Decision time! Thursday deadline looms for BVI cruise resumption
A decision on whether the BVI will see cruise passengers for the upcoming season is expected to be made within the coming days.
The BVI has been given until tomorrow, September 2 to decide whether it will accept vaccinated cruise passengers without administering additional COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in the territory.
The current protocols require all fully vaccinated persons coming into the territory to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival at the territory’s ports of entry.
“Now, we have up until I think it’s Thursday to respond to the industry or we would lose the industry in terms of most of it for the rest of the season and perhaps next year. That is the long and short of it,” Premier Andrew Fahie disclosed in blunt terms during a Transportation-For-Hire Industry Meeting held with taxi drivers and other stakeholders last evening.
After being asked to reconsider the current regime, the Premier said he pleaded for extra time to consult with stakeholders before coming to a decision on the matter, hence the consultation session held last evening.
Commenting on the abrupt nature of the meeting and decision, the Premier said: “We didn’t get much time with it. In case you’re wondering, how come now they come, we didn’t get much time with it. We have to make a decision.”
The territory’s leader said the health sector has put forward solutions but the government thought it best to consult with stakeholders first before implementing any of those proposals.
The Premier further noted that doing nothing was not an option and urged the stakeholders to “come together for a common cause and balance lives and livelihoods”.
BVI’s testing regime impractical
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Oleanvine Maynard revealed that cruise lines felt the BVI’s entry testing regime was impractical.
According to officials in the cruise industry, precious hours will be wasted for hundreds or even thousands of passengers to be tested after only arriving for a day stop in the BVI.
Furthermore, they said the physical space and shelter to administer the tests are not available at the BVI’s cruise pier.
Maynard described the BVI’s situation as complex and added that having health and safety protocols in place is important, but said these must be workable.
Cruises will go elsewhere with BVI’s existing protocols in place
Marketing Director at the BVI Port Authority, Natasha Chalwell said the BVI is one of the only Caribbean destinations with testing protocols that prohibit the free flow of passengers.
“So, as we look at safety protocols, we have to look at that customer experience. But essentially, what the cruise lines have said to us, because that protocol is just really not practical for time, for finances, for the guest experience. Unfortunately, they will just choose other ports or other destinations. And within our region, we’re not seeing many destinations or ports with that particular requirement. So, they will go next door,” Chalwell said.
Stakeholders held robust discussions on various options such as a bubble for visitors and periodic COVID-19 testing for industry stakeholders among other mitigating measures.
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People of the BVI our Premier is not telling us the truth. The truth is that he already signed an MOU with the cruiseline industry representatives to allow cruise passengers to come here without testing. He did it when he visited them alone earlier up this year. Remember the pictures he had showing of his meeting with Michele Paige from the FCA while in Florida? In his one man band style he consulted no one on it. Now he realizes that there will be some serious heat because of it he now rushes to us to seek approval for something he has already agreed to. Does it sound sensible to you that a decision on this must be made within a few days of us knowing? This is not possible. This leader does not think through anything and covers his many mistakes with fables and created narratives. How can we have two systems for two different sets of visitors? Then if tourist are not tested then locals should not be either. Did not think about that when you signed the MOU did you Premier?
Are you his wife? How do you know this? Did he tell you this? I am pretty certain the Premier did not tell you this. Use your real name so he can hit you with a law suit for defamation of character
His **** is just as absent minded as he is.
Oh please, … Faith you either one of his many political p***titutes or a bootlicker, either way you’re a licker of some sort.
The man is a chronic l**r and he knows it.
Your comments about his wife is as low as you can get but we have come to expect nothing better from this newsite and their paid bloggers.
You sound like one who drink the koolaid. Continue drinking. If you cannot see someone is not right here then may the Great God of the Universe be with you.
This I believe! It is obvious.
Ba bye cruise ships
Without any practical process in place, watch them sail on by.
No more passengers. Adios tourism
Well the cruise ships turning Tortola into a tropical Disneyland and destroying the once peaceful beauty has turned the charter sailors away to other places already.
