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COVID-19: Cabinet decision will be in best interest of VI- Premier

- as public awaits word on possible 14-day 24/7 lockdown
As the public awaits the decision of Cabinet on whether it will proceed into another 24/7 14-day lockdown of the Virgin Islands (VI) given a spike in COVID-19 cases, Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has assured that whatever the outcome, it will be in the best interest of the territory. Photo: GIS/File
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) is expected to make an announcement on the way forward by tonight, August 31, 2020. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) is expected to make an announcement on the way forward by tonight, August 31, 2020. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - As the public awaits the decision of Cabinet on whether it will proceed into another 24/7 14-day lockdown of the Virgin Islands (VI) given a spike in COVID-19 cases, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has assured that whatever the outcome, it will be in the best interest of the Territory.

In a statement last evening August 30, 2020, Premier Fahie said, "I know that the vast majority of you, as well as myself, are concerned about the growing number of COVID-19 cases as of late [and] about your own safety and that of your loved ones and the vulnerable citizens in our society."

Undesirable activities caused recent spike - Premier Fahie 

While assuring residents that Cabinet will make the best decision, he said fighting COVID-19 also means conquering the challenges it brings with the cooperation of every individual residing within the communities that make up the Territory. 

"But, there are those who have intentionally put us at risk by engaging in undesirable activities that have significantly contributed to the recent spike."

Over the past week, the VI recorded the most cases of COVID-19 than any other time since the pandemic started, entering the last day of August 2020 with some 38 active cases of the virus. 

Human Smuggling a factor 

The spike in cases came from community spread of the virus that was believed to have been introduced to the Territory through human smuggling.  

"I know that the majority of our residents want to keep everyone safe, and to help us to get rid of COVID-19 from our shores. And, I know that these are the persons who are dutifully wearing their masks, sanitising their hands, maintaining the social distancing and obeying all the protocols and advice," Premier Fahie said. 

Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) is expected to make an announcement on the way forward by tonight, August 31, 2020.

40 Responses to “COVID-19: Cabinet decision will be in best interest of VI- Premier ”

  • Economy Held Hostage (31/08/2020, 19:14) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    You could call the police on people hanging out in groups and day after day the same thing.

    Locking down would only allow these irresponsible selfish culprits to confine to hold the economy hostage then these same people are going to expect a stimulus Cheque.
    • Nice (31/08/2020, 19:45) Like (8) Dislike (26) Reply
      Keep them island people off the streets
      • Norris Turnbull (31/08/2020, 20:43) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
        @Nice....You need to stop your ignorance. You are probsbly shacking up with a socalled island man, woman or homo.
      • Sad (31/08/2020, 21:48) Like (18) Dislike (5) Reply
        is the same island people that taking care of us in the hospital, policing,teaching our kids in school etc....
        • tretretrete (01/09/2020, 06:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          Why you all don’t stop this crap and offer some real solutions in this place? No matter where you go there is always imported labour. The mix is good. Stop it
          • Simple Solutions (01/09/2020, 17:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

            Imported labor in the VI is excessive and burdened with those in need as a result of C COVID.
            Imported labor with no means needs to be exported to their homes as a mercy mission whether or not they wish to go home.

      • agree 100% (01/09/2020, 01:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Them have the place so ghetto looking especially up fine food and rite way by virgin queens government need send them home
    • jonah (01/09/2020, 08:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      How much longer until the Jonah goes back to the UK
  • Does the Govt truly care (31/08/2020, 19:22) Like (32) Dislike (7) Reply
    The decision to lock us down further is pending. I would understand MORE the need for this decision if the Social Security Department PAID the 3 months for those that qualified and remain tun-employed and those that have also applied to their district representatives that have proved their hardship and still cannot receive a penny. Think about those that cannot afford to shop for e.g. 14 days and have 2 children. Having to balance on what is left on your savings and sacrifice having to pay the rent and cut back on purchasing food for 14 days. Before decisions are made you need to consider whether your people will die from STRESS and HARDSHIP or COVID. People are hurting and hurting and need help. Mitch did say he hopes when the stimulus and $300,000 are approved that it will not take 3 months for the persons who qualify to receive assistance. Low and behold the 3 months have already passed. To end, we all would embrace any lockdown if we ALL had enough bread and a bit of food to feed our families. Failing which, we may die from stress, high-blood pressure before Covid gets to all of us.
  • say what (31/08/2020, 19:34) Like (21) Dislike (6) Reply
    24 hour lockdown during hurricane season!
    • sooo (31/08/2020, 19:46) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
      @ say what so if is hurricane season one have to kill us
      • say what (31/08/2020, 20:27) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
        @ soooo
        once you born u must die

