Boats have now left the BVI for ‘bluer waters’
Chairman of the BVI Marine Association, Andrew Ball has confirmed that multiple local charter companies have sailed their boats to “bluer waters” in a bid to stop financial haemorrhaging.
Ball who appeared on a recent episode of the Cut Deep talk show said charter companies have sent their boats as far as the Mediterranean region to keep their businesses afloat.
“It’s not just St Thomas, boats have gone to The Bahamas, they’ve gone to St Martin, Grenada, some have them have been shipped to the Mediterranean. Everybody’s redistributing to get what they can out of their assets so they can survive,” Ball explained.
He said diverting business elsewhere isn’t a malicious act but is intended to stay afloat and save many businesses in the sector that have acquired debt and undergone significant “cash burn”.
“A number of charter companies have worked to move some of their boats elsewhere. We have to remember the charter companies mostly don’t own the boats — the boats have individual owners — and those owners often have loans against these boats so they need to make an income in order to pay the loan. So it’s not about hating on the BVI, it’s about survival for them as well,” Ball explained.
He said current activity in the local marine sector now stands at 1.5 per cent (out of 100 per cent) as the BVI approaches the first anniversary of its marine border closure.
Investors angered, losing confidence
Ball also revealed that a number of investors in the local marine sector are angered — not because of the extended border closures but due to the level of engagement they’ve received from the government.
“We’re in a pandemic, it’s not all about money. But there does have to be a balance and I think we could do more to meet that balance. One issue is the fact that investment is leaving but the more important issue is what kind of impression are we leaving with our investment base? Are we going to attract inward investment in the future? There’s a lot of anger out there right now and some of it is about the way we’ve made decisions as a country. But the other side is about the way we’ve communicated those decisions or not communicated those decisions,” Ball explained.
He continued: “Investment is about confidence and if we want people to be confident, we have to set goals and achieve them and we’re not doing that.”
Ball also said although the players in the marine sector have had many consultations with the government, follow-ups have been poor. Due to this, he said the sector is frustrated by several issues concerning COVID-19 which are yet to be addressed.
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Hey Andy Foi
Are you reading this? Someone from the industry actually making a lot of sense.
Or do you simply prefer to keep your one man band playing?
Does this man Andrew ball have no respect for authority? He is no different from Cindy Rosan Jones the host of cut deep. Please be wary of him and trying to look attention. He is ungrateful … Why is he the chairman of the mariner I want to know.
Would you like to back your comment up? Ungrateful because he is raising a very valid point?? Or because he appeared on this show? Boats are leaving. The BVI Marine Industry is not being looked after by the current Govt and it will have long time ramifications.
Unfortunately from experience, I can tell you that anyone that agrees with Cindy or publicly speaks or writes on her forums is also targeted by our serving administration. This is very poor form on the current leaders who should use the criticism to improve.
cuz he got elected you ignoramus
YOU ARE SUCH A A**HOLE. THE BVI IS FLATLINING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES AND YOU FAIL TO SEE IT. THIS CONTINUES, SOON ALL THE BUSINESSES IN THE BVI WILL BE CLOSED DOWN.
“Dirtyminded”. Fool he is chairman because he is highly qualified and was ELECTED.
I can tell you are one of the CRONIES WHOSE PALMS IS WELL GREASED. SHUT THE F**K UP AND CONTINUE TO MARINATE IN THE CRONY SAUCE OR BETTER YET, I WILL PAY YOUR WAY TO NYC SO YOU CAN TAKE A DIVE OFF THE TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING WHICH IS 102 STORIES IN THE AIR.
Speaking Truth to Power!
Well done Andrew Ball. Keep up the good work.
You hate him cause he white. Can’t stand anyone in the RACIST BVI to be white and hold any position of authority.
omfg
we are so screwed..
So what do the Charter Boaters want? Government welfare–socialist stimulus cheques?
The government does not have a clue and they do not care.
