, beaten, raped, mutilated, linched, mudered, made to work from sunup to sundown in stone cold winters and scorching summers with no relief, never getting paid and had the nerve to say we Black People were only 3/4 of a human being and lazy. All We need to do is band together as one like the rest of the world does because if we are waiting for these other countries to care about us we are dead ducks. Canada and USA couldn’t give a rats a$$ about our islands. The UK is only waiting to come down and completely run us out, and thanks to our leaders, we are the weakest we have ever been.
Lord save us