This government seems intent on reducing the population by not making health workers vaccinate, and by endangering our children by not making educators vaccinate. If they now allow untested cruise ship passengers into the Territory they will put the rest of the population at risk. Do they really think they will lose more votes by protecting our children than by putting them at risk?
I totally agree with you relative to health workers and educators on their vaccination statuses while conducting their jobs.
However, when it comes to the cruise ship I see it differently. Before anyone gets on a cruise ship today, they have to show proof of vaccination. While cruising, passengers are monitored closely, and in the event anyone develops covid symptoms, they are isolated and treated accordingly.
Its important that people know that visiting cruise ship passengers have shown and have verified proof of covid vaccination prior to travel.
The notion of rapid testing visiting cruising passengers ignores the fact that you are dealing with vaccinated persons that are in a controlled environment. It’s more likely they will pick up the virus going off shore than bringing it in.
Also from a practical standpoint, these ships are only in port for 8 hours or so. It’s just not practical to rapid test all these vaccinated passengers which I would argue based on the science is not necessary. It’s an undue burden on both the passengers and the cruise lines and too expensive.
I cannot imagine a cruise line agreeing to this time consuming, expensive, and scientifically needless additional testing for known vaccinated passengers. If they do, which will be highly unlikely, I would imagine few if any passenger would come off the ship and remain on board instead.
“Before anyone gets on a cruise ship today, they have to show proof of vaccination.”
Sadly, easy to get and there are more fake documents than authentic ones circulating all around the globe.
Hence, the most reasonable and safest option is to let things stay as they are until next year. Wait and see what effect the vaccines may have brought to transmissions.
But, the lust, addiction and greed for money will always superseed common sense.
Providing false covid vaccination certificates is a crime that will land a person in jail and result in stiff fines. The incidences of fake covid documents has and does occur, however, it’s not that common.
People who are vaccinated have their vaccination information sent to a central registry. That registry is accessed by authorized persons/companies to authenticate those vaccination certificates.
The cruise lines, airlines, and port of entries all verify the veracity of covid vaccination prior to boarding flights or vessels. Those who produce false information will be caught.
You have probably heard of a few dozen persons who attempted to enter the USVI with fake documents who where intercepted (caught) and arrested. The reason the authorities were able to determine those documents were fake was thru that verification process.
The BVI at this point has to balance it’s economic needs with sensible covid immigration policies. The country imo cannot continue on this trend indefinitely without doing further significant harm to the tourism industry and the larger economy.
I see the politician announcing more and more spending on things that are not needed at this time. I wonder where the money is coming from when the country’s economy has taken a big hit, and less money is coming in. There has to be some sort of revenue source to cover these ongoing expenses to run the country.
A sensible approach is needed urgently.
Florida governor De Insanitis has passed a law forbidding cruise ships to even ask passengers their vaccination status. It is only a matter of time before we get another floating Covid incubator.
A federal judge ruled last week against Desantis”s order stating he did not have the authority to make an executive order banning cruise ships from requiring proof of vaccination of passengers. A win for the cruise ship industry.
It was a win for common sense
Reality Check, I agree with you to an extent. However, the cruise ships stop at different places, and covid does not show signs immediately, so who knows what could happen by the time the cruise passengers get to the BVI, unless the BVI is the first stop. I do agree though that it is rather time consuming to test all those people and they still get to enjoy anything the BVI has to offer. That will be a major disaster because it is like hell to test 65 passengers coming from St Thomas on the ferry.
Government has to decide fast because the cruise ships make up their itinerary well in advance to allow for customer planning. This is a tough decision to make, but it has to be made.
Government, please see if the BVI could be the first stop on the Itinerary or there are ships that have only one stop, we could probably try for those. I once spent a week in Bermuda on a NCL ship, so its possible.
