‘Nail it now!'- Hon Fraser says Gov't should look into landlord woes
According to Honourable Fraser, a Third District community member who has been home from a tourism-dependent job is now complaining about not being able to pay rent.
“What is the likelihood that you would ever have money to pay your rent?,” he said during an Opposition Press Conference on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.
No job, no rent - Hon Fraser
Mr Fraser said the scenario is now a wake-up call for the government to recognise the reality of what is taking place in the Territory.
“I was listening to the radio, and I heard someone raise the issue about landlords giving tenants a break. I hope no one comes to me and tell me they want a break because I need my money. These are the things that you hear, and I know it is only going to get worse,” he said.
“So the best thing that can happen is we nail it now, we should have nailed already!” Hon Fraser noted, while calling the particular issue a wound that will get worse 'down the road."
Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), reinforcing Hon Fraser's call, said the Government must now "find the balance" to address the issues, “learn to co-exist with COVID-19 and our economy,” he said.
“We talk about the tenant, but a lot of the landlords depend on their rent for their survival, so if the landlords don’t have their rents from their tenants, how can they survive and move forward?” Hon Penn questioned.
Banks must give landlords 'a break' - Premier
Meanwhile, Premier Fahie during a special edition of 'Honestly Speaking', aired on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, on ZBVI 780AM said he is aware that some landlords would owe the banks, and as such, Government has engaged those institutions on behalf of landlords.
The Government is expected to announce a stimulus package to address the issues; however, have said they are facing some UK backed challenges with accessing financing.
"That's why we've been speaking with the banks to give landlords with their loans a break. They have certain things in place but we asking them to stretch it a litter further than where it is because all of us have to take a loss somehow or the other with this."
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22 Responses to “‘Nail it now!'- Hon Fraser says Gov't should look into landlord woes”
Everyone getting hit with COVID. Eventually the banks will get hit too if they do not find a cure for this thing. Masks, social distancing and hand washing only delaying the inevitable if a permanent solution is not found.
Those st the bottom of the food chain being hit the hardest though.
It's a domino effect because all involved in a global economy are interconnected
On another note stop asking for stimulus money. There is no such thing as free money. Someone has to pay for it somewhere down the road. Stop looking at our neighbours across the border. They children, grand children and even great children will be paying that money back. Do your research on this, you all will be surprise.
STIMULUS like America's stimulus is never coming to the BVI general population. Some people are getting benefits from this COVID19, but not the average person.
This government knows full well that people are being laid off and fired everyday because of COVID19. Crime is only beginning in the BVI as is the COVID19 pandemic in the world. 30 Cuban doctors coming must mean we are throwing open the boarders to Cruiseships and land tourists by Sept. 1. Kids are coming home and others that have been locked out, so if you can't pay your rent then move out so government can rent the apartment for a quarantine location. Landlords with mortgages must get paid for their properties, or you will be moving out for foreclosure. Please get out of the place you can't pay for. Move home where ever that is or move in with a friend. If locals lose their homes to the banks the foreigners will come buy the BVI up, with no Non Belonger Land Holding License necessary. The banks have a right to their money they are a business and have staff to pay, mostly BVIlanders. This is just the way the world works. OH AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF COVID19.