Jamaica is a good answer to you bro
I’ve owned three boats now starting in the early 70’s based and registered in the BVI. Mr. Ball is right on target. While my boats have all been private (Non Chartering) I’m very sorry to say the support I feel of the Government, is just not very supportive of the marine industry.
The Mugfahie government does not care. They are totally anti business. Except of course for the business that keeps them in tent size suits. That is doing well ( apart from a few losses to the cops )
You said it Brittany!!! Completely agree with you
At least the marine industry is able to move their boats, Villa and Hotel-owners do not have that option and I don’t know how much longer some of them will be able to hold on.
Further closures are coming. Restaurants also.
You mean like the stimulus handed out to all the local hotels, ferry operators, and taxi men? It seems like all the industry is asking for is some honest communication!
Yes lots of yacht owners are moving their BVI based yachts to more profitable ‘blue’ locations around the Caribbean and the world. The days when the BVI attracted yachts to base here has come to an end. Thank you VIP.
Blah! Blah! Blah! Darn if You do and Darn if You don’t! Everyone cannot be pleased at the same Time. It’s a Pandemic People!
It is but you can support business in a better way than the current Gov is doing. Hope you are taking your vaccine to support the Govt.
U living in a dark world sorry,we have to find ways of doing business without shutting down look at other countries/island and just to let u know COVID not going anywhere,vaccine is the only was we can interact with each other and do business.
He cares about himself and not our lives.
You have no clue, right?
It come to a point now where it doesn’t make any sense telling Andrew Fahie what to do cause he doesn’t care for the ppl.
He keep bringing the island down and he don’t give a s**t.
Really and truly I don’t know what Andrew trying to prove but it’s not working
He is forcing ppl to close there businesses
Then ppl will turn to drugs and guns
Is that what Andrew Fahie wanted
And it still get some idiots that are agreeing with him
I guess that i***t fahie waiting for the coronavirus to finish before he open up the seaport
Well my dear you get a long waiting
Probably a next 3-5 years to wait
By then you murder the ppl in the bvi with starvation
The ppl will die faster due to stress, starvation and watching there businesses go down
I don’t appreciate people who do harm to BVI. How is Andrew ball making anything better for BVI? Somebody needs to tape him when he talking …
That man volunteers his time for pretty much every cause there is. All he does is try to help the BVI. All he has done since this started is try to help the people that aren’t working and help the BVI economy succeed. Do a little research. Maybe somebody needs to tape you.
This man has more integrity than anyone I know.
You are a complete Moran.
Clearly you know not one iota of which you speak.
C’mon man … ‘youth’ has hardly been schooled since before Irma. Ease your expectations on their cranial capacities. 😉
Mr Ball is correct.
We all reap from the seeds that we sow… So will BVI… Only time will tell ..
He can join them in bluer waters too
I wonder if Andy Pandy is listening to any of you guys>..?
I agree with ball! What the orignal VIP created this present VIP trashing it. Time for we to take the streets and remove them. Where all them caucasian BVILANDERS,WE NEED A CHANGE!!
Time to march! Take to the streets!
BALL IS A MARINE SURVEYOR …
Interesting comment. Perhaps you should look at the man’s qualifications and experience, not his job. We don’t use a lot of cement on boats. Some people tried it in the 70s, it didn’t go very well.
Good for them keep you foot on their neck our premier
That guy work for a souvier company who doesn’t want to see ***** business excel in the marine industry
You know not a whit of what you speak.
Fahie is not the main problem. The bigger problem is those 8 followers who are a disgrace to their parents, to their education, to their voters, to their friends and supporters. Who are staying quiet in all this tomile. ,.”The real people, the true friends are the ones that speaks on your behalf behind your back”.
James your own born here and i from here is who is doing all the damage to the BVI
How come no white bvi hold any position n gov?none.
This article was very accurate ! We need a plan and we need to communicate better.