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No more delays to ‘open the seaports’ - Hon Penn tells Fahie Gov’t

- statement comes ahead of April 15, 2021, scheduled re-opening of ports
Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called on the Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) Government to open VI’s seaports without delay. Photo: VINO/File
Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has criticised the reopening plans for the seaports while offering no concrete solutions. Photo: GIS/File
Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has criticised the reopening plans for the seaports while offering no concrete solutions. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called on the Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) Government to open the Virgin Islands' seaports to international operations without delay.

“We have to be ready to open our seaports. We have to learn to live, work and manage COVID-19,” Hon Penn said in a statement released today, April 5, 2021.

He said with regards to VI’s April 15, 2021, scheduled re-opening of the ports, “We cannot afford another false start.”

Undue hardships as a result of closed ports – Hon Penn

The Opposition Leader said that across the territory, persons unemployed or under-employed for over a year now due to the pandemic cannot afford to continue undergoing such “undue hardship”, as such, seaports should be opened to get the economy moving.

Hon Penn also expressed concerns regarding ferries operating from the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park.

“Persons living on the Sister Islands may not benefit from this change. Often, shipping bulky items to the Sister Islands via ferry, this may prove to be a logistical nightmare for those persons,” the statement said.

He said the ferry service will add to the difficulty already experienced in finding parking and a designated on/offloading location at the Pier Park.

Solve Jetty woes 

Further, the Opposition Leader highlighted the lack of an operational jetty at West End along with ferrying persons into Road Town can have an adverse effect on the Jost van Dyke economy. 

“Businesses on the Sister Island are virtually on life support and the livelihood of the business owners and their employees would be at stake.  Penn stated that precluding the option of taking a ferry to and from West End might deter visitors from traveling to the Sister Island of Jost van Dyke where many of the businesses depend so heavily on Tourism,” Hon Penn lamented.

However, despite the opposition criticisms of the Fahie Government COVID-19 response, the territory has been hailed as having a model strategy for pandemic management in the Eastern Caribbean.

Balancing Economy & Safety 

VI's response was recognised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in an official presentation of its joint reports with ISGlobal entitled, ‘COVID-19 Policy Reports for Recovery in the Eastern Caribbean: Analysis, Scenarios and Considerations for Opening to Tourism.’

23 Responses to “No more delays to ‘open the seaports’ - Hon Penn tells Fahie Gov’t ”

  • Head Strong (05/04/2021, 21:15) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    We are the majority, see a lot of us said no to the vaccines and they still had to open up the ports, always stand your ground and never buckle under the pressure
    • Really? (06/04/2021, 10:45) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
      @ Head Strong: there was a time when the majority was opposed to the industrial revolution. There was also a time when the majority believed blood letting was the cure. Those that stood their ground and did not buckle under pressure did not prevail. Only those who believe their egos are more important than the community’s health are arrogant enough to think they are stronger than the virus. There are millions, now dead, who would have told you otherwise. Carry on without buckling, until you do.
  • bvfbfdgdtgr (05/04/2021, 21:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
  • Hmmmm (05/04/2021, 22:01) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply

    come on for real $200. round trip just to go st thomas for the day, the is some real @## crap

    • gfdfdggfdgfdgfdg (06/04/2021, 12:55) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Can you go to Stt for the day though? Which Covid test result will they be using? The BVI one which you left with? I hope this can be answered.
  • I call.... (05/04/2021, 22:12) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    I still think the one a day only round trip is pure BS, $200.00 round trip is over priced. You can fly from NYC TO ST. THOMAS FOR $250.00 ROUND TRIP. I HOPE THE FERRY WOULD OFFER THE CUSTOMERS A BOTTLE WATER OR A COFFEE.
  • loose the juice (05/04/2021, 22:15) Like (6) Dislike (14) Reply
    Marlon is the man
  • #8 (05/04/2021, 23:42) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    for sure penn making his family's business on beef island make money: pockets getting empty because airport traffic slow down
  • tola (06/04/2021, 00:40) Like (6) Dislike (18) Reply
    Hon penn make alot of sense
  • Brutal (06/04/2021, 06:46) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    $200 is brutal over kill, period! They must do better.
  • Me (06/04/2021, 06:57) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    They better go to hell with there BS.....
  • wd (06/04/2021, 07:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    They will go along with the opening of the Border, but a $200.00 round trip is to put us off from traveling to St.Thomas.
  • Well heck now (06/04/2021, 09:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    If I am paying $200.00 round trip ferry, I agree that they can at least offer the paying customer a water or coffee to show that you appreciate their business.
  • Trickle Down Effect (06/04/2021, 09:30) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    poor money management under national democratic leadership. hindsight will always be 20/20 however those millions and millions and millions unaccounted for under national democratic party could have gone towards stabilize the bvi economy during such testing times: just for the record countries with far greater economies that us are struggling: some how some of us think by opening the floodgates suddenly all will be well. just remember who bring the cash into the territory also might bring covid 19. as noted hindsight is always 20/20 but the fact of this issue some of you on here blogging will simply pack up you items and leave this country should things take a turn for the worse, others have to remain and deal with it(who vex, vex)
  • Hmm (06/04/2021, 09:52) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mr. Penn you are correct with the part about the sister islands when shopping and moving bulky stuff. when i heard that was the plan i wondered how will that work. I think its a crazy idea. The pier park is not a good place for that.
  • vi (06/04/2021, 11:28) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Enough is enough people hurting
    • rewrsdffds (06/04/2021, 14:14) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
      People hurting for what? to go over to St. Thomas to spend what little change they have. Many businesses here are doing well with us spending our money locally.
      • life (07/04/2021, 14:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I want to think it has nothing to do with spending our little change over in STT, SJ or STX....how about just being able to LEAVE.....for the day....start enjoying LIFE. Aren't you just so tired of all the drama....life is just way too short for all this nonsense....
    • @vi (07/04/2021, 09:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Them too wicked to see that people hurting..they just doing all this shit for money so basically hurting their own family just to get this big money..imagine u is a politician n know the vaccine is bad but still have to convince persons to take even your wife it doesn't matter as long as is for money ah so the thing go..
  • home boy (06/04/2021, 12:49) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    They only speaking about one way fare only, what happen to round trip? Another thing who say it would be $200.00?
  • boycott (06/04/2021, 17:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Make them suffer for 2 months


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