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'No business received notification it was denied stimulus cheque'- Premier

- but said it is a challenge for persons with multiple trade licences to receive stimulus cheque for each
Some 625 businesses in the Virgin Islands have not yet benefitted from their share of the $6.5 million stimulus package that was set aside for that expressed purpose. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said 1,258 applicants have received their stimulus cheques. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said 1,258 applicants have received their stimulus cheques. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Amid public complaints from business owners that they have not yet received any COVID-19 assistance from the Government, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has explained why this may be so.

According to the Premier, some 625 businesses have not yet benefitted from their share of the $6.5 million stimulus package that was set aside for that expressed purpose.

1,883 applications received

During the Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola on March 10, 2021, Premier Fahie fielded questions on the subject from Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8).

Premier Fahie disclosed that a total of 1,883 business grant applications were received.

“Of the applications received, a total of 1,258 applicants have received notice that they were approved to receive grants. Mr Speaker, no business received any notification that they were denied,” he said, adding that the 1,258 applicants have received their stimulus cheques.

However, Hon Penn informed the HoA that there are persons who have not yet received assistance, and as per his figures, that amount is over 600.

“How are we going to address those businesses?” Penn questioned.

'We could not allow one person to go with seven cheques!'- Premier

It was then that Premier Fahie explained the reason.

“The COVID-19 Grant Programme is ongoing, and the other area we have to recognise is that some persons would have put in for multiple trade licenses.”

“Some decisions had to be made; if they had seven trade licenses with seven different businesses, we could not allow one person to go with seven cheques. So there was also a decision to space it out to make at least many persons across the diaspora and the BVI get some kind of stimulus cheque from the stimulus grant,” he said.

The stimulus grant was part of the $62.9 million package, $40 million of which was funded by the Social Security Board in a bid to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

15 Responses to “'No business received notification it was denied stimulus cheque'- Premier”

  • WHAT!!! (12/03/2021, 12:16) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is it true that churches recieved stimulus money? If so why they don’t have employees or pay any government taxes, NHI, S.S.
    • Excuses Government (12/03/2021, 14:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Simple, Check with social security for unprocessed stimulus applications..
  • taxman (12/03/2021, 12:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    yes churches pay NHI and SS. Its just taxes that they don't pay.
  • So what (12/03/2021, 12:40) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
    If it true churches get money so what? The pastor needed an income too right? you ain't go church and pay no tithes. plus they have admin personnel and so in churches don't they; a janitor?
  • concerned citizen (12/03/2021, 13:10) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    The churches rob their members with their 10% of salary money. They the pastors need to go find work to do or open a business of there own.
    • What!!’ (12/03/2021, 16:02) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      “concerned citizen “ these pastors already have a business (tax free) their church and the sheep who give away 10% of their money.
    • True (13/03/2021, 00:17) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      That 10% is what you should pay yourself first, put it aside and watch your wealth grow once you start doing that. Educate yourself people!!! Stop letting the con men and women of the cloth rob you and keep you in blindness.
  • lol (12/03/2021, 14:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    If the money is there why the need to space out anything? 

  • pork (12/03/2021, 14:56) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    ANDREW I AM A ISLAND MAN THAT WAT YOU TOLIAN CALL US LOTS OF US VOTE FOR YOU, SOME OF US HAVE BUSINESS WHO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS AND NEVER GIVE AWAY. WHEN I CALL YOUR OFFICE TO INQUIRE MY APPLICATION I WAS ASKED MY LAST NAME AND WAS TOLD THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME THIS HAPPEN LAST YEAR I STILL WAITING FOR THAT CALL. I ALSO WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM NEX ELECTION
  • Rubber Duck (12/03/2021, 14:57) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    We demand a full public accounting of where all the $62.9 million went.
  • Transparency (12/03/2021, 15:13) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    In the interest of transparency Mr. Premier. There were 600 not granted - there should be a clear and FAIR reason why they were not granted the stimulus. It would not take long for someone to contact those 600 companies and give a reason why they did not receive the stimulus. In WRITING so the company has a record of why. Just not saying anything to them is childish and leads to questions.
  • akon (12/03/2021, 15:27) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stimulus is on pause but y'all trying to roll out vaccine speeding
  • still waiting (12/03/2021, 16:40) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's ridiculous some businesses that received money wasn't even in operation - just because they hold a trade license and have people in the system who favor them. This little BVI has too much unfairness and no amount of venting fix things.


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