Opposition lays down 'COVID-19 Strategic Economic Recovery Plan'
In a three-part upcoming radio broadcast series entitled, "COVID-19 Strategic Economic Recovery Plan for the Territory," it sets out the Opposition’s proposed initiatives for improving key sectors of the economy, as well as the lives and livelihoods of Virgin Islands citizens and residents.
Gov't plan already in motion - Premier Fahie
According to a press release today, May 18, 2020, Hon Penn said the entire Opposition was in agreement and supported the proposals, deeming it absolutely necessary in the absence of a detailed economic recovery plan for the Territory by the current Virgin Islands Party-led Government.
However, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a statement earlier today, May 18, 2020, reminded that the government's phased economic response plan is already in place and in motion.
Even as the Opposition claims the current administration has no plans, over the past weeks the Government has detailed strategies for education, agriculture, tourism and other sectors as part of a phased re-opening of the economy.
The Premier said that in the Government's plan, phase one is focusing on equipping students and teachers for an online learning environment, which he said has now become the “new regular”.
Three-phase approach
The Opposition sponsored plan also takes a phased approach, beginning with Part One addressing Small and Medium-sized businesses, workers and families.
"Part Two recognises the importance of Financial Services, as well as the Construction Industry, Agriculture, Fishing and Farming Sectors; and proposes measures in each sector that aims to foster the redevelopment of the economy," it said.
Part Three will place emphasis on the reopening of the Tourism Industry; including implementation of attendant health protocols, as a key driver to rebooting the economy and re-empowerment locals.
“It is imperative that the Territory has an economic recovery plan that is clearly articulated and achievable, one which signals to the people of this Territory, our businesses, our visitors and our partners; that as a resilient nation, BVI will confront, manage and adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hon Penn underscored.
'Plan absolutely necessary' - Opposition
Hon Penn also claimed that Opposition members have offered support and suggestions, both privately and publicly, to the current administration in an effort to help navigate the Territory through the COVID-19 crisis, but their ideas have not been implemented.
“After several discussions, the Members of the Opposition and I saw it fit to produce a recovery plan for the Territory, aimed at delivering good outcomes to improve the current declining state of the Virgin Islands economy and ultimately improve the livelihood of all residents in the Virgin Islands.”
The statement continued, ”collectively, we understand that the delay in presenting an economic recovery plan only further deepens person's anxiety due to the uncertainty of the next wage, rent and mortgage payments, along with statutory deductions and other fixed costs as well as the realisation that their families livelihoods are at stake,” Hon Penn added.
Time to take bold measures - Hon Penn
With the plan now laid out in full, at least to the media, ahead of its broadcast, the Opposition Leader said decisive and bold measures must now be taken to ensure the sustainability of the economy and livelihoods of all Virgin Islanders.
Premier Fahie, in his statements today, said he is not going to put this Territory and its people in a compromising position “where we roll out a red carpet and then find ourselves in a position that we cannot get out of, where others would now be policing us.”
The Opposition's three-part series is expected to be aired on CBN 90.9 FM and ZBVI 780 AM for the public, however, it remains unclear what is the date and time of the broadcast, as that information was not provided.
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) will bring more information on the Opposition's plan after detailed analysis.
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31 Responses to “Opposition lays down 'COVID-19 Strategic Economic Recovery Plan'”
we display such hatred for caribbean people but our heads up the white folks @$$ %^&*
Don't know what century you living in, but whites have no social privilege here. No more than anyone else. Having said that, I find that many of them work very hard and are environmentally responsible. I saw many of them helping after the storms. To all of those, I take my hat off.
The w**** man in rtw doing worse.ck dat.
Populations struggling and wealthy countries slow in helping, the local hard hit populations of these struggling countries are looking to their governments for help. Economies tanking, governments up and down the Caribbean from Bahamas to Guyana to Barbados to Jamaica to Belize are struggling to meet the loud and growing demands.
Many of these countries lack the resources to address the large and increasing demand adequately but their populations expect them to act. With little resources, governments providing help will not be sustainable. In any event, they must leverage their scarce resources to provide the most resources to the most people for as long as possible. This will be task that will require skilled planning, compassion, fairness, equity, means testing, and nimble execution. Will everyone be happy and satisfied ? No. However, government cannot fiddle while their populations go hungry.
Moreover, the VI is in the midst of a perfect storm, ie, Covid-19, tanking economy and a hurricane season, so everyone, the territory must UNITE to grapple with this storm. It is not time to play partisan politics to see who can exact political mileage out of this perfect storm. There will be time for politics. Government and Opposition should be at a common table plotting a strategy to get safely out of this perfect storm. A pandemic should cause politicians to put politics aside and unite for the public good. In a war, a country unite to fight and defeat the enemy(s).
great plan $15 million for loans us to $100k so thats 150 loans there are more than 200 restaurants alone in the territory, let the leaders do the work.
There should be ashamed of them self as opposition..for opposition..doesn't mean to against unless it a good thing the ruling party is doing it also mean to support if it a good thing there are doing ..the both party are working for the good of us the people and coutry...this political pr baby @#$ behavior must stop especially in a time like this .....dam man ..and mark and Frazier too dam experience for up holding this type of sh** ..Andrew doing a dam good job ..keep it up my boi I got to the next poll. Yes me who tell u years ago as ur student I would get that A to pass to graduate....keep home safe