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Explore other options to facilitate return of VI people– Frank Mahoney

- said persons should be allowed to enter via ferry or aircraft from St Thomas
Manager at BVI Sea and Land Adventure and events organiser Mr Frank Mahoney (inset) believes Government should allow ferry companies to bring in nationals and belongers of the Virgin Islands from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, under strict COVID-19 measures. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the opening up travel between the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Territory could ‘retard’ the progress that have been made to date. Photo: Facebook/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the opening up travel between the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Territory could ‘retard’ the progress that have been made to date. Photo: Facebook/File
Mr Frank Mahoney said one of the options could be to organise flights from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands to Beef Island through the local airline, VI Airlink. Photo: Facebook
Mr Frank Mahoney said one of the options could be to organise flights from St Thomas, US Virgin Islands to Beef Island through the local airline, VI Airlink. Photo: Facebook
For those nationals and belongers of the Virgin Islands desirous of returning home, a registration form must be filled out, which can be obtained from the government’s website. Photo: Facebook
For those nationals and belongers of the Virgin Islands desirous of returning home, a registration form must be filled out, which can be obtained from the government’s website. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Manager at BVI Sea and Land Adventure and events organiser Mr Frank Mahoney wants the Andrew A. Fahie-led regime to explore other options to facilitate the return of Virgin Islanders, Belongers, Permanent Residents and Naturalized Citizens to the Territory.

Addressing, via social media, the upcoming first phase of the reopening of the Virgin Islands borders to those individuals who have been trapped outside the Territory due to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr Mahoney said, St Thomas/Tortola route should also be included for ease of access.

“Many Virgin Islanders are now in the process of making plans to come home. The designated port of entry is Beef Island airport (T. B Lettsome International Airport). I would suggest our Government look at other viable options and for good reason,” he remarked in a Facebook post on Monday, May 25, 2020.

He explained: “Having to transit through Puerto Rico is challenging on a good day. Having to collect all your luggage and personally move it from the larger commercial jets to a small shuttle flight may be difficult for the elderly. Small shuttle flights may not be able to carry all the luggage for college students and others who may be bringing everything home due to the uncertainty of school opening in the fall.”

He said another hurdle is missing one’s flight or having it delayed and forcing travellers to overnight in Puerto Rico.

Open travel from St Thomas

Mahoney said one of the options could be to organise flights from St Thomas to Beef Island through the local airline, VI Airlink.

Another option would be to facilitate the ferry companies to transport travellers to Trellis Bay.

At Trellis Bay, he explained, travellers would be able to go through Customs and Immigration at the airport.

“Both of the above options would also generate much-needed revenue to a local airline and local ferry companies,” he reasoned.

“The system can be streamlined such that once the ferry docks, some of the passengers can remain on board- relaxing, eating, drinking and watching television while a limited number 10 at a time can be transported to the airline terminal for processing and testing before heading off to be quarantined. In addition, if the small shuttle flights cannot handle all the luggage, it can be transferred to the ferry boat for delivery to Tortola.”

He said if for some reason flights are delayed, residents can still take the ferry to get home.

“Most of the families who are trying to bring students and family members home would rather not transit through Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico also poses a greater health risk with over 3,000 cases and over 100 deaths compared to 69 confirmed cases and six deaths in the USVI. These are unprecedented times, and we have to think outside the box and consider the challenges and concerns of our residents returning home,” Mr Mahoney pointed out.

Not a good idea

Via a May 19, 2020 statement, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the opening up travel between the USVI and the Territory would only ‘retard’ the progress that has been made to date.

He was at the time responding to Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) who suggested that day-trippers from the USVI could be allowed to enter in October, along with ferries from St Thomas.

Premier said, “Are the members of the tri-party Opposition aware that flights are still being allowed between the USVI and the US mainland, and that yesterday alone there were over 17,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 750 new COVID-19 related deaths in the United States? Already for today alone, over 900 persons have died from COVID-19 in the United States. Is this what our Opposition want us to open our borders to contend with at this time?” 

Conditions for travellers

In the meantime, for those desirous of returning home, a registration form must be filled out, which can be obtained from the government’s website.

