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

BVIPA looking to have ATM installed on Anegada

- as residents express urgent need for banking facilities
Residents of Anegada expressed the urgent need for banking facilities on the island at a community meeting on April 1, 2022. Photo: VINO
From left: Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL); Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen B. Flax-Charles (AL); and Managing Director of BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard, during a community meeting on Anegada on April 1, 2022. Photo: VINO
From left: Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL); Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen B. Flax-Charles (AL); and Managing Director of BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard, during a community meeting on Anegada on April 1, 2022. Photo: VINO
SETTING POINT, Anegada, VI- The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) has said it is looking at the possibility of having an ATM installed at the ferry dock on Anegada.

Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard said it is one of the ideas the Authority currently has capsuled in its plans for the development of the ferry dock at Anegada.

“We are going to approach all of the banks to see which one would be interested in placing an ATM machine here on the island. It is something that we suspected would be needed,” Pickering-Maynard said while on Anegada on Friday, April 1, 2022.

‘We need a bank here desperately’- Anegada resident

A resident of Anegada had expressed that there was a desperate need for banking facilities on the island.

“It's $50 on a ferry to go to an ATM to get a hundred bucks or get whatever you want. We need a bank here desperately,” expressed a senior resident of Anegada.

The absence of banking facilities is not only felt by residents but according to the Chairman of the Anegada Land Advisory Committee Darrell Ruan Jr, it’s a sore issue for tourists.

“Many of the business owners can attest to many of the tourist frustrations that there is no ATMs on the island and having to find cash. It’s a ridiculous big issue here on this island,” Mr Ruan Jr said.

Meanwhile, Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) said security has and will be one of the key factors for banking on the island.

“It might be very well able to work if the Port is secured because it has to be secured in order to maintain the standard as an official port of entry. So it might seem simple but it is a little more to it than just throwing an ATM in a wall somewhere. So there are some other issues surrounding that.”

ATMs on VG inadequate

The Junior Minister, who residents in District 9 but at Virgin Gorda, said that while they do have more than one ATM bank facilities they are facing some levels of hardships.

“We at Virgin Gorda now feel your pain to some degree. Yes, we do have a bank that opens three days a week but at ATMs, today is Friday and I can guarantee you that by 2 o’clock none of the two ATMs would have a dollar in it. So, we have begged and we are still begging for the banks to give us more ATMs at least.”

She said; however, that Government is aware of the challenges being faced by the sister islands due to the lack of banking facilities and is working closely with the banks to try to alleviate the problems.”

13 Responses to “BVIPA looking to have ATM installed on Anegada”

  • After 8 years (06/04/2022, 18:14) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    I’m 2022 still no banking service
  • ATMs should be everywhere (06/04/2022, 20:47) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    Should not take an act of govt. every little shop, gas station, bar, restaurant etc should be able to have an atm and make money from the fees it generates. This is 2022 for peets sake!!!
  • hmmm (06/04/2022, 21:42) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Jost Van Dyke too
  • ............... (06/04/2022, 23:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ports into banking now?
  • josiah'sbay (06/04/2022, 23:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is the system use else for privately own ATMs possible here. That would solve the problem.
  • cow wrecker (06/04/2022, 23:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We cant take no more of this backwardness from the VIP
  • sleep deep sleep (07/04/2022, 00:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    2022 and see the topic still being discussed
  • Good Idea.. (07/04/2022, 04:31) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please stay far from Banco even if they offer refused. Everything about their banking services are bad...Their ATM always down cant get cash, cant make deposit. Their morning lines are always xtra long, you have to take a day off from work to go there, yet they stuck on opening at 9am. I though common sense would dictate an early opening hour. (Wrong). Here is where it gets worst.. "No one in the Bank Cares" .
  • FinTech Evolution 2022 (07/04/2022, 06:58) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Having an ATM on Anagada is not feasible for the banks and this can only be achieved with a 100% Government subsidy. Even so, the banks will consider the impact on the quality of service if the electricity and telecommunication infrastructure are not reliable on the island. The cost of maintaining and servicing will be high. This is 2022, why do you need cash to trade anyways... A resident can consider installing a private ATM if this is allowed by our regulators etc or use Apps to accept and receive payments.
    • Silencer (07/04/2022, 08:17) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      Mehson hush yo pie hole!
    • John (07/04/2022, 10:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      FinTech Evolution 2022, we need more people like you around. you hit the nail on the head. ATMs on Tortola BARLEY even work reliably much more on Anegada. I think the approach needs to be more innovative such as ATH Movil or the other transfer platforms offered by the banks. not saying that the need for cash would be completely eliminated but we already know how the atm story does go.
  • Nonsense alone (07/04/2022, 17:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I laugh.. port like to waste money eh


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.