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Gov’t spent $57.4M in unbudgeted COVID-19 expenses so far - Premier Fahie
During the Budget Address on Thursday, November 12, 2020, Premier Fahie said assistance to meet this unanticipated expenditure was derived mostly from the $40M grant from the Social Security Board (SSB).
Financial blow
Coupled with a loss in revenue from the VI’s tourism sector, a major contributor to monies in the VI economy, the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a huge financial blow to the territory, even as the pandemic is still going.
“Your Government’s COVID-19 strategy was not restricted to [the] containment of the virus and treatment of infected persons," the Premier said, adding that "The strategy also included social considerations such as ensuring that persons had suitable housing given the devastations from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.”
He said there was also a need to provide economic stimulus to local businesses in addition to making investments in job creation and food security.
Cost Breakdown
The 2020 COVID-19 expenses so far included $2 million to cover Food Production grants in Agriculture and Fisheries and $6.5 million in grants to local businesses affected by COVID-19.
A total of $1M was spent on stimulus grants to hotels and villas participating in Government’s COVID-19 quarantine programme and $9M for housing repairs, materials, labour and reconstruction assistance to homes damaged by the 2017 catastrophic hurricanes.
$1 million was diverted to developing an insurance initiative to be undertaken by the BVI Social Security Board and a further $1M for other social needs related to COVID-19.
Churches got share of a $1M grant
Day Cares, Private Schools, Churches, and other religious organisations received $1M in support funding.
Another $1M was diverted to fund a Transportation initiative from Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island to approved quarantine areas in Tortola and on the Sister Islands, Hon Fahie said.
$7.5M went in support of the National Health Insurance programme (NHI) and $3.9M was earmarked to provide assistance grants to individuals through District Representatives, which trickled down to some $300,000 per district.
$8.6M single lions share allocated to Health Ministry
The Premier said $2.8M went to the House-to-House Garbage Collection and Food Distribution programmes and $2.99M for Contingency Funding to the Ministry of Health for precautionary measures relating to COVID-19.
$4M went to infrastructure works related to managing the national sewerage distribution system.
Another $4M was also spent on accommodations for returning residents during the phased re-opening.
However, and not surprisingly, the single greatest share was an $8.6 million allocation to the Ministry of Health and Social Development, which included a grant of $8.1 million to the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) for precautionary measures relating to COVID-19.
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