“Cabinet decided that from June 2 up to June 15, 2020, the first priority will be given to the re-entry of nationals, belongers, holders of permanent residence and naturalised citizens, who upon registration and certification by the Environmental Health Division, are deemed to have approved private quarantinable accommodation for occupancy for at least a 14-day-period,” Hon Fahie (R1) stated.

He explained that this was part of the government’s Restricted Border Reopening Plan.

Premier Fahie said priority would also be granted to persons who left the Territory to seek medical attention.

From June 15, 2020, consideration would then be given to the re-entry of other persons “with approved registration and certification with respect to available government quarantine spaces,” he explained.

Upon arrival, persons will be subject to pre-arrival screening, health screening on arrival, ongoing monitoring during a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, and testing to confirm their COVID-19 status, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) said.

17 Responses to “Explore other options to facilitate return of VI people– Frank Mahoney”

  • missing the point (26/05/2020, 10:35) Like (12) Dislike (6) Reply
    You can already fly from STT to EIS with VIAirlink this is nothing new and already an option, so what is he talking about? POh wait trying to get money for himself.....
    • Hmm (26/05/2020, 16:31) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Currently there are no permitted travels from USVI to BVI that is why he mentioned it so Government may allow it. Read and make sense of what you reapplied to the current situation.
      • uptodate (27/05/2020, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        VIAirlink are allowed to fly from STT to EIS so check up to date information before commenting
  • home grown (26/05/2020, 10:57) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Explore yachts,vg clinic,hurricane shelters police headquarters not being used.check these options
  • positive we live (26/05/2020, 11:01) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    Now this would be a positive move for government. There are currently no flights from San Juan to Tortola. How else people gonna get home. Some booked flights when the announcement was made for the 2nd. Flights from PR have since been cancelled. The only option is to get to STT and ferry over. Come on lets get the ball rolling. The 2nd is only less than a week away. Or, get the airlines to fly from PR! Something positive please! Thanks Frank...
  • Yep (26/05/2020, 11:03) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    I agree. I’m one who needs to get back home from away and when I booked my flight on inter Caribbean they are only allowing 1 suit case. I have 2 and coming into PR on a jet. I think this is a disadvantage and more costly. I’m here wondering what will happen to my next luggage. As traveling with 2 bags are common.
    • Inter Caribbean (26/05/2020, 14:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      They will allow you to take the two if you are paying for the 2nd one. I think somewhere around $50- $60
    • option (26/05/2020, 23:30) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      You have a choice pay to bring it or leave it you decide . And Frank at trellis bay is not a port of entry there is nothing structural to conduct such . The airport is the safest place for this a better control environment.
  • home grown (26/05/2020, 11:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Used schools and college government used what u have it's only 14 days
  • @FRANK (26/05/2020, 11:25) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    Ok I will not criticize anyone who TRIES to bring something to the table. I could say a lot about what you said but for now this is my question. After reaching home [Trellis Bay] which one of our students would want to remain on a packed Ferry AC or not to eat, drink and watch TV? Isn't that what they have done since this Pandemic?
  • bvi (26/05/2020, 12:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    What about those person in stuck in the UK? For the time being, there options are limited to flying from London to Antigua or from London to Paris or Amsterdam, then on to Saint Maarten and the BVI providing LIAT, WinAir, InteraCaribbean resume their service accordingly.
  • HMMM (26/05/2020, 16:43) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    You guys complained to much. Get home how you can. He close borders you guys complained, he open borders and syou guys still complained.......strupes. Mr Malone go to rest.
  • question (26/05/2020, 17:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about those needing to leave the island? Per the BVI Tourism Board there is a ferry that has been running from St Thomas to Tortola for a few weeks now to pick people up who are wanting to leave Tortola for $160. Yes, I have emails back and forth with the TB. No one can seem to give me a solid answer whether or not this is even legal. There is no way we can encourage our house guest to do this without knowing if this is ok or not.
    • Oh My (28/05/2020, 02:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Contact Tourist Board and they will explain the legal process to leave via water taxi as they have been accommodating it since lockdown.
  • @Question (26/05/2020, 20:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where do you live ? People been leaving via private water taxis and private planes touch and go. You can go once you got the money
  • musa (27/05/2020, 05:21) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please give our students duty free on they car.


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