        This some serious sh!t
        • It is what it is... (01/09/2020, 00:45) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
          We know who voted for lock down and who voted against....Those voted for have us lock down have no vision no plan...Those voted against had a plan and vision to move us forward...
  • ray charles (31/08/2020, 19:40) Like (18) Dislike (18) Reply
    Even I can see that this government has no plan even on how to keep us safe and not ruin the economy
  • Stop Teasing (31/08/2020, 20:35) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just come out and say what you doing and stop playing with people head with all of these news articles. Out with it already
  • TamTam (31/08/2020, 20:54) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    Dont know what intention the Gov has having unannounced midnight media announcements...Power,maybe?
    All I know is that it impresses me as inefficiency indecisiveness and worse,a game with our minds and precious time, Waiting for running water, waiting for internet,waiting to know how to arrange my tomorrow..The unprofessionalism in this joke of a place is pathetic. Simple minds pretending to solve simple issues with smoe screen intention.
    • @Tam Tam (31/08/2020, 21:17) Like (8) Dislike (21) Reply
      You can squeal all you want but with NDP the whole island would have been sick. You don't see the sleeping doc already caught a plane to no where cause we don't know where he is?

      WHERE R U DR. SMITH?? SHOW YOUR DOCTOR EXPERTISE NOW!

      He somewhere sleeping shm
      • sleeping K9 (01/09/2020, 04:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        And when he utter a word some people would of said look at his performance during the hurricanes, he had a chance, he got to be want something from the government etc.
      • @@ Tam Tam (01/09/2020, 07:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Dr. Smith is right here. I run into him from time to time. Sure we can debate his ability to run a country, but we cannot debate his ability to offer medical advice/service. Let us remember that that same Dr. Smith had to take off his Chief Minister/Premier cap several times to participate in major surgeries at Peebles - now Dr. D Orlando Smith - hospital. i'm not necessarily a fan of Dr. Smith as Chief Minister/Premier, but as a Dr.? Give the man his respect.
  • Part of the 99% (31/08/2020, 21:08) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's always easy to sit on the outside and make our mouths big. I would never wish to be in government at a difficult time like this because every decision will have an impact on some segment but they have to make a decision that will benefit the masses. Let us keep our legislatures in prayer that they will be guided to make the best decisions for our territory and our people with least negative impact. We need to be more upset at the selfish people that have put us back in this position not the legislatures who are trying to take us out.
  • Schuups (31/08/2020, 21:43) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Whatever they decide does not matter in truth. Their is no enforcement and repercussions so stalling like what they do or decide have meaning is crappo.
  • Jerry Teeler (31/08/2020, 21:53) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hang in there friends on my beloved Tortola. This too shall pass.
  • Virgin Islander (31/08/2020, 22:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    Tam tam I respectfully ask you to keep Dr smith name out your mouth please and thank you.... If the doctor sleeping he has worked hard enough for these our Virgin Islands todeseve a rest you young folks are so disrespectful and outta place.... no respect for your elders.stop it and go to your room you deplorable nonessential basic person

