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Gov’t bringing revised budget due to COVID-19 revenue shortfalls

- Premier Andrew A. Fahie says new budget will allow public servants to stay employed
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has proposed a revised budget for 2021, considering the shortfall in projected national revenues. Photo: Internet Source
The Premier made the announcement during a Friday, September 3, 2021, press conference on Cruise policies and the BVI Gateway systems. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Premier made the announcement during a Friday, September 3, 2021, press conference on Cruise policies and the BVI Gateway systems. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has proposed a revised budget for 2021, considering the shortfall in projected national revenues.

The Premier made the announcement during a Friday, September 3, 2021, press conference on cruise passengers and the BVI Gateway systems.

Projected revenues down - Premier Fahie 

“Like everywhere else in the world due to COVID-19, the revenues are not where we would like them or projected to be. We can still make it if we cut some of our expenditures accordingly,” Premier Fahie explained.

“So, we're going to bring a revised budget very soon, to make sure that persons stay within lines so that we do not get involved in deficit spending. So that we do not have to cut public officers' pay or cut public officers from the payroll.”

Premier Fahie announced that even with the cuts, jobs will remain intact and that the government is projected to pay increments due for 2017, as well as execute its plans for job reclassification and salary reviews.

Responsible spending a must! - Premier Fahie 

“But at the same time too, we got to make sure that we become more responsible with some of the expenditures that you see in some areas. Persons are behaving as if it is regular time and committed the government to expenditures that weren't approved or committing the government to expenditures that it didn't have conversations with before and we have to make sure that we monitor that,” he said.

Premier Fahie reminded that as Minister of Finance he has a responsibility to monitor spending.

“We had some very long meetings this week and even up to today, making sure that we stay in line about all we need to do,” he assured.

2 Responses to “Gov’t bringing revised budget due to COVID-19 revenue shortfalls”

  • Good Advisor Free-Of-Charge Advisory (06/09/2021, 12:23) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Truly a revision of our budget is necessary, especially more needful since the covid-19 virus got to our shores in 2020, and more so since July 2021. However, please allow me to ask you a question or two. Hon. Premier, why did you and the cabinet decided to empowered so many high paid political advisors in such a crunched time?
    Hon. Premier, would you wisely agree to hold off or reduce the number of planned political advisors?
    Remember, fat is fat, but is not meat, and meat is meat, but is not fat. Cut off the fat, (big money getters) not the meat small money receivers, on government payroll, and expected payroll.
  • We have all the talent we need. (06/09/2021, 14:20) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Service have all the talent the Govt needs. May it be consultants, Speech writters, Speech specialist, Whatever, we have them all, Just identify them and put them to work...The budget consist of too much unnecessary stuff...


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