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More tourists than expected caused some delays in system - Premier Fahie

- Gov’t adding more manpower to handle bottlenecks
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says tourists arrivals that exceeded expectations, resulted in some logistical challenges for the COVID-19 policies. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Premier said while roughly 500 people have returned to the VI since the December 1, 2020, reopening, the administration already has plans in place to address the challenges with processing tourists who will arrive at the T.B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier said while roughly 500 people have returned to the VI since the December 1, 2020, reopening, the administration already has plans in place to address the challenges with processing tourists who will arrive at the T.B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Despite heavy criticisms that the Virgin Islands' strict COVID-19 travel policies would deter tourists from coming to the territory, an influx of tourists has now created some logistical challenges for the Government.

This was revealed by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), who was at the time speaking during a December 7, 2020, update on the reopening of the VI’s borders, alongside Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL). 

“One of the challenges we will face in terms of projection of numbers is that the numbers are more so it required more manpower for us in terms of manning the app and with certain aspects that would call for more prompt response,” he said. 

Hon Fahie continued, “Like the health certificate or the other areas that would need to be responded to a little more promptly, they lacked a little bit due to us never projecting that the numbers would have been that way,” he said.

Roughly 500 entered VI since Dec 1, 2020 - Premier Fahie 

The Premier said while roughly 500 people have returned to the VI since the December 1, 2020, reopening, the administration already has plans in place to address the challenges

“The Minister of Health is already addressing that, I'm putting all the necessary manpower in place so persons who experience that should see real significant improvement in the next day or two."

Tourists who arrived in the Virgin Islands (VI) from December 1, 2020, have to adhere to strict requirements, including GPS tracking and multiple negative COVID-19 testing before they are allowed unrestricted access to the territory.

24 Responses to “More tourists than expected caused some delays in system - Premier Fahie”

  • BOTTOM LINE (08/12/2020, 10:37) Like (29) Dislike (1) Reply
    ayo aint ready
    • Correct (08/12/2020, 12:29) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
      No they are not but at least they came out and said it. Could of made for a very bad Christmas if they didn't and lied like Trump did.
      Having said that, they need to step their game up!
    • Rubber Duck (09/12/2020, 07:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The system bought in haste from unproven suppliers was bound not to work. The bracelets are a joke. They don’t work and are not waterproof when most tourists are on boats. You must wear a black box round your neck as well as the bracelet. Basically the tracking device they put in trucks. Totally Micky mouse. The phone app doesn’t work. The portal doesn’t work properly. All part of the $6.4 million contract the government gave to this unknown company that basically resells car tracking devices made by others. Shameful and exactly like the phantom airline.
  • Beula (08/12/2020, 10:50) Like (36) Dislike (1) Reply
    I always felt that there should have been a quota on how many arrivals we accepted per month based strictly on the size of our country and the infrastructure of our health service capabilities.
    It is horrible and frightening in some other countries that have not managed the pandemic as well as we have and people want to get away. Many have said if we don't open up, the BVI would be left behind in tourism. I disagree, if we open too soon we WILL be left behind because the carnage left to clean up with an irresponsible opening would put us on the banned list of countries for years.
    Best to admit that you are not ready and keep citizens and visitors safe.
    • @Beula (08/12/2020, 11:38) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
      Well said. I completely agree.
    • Ghost (08/12/2020, 12:35) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with “beula” 110% for if we don’t have the man power to ensure that all safety protocols are adhered to then we’re potentially sending ourselves up a creek.. my fear is that there will be lapses in the system on the ground that makes us vulnerable to this virus.. also that these hotels and taxi drivers etc “WILL NOT” always enforce the rules just to make a dollar.. this all makes me sore afraid.. yes at times the only way we find gaps is to test a system so now we have and make sure that the screws are tightened.. SAFETY Protocols have to be priority for “not just” the persons on the island from outsiders, “but also”for persons entering the territory.. their lives matters to.. so between the airport testing or wherever testing is done until that place at the airport is completed, and getting them to their quarantine site safety measures for them is also paramount. - All Lives Matters. (Visitors, Locals or whomever is returning)
  • All right now (08/12/2020, 11:21) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Keep spreading the TRIBE MAN BUSH POLITICS.
    • Interested (08/12/2020, 13:47) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Please explain what "TRIBE MAN BUSH POLITICS" actually means? it comes across negative in an insulting way. I am sure I'm mistaken. Please go in to detail for me.
  • Concerned (08/12/2020, 11:24) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    And the greedy taximan them taking money, and stoping along the way before they reach where they suppose to go putting we at risk.

