Cabinet approves $2M to finance food provisioning during extended lockdown
And, according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), during a live update to the Territory this evening, April 19, 2020, the food packages will be delivered from tomorrow, Monday, April 20, 2020.
According to the Leader of Government Business, Cabinet today approved the allocation of two million dollars to the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) from the Consolidated Funds to the COVID-19 Fund for the purposes of food provisioning.
“Simply put your Government has decided to ensure that the finances of basic food packages to be delivered to you the people, those in terms of the seniors and those who are really in need will be the targeted group [as well as] anyone else who have genuinely have run out of food, the Government is paying for those food packages and to have them delivered to you.”
The funding will also cover the financial cost to suppliers and deliverers of the Government’s provided food packages.
Hotline number: 852-7688
“If you have not received any food and you are in need and [have] other needs within this seven days, in terms of medication or food, this is a specific hotline to call: the number is 852-7688,” Premier Fahie also stated.
Additionally, Premier Fahie said Cabinet approved the allocation of eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) to the HEOC from the Consolidated Funds for the purpose of the House to House Garbage collection and Recycling initiative.
Majority of residents to order electronically
Meanwhile, Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, during the same live COVID-19 update, emphasised that Cabinet wants to ensure this lockdown does not lead to further hardship.
He said over the next week, the majority of people will be expected to order any essential food/basic needs by calling or submitting online deliveries from many shops for home delivery.
The Governor added that many of the food supply shops have set up arrangements through telephone orders and a network of delivery services is in place and that he was grateful for rapid work by the business community for assisting customers in this new way.
Revised Curfew Order for key services
He also said he will sign a revised curfew order that allows for key services to operate for the purposes of providing supplies for delivery.
This includes supermarkets, wholesale food and drink providers, gas and fuel, water production and delivery, bakeries and pharmacies.
“The details of which businesses can be approved will be published fully. The critical thing will be that no shop will be open for public access – they will only be open for staff to fulfil orders for delivery. Supermarket businesses may have staff working 24 hours a day so that they can prepare orders and restock during the night if required. However, all deliveries will take place only during the daytime, from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.”
'Don't abuse the system'
The Governor also reiterated that for those who are not able to access online shopping, are vulnerable or unable to pay for their basic needs, they will be able to register to get an essential supply package by calling the hotline number given by Premier Fahie.
“This will be an essential supply package only and will be delivered to your home. Please only use this service if it is absolutely necessary. We are relying on you to do the right thing and to not abuse the system. Please think of the whole community and help us to prioritise supplies to those who need it most.
“I also want to assure everyone across the whole territory that the arrangement will cater for ensuring that people from across all of our Sister Islands have access to food, medical and essential supplies as well.”
Businesses breaching protocols will have approvals suspended
Meanwhile, businesses and those involved in supplying or delivery supplies will need to get an approval pass.
Passes for this curfew period will only be issued for persons listed in the approved list of essential services and managed by the Ministry of Health and issued by the Deputy Governor’s Office under the authority of the Curfew Act.
Applications for passes should be sent to Ministryofhealth@gov.vg by listing the business name, pass holder, email address, phone number and general reason for the application.
Passes can only be used within the specified period and businesses assigned and only whilst on duty and is only valid to the one assignee. They will be sent out electronically and people must carry ID with them to accompany the electronic pass if needed. Further details will be set out in social media and people can text or WhatsApp 540-5946.
“Businesses must also comply with the HEOC health protocols, including the protocols for safe home delivery. Breaching of that will result in the approval to operate or deliver being removed,” Governor Jaspert warned.
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28 Responses to “Cabinet approves $2M to finance food provisioning during extended lockdown”
Stay safe BVI, and give thanks.
However, contacting police to be on the road or using your pass other than for what it was intended is defeating the purpose of staying at home. You can easily be spreading the virus to others (symptoms do not always show) especially not wearing your masks or others spreading it to you not wearing theirs.
Pleased stop taking matters into your own hands and go to the Government's Facebook page for information on who to contact such as 852-7688 or telephone those who have approved delivery passes.
Otherwise, this whole curfew is pointless and we all can be out and about.
https://interestingengineering.com/woman-tested-positive-for-covid-19-despite-not-leaving-her-house-for-three-weeks?fbclid=IwAR3-8jOwId74tlHatWiZy_2Q-EFMl2BQnlLA2S15Q9JnbCQk8YQiOPJhYCk
"No contact
The only people Brummert had come in contact with were the pharmacist, her husband, who is temporarily living in a separate room, and a woman who volunteered to drop off groceries. Unfortunately, that woman later tested positive for COVID-19.
“I barely had any contact,” she said. “I didn’t even touch her.” "
This is crazy I’m calling too and no one answering.
Send out some trucks with the food supplies and go district by district if I don’t get fine but at least we could see you working for the people. Pack a bag of stuff and we will be thankful. I have an elderly at home that needs basic items . Come on man this is stupidness
That survivalist comment is on to something and Intel person y'all don't believe it until it happen but you know what yo Jesus Christ never happen but there you go clinging on to him huh.
We down the chains have a lot to deal with for the boil down of this fraud scenario