Over $15M was paid to businesses, farmers, fishers, schools, churches etc- Premier
This was disclosed by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at a press conference on Friday, April 22, 2022.
The premier gave a breakdown of how the 15,241,839 was distributed and said information continues to be collected from recipients to give account on how the grants were used.
He said to date, 1,223 SMEs received stimulus grants totalling $7,406,521.
Some 220 farmers received stimulus grants totalling $3,121,500, and 213 fishermen and fisherwomen received stimulus grants totalling $2,222,000.
Grants totalling $530,359 were provided to 19 Day Cares/Pre-schools. Some 109 churches and religious organizations received stimulus grants totalling $1,599,000; and 12 private schools received grants totalling $362,459.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Premier Fahie said the Action Plan for the monitoring and evaluation of the various economic stimulus programmes, is a three-phase plan.
He said under the first phase, reporting and data collection is taking place. “The Permanent Secretary, Premier’s Office has written to all grant recipients reminding them of their obligations to provide an account for the use of funds and to participate in surveys and other exercises for monitoring and evaluation.”
The premier added that feedback forms for each initiative have been sent to each grant recipient, and they are reminded to complete the forms and submit them. Submission can be done in electronic format and via the internet.
Respondents are asked to provide details, with supporting documents, receipts and photographs where applicable, proof of payments such as statutory obligations, utilities, equipment, rent, mortgage, creditors, suppliers and staff.
They are also required to provide a statement of how the stimulus grant assisted their business or organisation in coping with the COVID-19 economic challenges. Farmers and fisherfolk are required to submit details of their operations such as acreage farmed and crops, or catch respectively.
Premier Fahie said four bulletins were circulated by the Government Information Services (GIS) between August 2021 and March 2022 reminding recipients of their obligation to report back to the Government via the Premier’s Office on how they spent the grant funding.
Additionally, he said the Premier’s Office has requested assistance from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department with conducting site visits to the farms and fisherfolk for inspection of their premises to verify the use of the stimulus grant funding they received.
195 grant recipients have given feedback
It was revealed that the Premier’s Office has received a number of responses from stimulus grant recipients. As of March 28, 2022, a total of 195 grant recipients had responded.
“A team from Premier’s Office along with staff from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be conducting site visits to the farmers and fishermen within the next few weeks to begin onsite verifications.
“Additionally, the Premier's Office has allocated staff resources to call recipients who have not yet provided any data to remind and prompt them to get their information in.”
Premier Fahie reminded that due to the risks associated with COVID-19 it was difficult to conduct site visits at that time, hence the reason only now monitoring and evaluation of recipients of COVID-19 stimulus grants are being emphasised.
“It was risky to have persons coming into Government offices and having physical interactions. Most public officers were working remotely. And offices that were open went through periods of lockdown as COVID-19 cases were detected,” Premier Fahie explained.
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28 Responses to “Over $15M was paid to businesses, farmers, fishers, schools, churches etc- Premier”
Yall will have to remind me what churches and religious organizations do for the community to deserve stimulus.
I don't recall one community outreach from any of them during the pandemic. But this could just be my memory. After all, it has taken over 2 years to "flatten the curve" which still isn't flat ANYWHERE ON EARTH!
I agree with you 100%. This is some unjust S..t. Thirty need to start a investigation into this and expose the fake farmers, fishermen and others that was not qualified to receive anything. ONE SET OF GREEDY, BAD MINDED DEMONS IN THIS PLACE!!!!. What the &*((? Still trying to figure out how can someone get a stimulus check that don’t even know how to reel a fish in with a fishing rod.
Due to the pandemic, you had children home, and if they came school..only a certain amount of children per class..(pre school)...teachers still need pay and rent and all the other stuff.. Plus school was closed for times.
If everyone was eligible as in the USA and other countries during the pandemic, then it would be fair. Though $1200 wouldnt be much help to a business but it can help individuals.
Additionally if you don't apply as some businesses did... how can you complain after realizing how much it was. I believe they had the right intentions considering 24/7 lock downs & the global push for stimulus packages due to covid-19.
On the other hand consider that ATLEAST 7 million went up in the air during the last administration -not to mention the 1 million dollars spent constructing a wall- without any one in the BVI benefiting except the foreign con artists.
NEVER HAD A GOVERNMENT GIVE TO ITS PEOPLE LIKE THISONE
8 MORE YEARS!
I assume they will start at the Social Security Board Farm????