    We cannot trust the taximan them to be responsible.
  • Since June? (08/12/2020, 11:39) Like (17) Dislike (6) Reply
    They've only had since June to figure this out.
    F A I L U R E !!!
    • Really! (08/12/2020, 13:32) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      So which country hasn't failed? Which one has figured it out and gives us a good example to follow besides the ones with their borders still CLOSED? Shupps!
    • Ghost (08/12/2020, 13:58) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ since June? .. you need to stop your nonsense for the Gov’t did not fail .. you are safe because God imparted wisdom to the Premier to shut down the country and Institute measures including the curfews which have been working to slow the spread of this virus.. every system have glitches and they are seeing the gaps. I am not sure whom you are but I want to believe that if you were at the helm you couldn’t have done a better job than Hon. Premier so zip it. All I’m saying is is if we’re not quite ready to receive persons with our measures let’s fix them and then we try.. no half- stepping.. the Premier and his team are doing a great job I believe as best they could..you need to be more thankful that you’re alive to be on here blogging that they failed..
  • Hmm (08/12/2020, 11:52) Like (14) Dislike (11) Reply
    Whatever! That is not true. The entire thing was not thought out or adequately planned.
  • Rubber Duck (08/12/2020, 12:04) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Fewer than 500 have returned. 80% are belongers, residents and permit holders. There are about 100 tourists, mostly on boats. The bracelets don’t work and have been abandoned as forecast.
  • Curfew (08/12/2020, 12:09) Like (0) Dislike (7) Reply
    Get rid of this weak CURFEW please. I had enough of it.
  • The TRUTH (08/12/2020, 13:12) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    We put our trust in untested unproven technology,,, now they are failing us.. They are not working as they intended to,,,,, Big time failure and malfunction,,,,,, Back to physical security,,,,, Secure our people,,
  • Hmm (08/12/2020, 14:10) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    We need our test results. Why are they taking so long. I need to get out of quarantine.
    • lol (08/12/2020, 15:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Soon come! ;)
    • Hmm (08/12/2020, 19:09) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      We are waiting for our results and after being in quarantine for the days required and persons are disliking the post beacuse we are speaking out.
  • Hmm (08/12/2020, 19:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are still waiting for our results how long will it take is the quarantine 2 weeks now be ause we are still waiting we never get the results for the first test. Whats going on BVI LOVE.
    • Issue (09/12/2020, 09:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The issue with us in the BVI is that we can't not personalize hard facts. If things aren't working, they simply are not working. Yes the government responded well in some things but in others, they have failed and whether you like this fact or not does not make it any less the truth.

      We need to stop thinking that if we ignore it or not talk about it and try to shut up other people from talking about it, makes it any less the factual.

      This thing where they came out and stated they aren't ready the night before they are due to open is total and utter nonsense, who does that? To people who already made plans, weeks and months in advance, in anticipation of your set deadline? who now have to scramble to readjust?

      why do people defend that as if its ok? its not ok.

      BVI LOVE indeed.
  • GG (08/12/2020, 23:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poor excuse given u had plenty time to equipped yourself barely over a week and you crying now ready for nothing yet.
  • In quarantine (09/12/2020, 05:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    As someone who recently landed over the weekend. The process at the airport was seamless, the testing immigration, customs and payment and receiving the tracking phone and transportation to my home only took about 45 minutes. Very efficient! Checked in on the provided android phone with the preinstalled gateway app as soon as I reached my house. But this is where the efficiency ended. My day 0 test results should have been provided on Sunday but I did figure since it was Sunday I wouldn’t get these till Monday. But by Tuesday still no results (figured no news was good news). I had to chase up my results by calling so many numbers and messaging many people to get my results which finally came through on Tuesday afternoon. I still haven’t received a request for a check in with my droid phone, no random video call or requests for health check nor anything on the gateway portal like I was told would happen. I’m assuming the geo fence that the app creates is monitoring the fact I have not left my house. Now waiting for my day 4 covid test appointment! I did receive an email at 11:30pm last night to be ready for 9:30am but I have also been told someone will call day of to schedule pickup, so it’s very unclear on the who what where and how of this next step. Will have to wait on this it looks like most likely til the moment of(I’m hoping different) but taking 2 days to get day 0 results makes me not have much faith if I test negative that I will be told by day 5 for release. I applaud the people who helped with the re-entry process because of website issues and everyone that made the airport process seamless, the driver who brought me home, the check in on the app. But the everything else, you can tell, was not ready because the rest of the process doesn’t work so far.


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