VI's COVID-19 response hailed by high level UN Panel
The commendation, according to a press release from the Government of the Virgin Islands on June 11, 2020, came as Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) delivered the panel’s keynote address in which he outlined the VI’s health, social and economic response to COVID-19 and the Government’s efforts to protect the most vulnerable persons in society.
VI working ‘diligently to be free of coronavirus’- Premier Fahie
In his speech, the Premier said, “I am pleased to share with you that after 8 reported infections, including one very sad death, there are currently no active cases of COVID-19 in the BVI that we are aware of. Through mandatory social distancing and hygiene measures, we are working diligently to be free of the coronavirus.
“The progress achieved thus far has allowed us to restart the economy and maintain the functioning of our internal market for goods and services. At each stage of our health, social and economic response, social protection has been integrated into our decision-making.”
Hon Fahie praised for ‘leadership & perspective’
Among the plaudits received by the Premier from the panel, was a statement by the Honourable Camillo M. Gonslaves, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Technology in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
“I would like to thank His Excellency the Premier of the British Virgin Islands, not only for his statement this morning, but for his leadership in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the perspective he has brought as we try to get through this crisis together,” Mr Gonsalves said.
The other distinguished members of the panel included panel chairman, Mr Magdy Martinez Soliman, UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); Her Excellency Ms Marie Legault, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados; Ms Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Dr Aloys Kamuragiye, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean.
UN a ‘key development partner’- Premier Fahie
Speaking on the importance of the panel, Premier Fahie said,
“I was pleased to share the BVI’s experience in responding to COVID-19. We have made good progress and I am grateful to the UN family for all their support. The UN continues to be our key development partner as we combat the coronavirus and continue hurricane recovery.”
The UN Virtual Panel on Social Protection in the COVID-19 Response in the Eastern Caribbean took place on June 4, 2020.
The Premier was joined by Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy; Ms Najan Christopher, Director of the International Affairs Secretariat; Ms Patlian Johnson, Recovery and Development Cooperation Specialist; and Mrs Arliene T. Penn, Director of Communications.
The VI also participated in earlier consultations on the UN’s Multisectoral Response Plan to COVID-19 for Barbados and the OECS, and is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund Joint Programme on Social Protection for the subregion.
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11 Responses to “VI's COVID-19 response hailed by high level UN Panel”
Big ups uncle Fahie you we boy
Instead of some insignificant award from the UN ask them to lend some assistance in the form of grants for developing countries like us whose economies have been ravaged by the virus. Oh yeah they will say we too rich for aid.
Continue to keep these restrictions in place for more awards when not one of them will offer aid for the massive damage to our economies. Look how we get fooled boy. I tell you.