Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic over the alt year, his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration worked extremely hard to do the best they can. Photo: VINO/File

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), 2nd from left, and former Financial Secretary Glenroy A. Forbes, 2nd from right, pose with the $40M cheque from Social Security Board on July 3, 2020. Photo: Team of Reporters

Hon Andrew A. Fahie said throughout the pandemic, tremendous work has also gone into improving the healthcare system and as well as drafting public health policies. Photo: VINO/File

As part of a promise to review his original 2019 manifesto Premier Fahie, during the May 4, 2021, edition of ‘VIP Let’s Talk’, said “I want to reassure you that we have re-committed ourselves as a Virgin Islands Party Government to make sure that we protect the people of the Virgin Islands and to continue to push us towards prosperity with the help of God.”

Hon Fahie said throughout the pandemic tremendous work has also gone into improving the healthcare system as well as drafting public health policies.

Grants executed to Businesses & Individuals 

“We are all aware of the immense debt we owe to our health professionals – and I commend them and our Minister of Health, all nine members of my Government, all our public officers, and the people of the Virgin Islands, as we all worked through the pandemic to keep us safe and to help us to reboot the economy in a phased and managed way. Together, we were able to achieve plenty amidst a pandemic.”

He said his Government also worked hard at executing the COVID-19 stimulus grants for businesses along with social support programmes, “they worked hard to ensure the stimulus to farmers and fishermen, churches, daycares, and the transportation programme was implemented.” 

The Premier also placed the spotlight on the local border protection agencies to clamp down on illegal entry and trafficking of illicit items and the role they played blocking the virus from coming in.

VI's pandemic response recognised by UN

“The BVI’s response to COVID-19 has been recognised and presented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a model for the Eastern Caribbean. We just have to take a look at what is happening in some of the other countries around the world where healthcare systems have collapsed or where they are going into lockdown after lockdown after lockdown, to see that while we may not have gotten everything right, we did not do such a bad job.”

Premier Fahie reminded that COVID-19 did not have a playbook hence the situation remains dynamic. He said even though Government revenues were limited by COVID-19 and Government was constrained from doing many things planned for 2020, the government continues to work for the people.

“We mobilised for some major projects such as the East-End Long Look Sewerage Project, and major road repairs and rehabilitation in areas such as Ballast Bay, Hope Hill, Great Mountain and the Ridge Road.”

New legislation came during COVID-19 downtime 

He said the Government also made maximum use of time to develop policies and new legislation, and to get important legislation passed to aid in the territory’s development.

“We have the gaming legislation that will provide new economic opportunities for our people. We passed the legislation for medicinal marijuana – the fate of which is sitting with the UK, but which we have done. We have also… brought forward the Whistleblower and Contractor General legislation, and we have other pieces of legislation that will be coming soon such as the Integrity in Public Life and many others to further strengthen and to continue to strengthen our ability to police ourselves,” the Premier highlighted.