BVI News

Boats have now left the BVI for ‘bluer waters’

Chairman of the BVI Marine Association, Andrew Ball.

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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48 Comments

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  1. Styles. says:

    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?

    Like 155
    Dislike 13
    • Dirtyminded says:

      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.

      Like 16
      Dislike 211
      • @dirtyminded says:

        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.

        Like 128
        Dislike 5
      • cuz he got elected says:

        cuz he got elected you ignoramus

        Like 62
        Dislike 1
      • @DIRTYMINDED says:

        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.

        Like 103
        Dislike 3
      • What!!! says:

        “Dirtyminded”. Fool he is chairman because he is highly qualified and was ELECTED.

        Like 72
        Dislike 2
      • @DIRTYMINDED says:

        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.

        Like 28
        Dislike 4
      • Speak the Truth says:

        Speaking Truth to Power!
        Well done Andrew Ball. Keep up the good work.

        Like 70
        Dislike 3
      • Yup says:

        You hate him cause he white. Can’t stand anyone in the RACIST BVI to be white and hold any position of authority.

        Like 48
        Dislike 6
    • doh says:

      omfg

      we are so screwed..

      Like 25
    • Nancy says:

      So what do the Charter Boaters want? Government welfare–socialist stimulus cheques?

  2. Truth says:

    The government does not have a clue and they do not care.

    Like 116
    Dislike 7
  3. For Sure says:

    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.

    Like 109
    Dislike 4
  4. Rubber Duck says:

    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 )

    Like 82
    Dislike 10
  5. Concerned says:

    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.

    Like 106
  6. Leaving says:

    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.

    Like 85
    Dislike 2
  7. SMH says:

    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!

    Like 6
    Dislike 95
    • @SMH says:

      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.

      Like 42
      Dislike 1
    • Wise up says:

      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.

      Like 36
      Dislike 2
  8. YOUTH says:

    He cares about himself and not our lives.

    Like 11
    Dislike 27
  9. I***t fahie don’t care says:

    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

    Like 42
    Dislike 2
  10. Penn says:

    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

    Like 22
    Dislike 2
  11. James says:

    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 …

    Like 3
    Dislike 64
  12. @youth says:

    C’mon man … ‘youth’ has hardly been schooled since before Irma. Ease your expectations on their cranial capacities. 😉

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  13. Just so fed up. says:

    Mr Ball is correct.

    Like 38
    Dislike 2
  14. Seeds says:

    We all reap from the seeds that we sow… So will BVI… Only time will tell ..

    Like 15
  15. Anonymous says:

    He can join them in bluer waters too

    Like 5
    Dislike 28
  16. tola says:

    I wonder if Andy Pandy is listening to any of you guys>..?

  17. Bomba Shack says:

    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!!

    Like 17
  18. Okro says:

    Good for them keep you foot on their neck our premier

  19. CEMENT says:

    That guy work for a souvier company who doesn’t want to see ***** business excel in the marine industry

    Like 2
    Dislike 9
  20. Plenty Idi Amin says:

    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”.

  21. Chosen says:

    James your own born here and i from here is who is doing all the damage to the BVI

  22. lol says:

    How come no white bvi hold any position n gov?none.

  23. Brenda says:

    This article was very accurate ! We need a plan and we need to communicate better.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1

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