‘Premier is crazy’ to reduce cost of COVID-19 tests, travel accessories- Julio S. Henry
Henry, who made the criticisms during the Monday, November 16, 2020, edition of the Umoja show alongside host Cromwell Smith aka 'Edju En Ka', called the move ‘crazy.’
“$175? Boss that’s crazy, the Premier is crazy to even offer that kind of reduction,” he said.
Cost reduces from an estimated $450 to $175
On November 10, 2020, Premier Fahie announced that the estimated $450 per tourist cost to travel to the VI would have been reduced by to almost a third, to $175.
The one-off cost would cover a traveller app, monitoring bracelet and two COVID-19 tests once on VI soil; however, Mr Henry suggested that the cost reduction was not necessary, since tourists should be budgeting for the unexpected.
“You are a tourist, you travelling… you have to have money for the unexpected… these are part of your travelling budget, don’t tell me $175 is too much money,” he said.
Mr Henry said tourists should know about the destination, the cost to get there, its policies and other associated costs before travelling.
Tourists who can't afford VI could 'come a next time' - Mr Henry
“If you can’t afford all of that then wait… wait and come at a later time,” Mr Henry urged prospective tourists, should the price remain at $450 estimate.
In May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Henry had unsuccessfully moved to pressure the Hon Fahie-led administration to re-open the tourism sector, forecasting that the economy would sink if tourism was not revived.
“We must remain vigilant in how we open our borders and consider best practices for screening visitors... Persons are fearful on both sides of the coin, but our economy will sink, and our Territory will suffer greatly if we do not get back to business for our tourism and hospitality industry,” he had said in a circular published on May 7, 2020.
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42 Responses to “‘Premier is crazy’ to reduce cost of COVID-19 tests, travel accessories- Julio S. Henry”
But will anyone be coming because the “ portal “ still doesn’t work.
VINO I am so happy you published Henry’s own words against him for he was one of the screamers for the Gov’t to open the place... he sounds like such a hypocrite.. if he was the one shelling out monies to get there or even get back home he would be singing a different song.. Henry need to just shut his mouth if he has nothing of relevance to say..in the past when he’d speak instead of coming across as concerned for persons in the BVi well-being during this covid time- he’d come across as money-grubbing and self-serving..
”empty vessels make the most noise”..
Mr Henry said tourists should know about the destination, the cost to get there, its policies and other associated costs before travelling. "
He needs to think over things before he speaks!
This man like smoking some kind of hard drugs
“If you can’t afford all of that then wait… wait and come at a later time,” Mr Henry urged prospective tourists, should the price remain at $450 estimate.
I think we have to reconsider the people getting airtime on these radio shows
wannabe politicians. real bag of mixed nuts
He must have been told that tourists would have to pay the $450 and Virgin Islanders pay another price..LMAO
Day after arrival is day 1 quarantine
Then day 5 if negative u free to go.
Wondering if we stupid or can’t count this is 6 days until freedom vacation etc .
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt—-Mark Twain.” Some of us like to hear the sweet sound of our own voice, but it okay to take a pass sometimes on hearing our own voice. Sam lobbied for opening the country sooner. Now, he is waxing against an incentive to bringing visitors to the territory. Sam needs to be either fish or fowl. Just in case Sam forgets tourism even with its fragility is a major part of the BVI economy. Tourism is a major employer and contributes significantly to GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Covid-19 has exposed the importance of tourism to the BVI economy. Here is a news flash. Tourists/visitors have choices of destinations to visit. It is not a one way street. It is not my way or the highway. It has to be partnership between the territory and visitors. The lowered shared Covid-19 related cost is a reasonable incentive to attract visitors while protecting the health and safety of the territory.