  • Ghost (31/08/2020, 22:58) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    This pandemic is already stressful; locking persons down like like this can be even more stressful;
    regardless of what the Govt’s decision is to try to protect and keep us safe, people only God can do the impossible so what we need to do as a people is to repent of our sins and live right before God and He will heal our land...Only God can Truly keep us safe...His word says that “the Righteous runs to Him and they are safe”...His Word does not lie..I’m asking that we all go to God with repentant hearts, sincere and fervent prayers for healing and deliverance, and He will Hear and Answer us.. Prayer Changes things..
  • Third Eye (01/09/2020, 00:13) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Covid=Plandemic=Population Control
    • @third eye (01/09/2020, 09:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yea we heading down a dark road mehson, ain’t no such thing as a new regular unless it’s irregular and no such thing as a new normal unless it’s abnormal
  • The USVI coast guard failed us (01/09/2020, 00:41) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    The USCI coast Guard failed big time in protecting their borders..Now we have to pay and suffer...The Government need to call them out for their failure because if it was the other way around they would call us out....
  • yea right (01/09/2020, 01:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    some acting like bvi is the only country in this world impacted from covid
  • IHOP (01/09/2020, 03:14) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    some of us can't shop we have no money
  • K (01/09/2020, 05:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    As for as I can see u all knocking you own drum and dancing to it one time lock down another time u all object to it what do you all want
  • To schuups (01/09/2020, 06:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are so right, No enforcement by the police force.
  • political words (01/09/2020, 06:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People og the British Virgin Islands I newe think that i would comment people please stop freetng with thw Government especially Mr. Marlon Penn The Government can do more is always your cry man the government doing tgeir best tell me what would have done in St. Thomas there is a toral of 15 deaths the BVI up to now is death free THANK GOD even though we have incidents the doctors here is doing a very food job The reason why the virus may be high in the BVI is because of the trafficting from those comomg from St Thomas from my politics point of view i personally and professionaly feel that you have a very good government but take time COVID came on line so it stop the deve;opment Keep on praying for the country you are in good hands the country needs to recover from the plauges of the last Government things just did not do and go right find out where all the country money went The BVI will rise just keep on praying BVI SHALL RISE
  • CDC latest report. The truth (01/09/2020, 06:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    CDC latest report says that we've been lied to by WHO and their Doctors...It states that 94% of the reported Covid deaths are not so,. These deaths are caused by other illnesses...I suggest you Google the report and Read it yourself...
  • BS! (01/09/2020, 07:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honorable Fahie - you have said yourself - "But, there are those who have intentionally put us at risk by engaging in undesirable activities that have significantly contributed to the recent spike." - You know who they are, arrest them and charge them with crimes against the people of the BVI. Throw the full weight of the law at them and make sure that no one else ever feels that we can be messed with like this in future. Their arrogance and ignorance have endangered the whole territory. Enough - lock them up! And those who hold government jobs should be removed from their positions because they have deliberately failed to uphold the standards that we expect from our professional people.
  • Real Talk (01/09/2020, 08:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all sound stupid bout Island people this is that. So the BVI aint make up of Islands. Anyway lets help to encourage persons to be safe and those out there to be vigilant and look for solutions that csn make a difference to better our territory. It's time for unification of us all livong together for the betterment of these BVIs
  • tola (01/09/2020, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with the lock down but some people dont have no money , no jobs etc what they going to do?
    This stimulus from ssb alot people ain't get nothing
    What about people who get half pay its crazy

    Government workers and them can jump and say lockdown cause they getting full pay but people who getting half pay or no job its rough
  • to myron walyn (01/09/2020, 09:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    to the best of the virgin islands so go sit down n allow the government do their job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • balance (01/09/2020, 10:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    For years and years, we kept telling NDP and the people, BVI is growing too fast, it can not support the flood load of people it kept letting in and it is not a sustainable model for such a small tiny dot with limited resources to support all these people they kept letting in.

    No one listened and who don't hear do feel. What you buy, you wear. This started long before the VIP so don't look to blame them. One time in summer sizzle, a group of us were on the dock waiting for a charter yacht to pick us up. When the captain who was white saw it was too many people to sail on the yacht to Virgin Gorda, he asked that some get off, letting us know it was too many people for the yacht to carry. After a bit of back and forth, a group of us got off and he was able to sail off. Someone had a good relationship with another charter company and called the manager, who kindly sent a yacht to pick up the ones who voluntarily got off the first yacht, and took us to Virgin Gorda. I say that to say, just like how the first yacht could only support a certain number of passengers, BVI can only support a certain size population. For years it has been telling all of you, too many people, I can not support all of you. Now some will feel and understand that Nature always win. It is all about balance.
  • @ balance (01/09/2020, 11:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Any xpats ever beg u anything to eat or to wear...So, what are you really saying, ?
    • @@balance (01/09/2020, 16:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes! All the time.Everyday...Lying to stay ,begging to stay,pleading to stay...simply put,begging for the means to eat and to wear.
      Too many ,like yourself,will always be in this preicament because your logic,outlook and reality is skewed. Get a grip!


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