BVI News

Anegada Appreciation Boat Ride postponed due to COVID concerns

Acting on the advice of the Health Emergency Operating Centre, organisers of the ‘Anegada Appreciation Boat Ride’ scheduled for Saturday, May 29 has been postponed until further notice.

The event, which was being put on by government legislators Carvin Malone, Neville Smith, and Vincent Wheatley, offered a special $10 round-trip ferry ride to Anegada so persons could visit and support businesses on the sister island to help jump-start the local economy.

A statement from Health Minister Malone on Thursday suggests that the event was postponed for reasons relating to COVID-19.

He noted that the BVI currently has 33 confirmed active COVID-19 cases; all of whom are in isolation.

“It must be noted that there exists five cases to which aggressive contact tracing and related investigations are currently being conducted by teams from the Ministry of Health and the BVI Health Services Authority,” Malone said.

“At the time this event was planned and supported, there were no concerns that aggressive contact tracing in relation to locally acquired infections would be in progress,” the minister explained.

“Additionally, we have also heard the concerns of persons in the Anegada community. The policy on mass gatherings and large events is being actively reviewed and updated by health officials at this time to ensure the safety of all stakeholders including vaccinated and unvaccinated workers and patrons,” he further stated.

And while reminding persons to social distance, wash/sanitise their hands regularly, and perform other health practises, Malone said “minimising movement helps significantly in the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus”.

He further encouraged residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so.

“These vaccines are shown to be effective in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms and deaths. They also reduce transmission of the disease in settings where vaccination rates are high. However, these vaccines do not eliminate the risk of transmitting the virus from a vaccinated person to a non-vaccinated person.”

Persons who are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 are also encouraged to contact the Medical Hotline at 284-852-7650 to schedule an appointment for testing. Common symptoms include fever, cough, headache, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing. 

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24 Comments

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  1. SB says:

    Anegada businesses are suffering due to covid restrictions, so let’s cancel our plans to help them due to covid restrictions. Makes sense.

    Like 15
    Dislike 6
  2. Lb says:

    This is pure BS! Just another trick

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  3. Ane-Gotta says:

    We just returned from a trip to Anegada and it was sad to see many of the restaurants closed during this time of COVID. It was a little eerie to be the only party dining at Anegada Reef restaurant. Hang in there Anegadians.

    Like 6
    Dislike 4
  4. pelican says:

    it really rough over here. i haven’t even seen a pelican come by in months.

    Like 12
    Dislike 4
  5. Sad says:

    To see so many people upset over a possible super spreader..any of you think bout the kids? What about the seniors
    Covid is no joke

    Like 6
    Dislike 3
  6. Anonymous says:

    Foolishness I had done ask for the day off plz to respect people time

    Like 1
    Dislike 3
  7. reality says:

    so the district officer voiced concerns on her own behalf claiming the wider Anegada community , but not one person claims to have put any concerns forward.

    This person tried to shut down a birthday party over covid concerns when there was none.

    Its ok for government workers who haven’t missed a pay check but I haven’t had one since Mar 2020.

    Now Sax on the Beach will go ahead with more people than was expected to arrive on Anegada even though its the 2nd biggest island and all the venues are outside. Along with a full moon party at Foxys that will attract more than 200 people in one place , but hey these events are still getting the green light from the current administration.

    Like 4
    Dislike 7
    • Well says:

      No one told me it was the District Officer but if it was kudos and hats off to her. Anegada is a gem and will be destroyed by greed and selfishness if persons do not put stand up to the few who are so money driven. Same people who have Govt teaching job or stimulus checks ..cone on. You are a hater

      Like 6
      Dislike 1
    • hon vw says:

      speak the truth and stop tryin to set her up. you know other Anegadians called and wrote in..you are a transparent as an piece of glassssss

  8. You know says:

    I was telling someone that I was COVID OUT. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF EVERYTHING BEING BLAMED ON COVID THIS AND COVID THAT.

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  9. Useless Government says:

    Stop holding the country back…its going for two years time to move forward.. This is a heap of nonsense..

    Like 3
    Dislike 4
  10. Thank says:

    God. This was a disaster waiting to happen. But Anegada people smart. They stopped it

  11. Hospital says:

    Emergency room full already. You all need to wake up. Wanna party and have boat rides. Watch your wealth and health take a swift dive

  12. smart says:

    smarter smartest
    lol

    tryin to put on big boat ride full of people not following protocols but not a word uttered from the masses when 3 not 1 emergencies happened on Anegada yesterday and had to fly out
    where is the public outcry for things that matter
    selfishness and greed will be the downfall
    and that guy aka one of the minister’s minions who had the boys delinquent in his yard and was allegedly a thief after hurricanes has a lot to say on the chat smh

  13. Lester says:

    Your government is so sad they rather let their countrymen go broke, loose their business & starve to death than try something for a change. The word Covid scare everyone in The BVI so they blame it for everything that get cancelled. For your information wither you open or close everything Mrs. Coronavirus is going to be somewhere near you. You know it needs tourist to visit Anegarda to jump start their economy yet you are using Covid to prevent tourist and other from to go to the island. It’s a sad time on Anegarda because of the leadership in the government and Health Ministries.

  14. 2 cents says:

    Is it not locals supporting locals? Is the boat coming from STT?
    Isn’t there a task force on Anegada?
    Sounds like someone didn’t get a hand in the pot.

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