Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

No water shortage likely but paper towels & toilet paper may be scarce- Hon Vanterpool

- said Caribbean markets not a priority on paper products producer's list
The Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean are to brace for a possible shortage of some paper products such as Bounty paper towels and Charmin tissues, as one of the largest producers in the United States has given the heads up that the US market is its priority. Photo: Internet Source
Businessman and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), right, speaking at a press conference called by Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition at the conference room of the Office of the House of Assembly on March 16, 2020. Left is Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8). Photo: VINO
Businessman and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), right, speaking at a press conference called by Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition at the conference room of the Office of the House of Assembly on March 16, 2020. Left is Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8). Photo: VINO
According to businessman and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), supply of bottled water is not likely to be a challenge for his store, One Mart. Photo: Internet Source
According to businessman and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), supply of bottled water is not likely to be a challenge for his store, One Mart. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands and the rest of the Caribbean are to brace for a possible shortage of some paper products, as one of the largest producers in the United States has given the heads up that the US market is its priority.

As the Novel Coronavirus started to take effect on the Caribbean, there has been a mad rush to stock up on certain items, including toilet paper and paper towels. This resulted in several super markets reverting to limiting the amounts to customers. The same could be said for bottled water.

Shortage of certain paper products likely

Proprietor of one of Tortola's prominent supermarkets, One Mart, businessman and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) has said the supply of bottled water is not likely to be a challenge; however, paper products are likely to.

Speaking at a press conference called by Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition at the conference room of the Office of the House of Assembly on March 16, 2020, Honourable Vanterpool told reporters that Caribbean wholesalers were informed by supplier, Proctor and Gamble, it is going to be making its bigger markets a priority.

"There is a huge demand in the US for paper goods, I was surprised at that, I was looking at the cleaning items, I don’t think that would be. We, for example, got an advice from our major supplier today [March 16] first thing from when I woke up from Proctor and Gamble, which supplies bounty paper towels and Charmin paper tissues, for example, to say that they wouldn't be shipping any outside the USA right now until further notice."

Hon Vanterpool further explained that the producers are about to go into higher manufacture mode and because of the panic that affected the US the demand is higher.

Some price increase may occur

He also said that as the Territory is 100% dependent on external markets for goods and other supplies and with the spike on demand for certain items, including cleaning supplies, masks and hand sanitisers, it is likely there will be some increases in prices.

"We have supplies coming in but I haven’t seen any price increase yet, with the exception of eggs," said Hon Vanterpool, while noting that he doesn't think it has anything to do with the current pandemic as its normal around this time of year with the increase in demand.

"There are one or two items that our suppliers have advised us about, and I don’t think this has anything to do with the virus, for example, eggs have gone quite high in the last week or two and that's because that is usually the case around Easter time, you get that kind of increase from the suppliers side because the demand is so high and it quickly becomes scarce."

9 Responses to “No water shortage likely but paper towels & toilet paper may be scarce- Hon Vanterpool”

  • Happy for him (17/03/2020, 10:52) Like (4) Dislike (24) Reply
    He getting richer out of this
  • Eagle Eye (17/03/2020, 12:45) Like (3) Dislike (13) Reply
    The water done sell so he need the paper products to go now.
  • GG (17/03/2020, 13:01) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    We are not a priority, so we are on our own SMH
  • Guyana (17/03/2020, 15:09) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    He can import from guyana
  • tretretrete (17/03/2020, 16:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cloth and water work before and it can work agin
    • nada (18/03/2020, 20:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Speaking about water, we in the 3rd district hasn't gotten any water for 7 days, in these times considered critical and crazy...
  • Odd (17/03/2020, 19:12) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I still cannot figure out the scramble for paper towels and bath room tissue. My scramble is for can goods, rice, water, Clorox, pure lysol, detol, Lysol sprays and hand sanitizer.
  • Is it just me? (17/03/2020, 21:18) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    You all see that big ocean? The one that surrounds us? Go dip your a** in there when you done finish your business! The salt water gone keep you fresh and good to go! If you can’t go beach, grab a bucket and bring some home. It’s cheaper too!
  • Diaspora (18/03/2020, 05:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    RTW has committed to no price increases for the next 30 days;will One Mart, Bobby’s Market and other businesses match this commitment? Food insecurity is a BVI weakness, having to import the lion share of its food. And at least maintaining prices at current levels, helps to improve food security. The Hon Vanterpool noted that there may not be shortage of water but there will be a scarcity of paper products but what about the other food staples?

    Moreover, food security is a concerning issue for the BVI,especially during this crisis. But another equally or more important issue is medical services security. Though the BVI currently has no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, it is spreading among its regional neighbors from Jamaica to Barbados to Bahamas to Trinidad and Tobago. An infections surge in the VI, will overwhelm the health system,ie, lack of hospital beds, physicians, nurses, ventilators, respirators, lab techs.........etc. Consequently, it is critical that all practical means be instituted to flatten the infection curve or dampen the infection wave. These practical means include a)locking down the territory/sheltering in place, b)employing social distancing, c)closing schools, d)limiting immigration, e)buttoning up its extensive porous border [territorial sea (12 miles out), exclusive economic zone (200 miles out)], f)limiting mass gatherings, g)implementing a curfew, h)quarantining people......etc. A major surge in infections, coupled with limited medical resources, capacity and capability, may necessitate triaging. Each of us must do his or part in preventing, containing, controlling and mitigating the Coronavirus. It is a VI, not a VIP, NDP, PVIM or PU or young/old or local/expat or Black/White/Asian/Hispanic or men/women..........etc problem. Collectivism, not individualism.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.