Something does not seem right here to me. This sounds like someone trying to clean up a mess that they made already. I believe the Premier already agreed to cruise passengers coming without being tested. Also, why is this meeting only for taxi drivers? This too is suspicious. He ran to the taxi drivers because their numbers are big and they are mostly voters so if he could get them on his side with his made up story then he will be ok. I smell a rat and it stinks to high heaven!
I do have no objection to vaccinated cruise passengers to come in without test. But why do vaccinated tourists who spend money on the island still have to be tested if cruise passengers are not? And Taxi drivers who are not vaccinated make the decision! Do they advise their passengers that they are not vaccinated?
Unfortunately too many of the vaccinated tourists are testing positive on arrival. This wouldn’t be an issue if more people in the BVI were also vaccinated. Unfortunately the resistance by many in the BVI to getting the vax is going to impact the tourism sector negatively and may well ruin it completely if we need to have another lockdown later in the year.
Mayson ayo leave them cruise ship way dem iz
So it is Thursday deadline and they only coming up with this news on Wednesday. I also think it is a done deal so the hospital should invest in more beds and ventilators as they will be badly needed in few months time.
so wherever the crusie passengers go in their bubble no locals or overnight guests(who spend 100x more) will not be able to be in that location. Also if cruise passengers are allowed in without being tested then you cannot ask fully vaccinated people arriving to be tested on arrival when they have tested a few days earlier and only travelled to the BVI where these crusie passengers have been to other islands without protocols where covid is still rife….he has already said yes to the crusie ships!
Mr. slick already sign that deal long time. He reminds me of the fox swiper on Dora the explorer. No one is not into the Cruise seen these days. Cruise ships no matter how clean they are, they are breathing grounds for germs. But tell you what, if there is a big outbreak during Cruise season to the BVI, it is on the Premier’s back. He is the one that will carry the load this time around.
Mr. Premare when did taxi operators become health officials. Interesting that the meeting was not with Dr. Georges and those who are suppose to be the medical experts in the territory. Long and short is people is people and infection is infection. If you approve for cruise passengers to come in and not tested upon arrival, then other visitors and residence should be able to do the same.
@Reality Check, YOU NEED A REALITY CHECK GET VACCINATED PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE HOLDING BACK THE COUNTRY.
Anyone working with the Cruise ship or tourists should be vaccinated for their own good and the good of the tourists. A lot of stakeholders in the industry want to have their cake and eat it, it’s simple if you are not vaccinated you shouldn’t be working with tourists.
I guess taxi men are the only stakeholders in the cruise tourism business. This government is the worst thing that ever happened to the BVI. Their only concern is votes. You have so many restaurants, bars, shops and the overall general public that are stakeholders. Moreover this is more of a health issue and therefore we are all stakeholders in this. But yet only taxi men are consulted. BVI is not a real place. COI please help to rid us of these incompetent people.
Why was there not any MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS at the meeting? I guess taxi drivers is MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NOW. HOW MANY OF THE TAXI DRIVERS ON THE ISLAND IS VACCINATED? I BET NOT MANY.
Go ahead and make the wrong decision. We’re use to it now.
This is beyond the pale, if Albert has already approved he must resign immediately
Now he put his John Hancock on this deal when he went to Florida months ago, he came back and kept his mouth shut until a day before to say ohhhh, DECISION TIME. This man really think we are some dumb people in the BVI. Just saying if this was a deal saying everyone have to vacate the BVI, would he wait 24 hours before DECISION TIME TO LET US KNOW?
Do you think we can stay isolated from the rest of the world and my people in the bvi cant eat and died for hunger because a few of you ignorant people want get vaccinated. We opening up this country.
He is a fake
He killing us. Rise up!
As it was said before / when the BOSS talk no darm dog bark
Mr. Premier and Mr. Minister of health we in the Private industry is supporting you all,We aee prepare to receive tge tourist and be responsible in doing so,we will be in safety mode., Its your own civil servants that blogging against you, who think everything is ok because they get their full salary bi weekly and their lives are good thats your economic initiative opposition, If no money is coming in, smart civil servants will know that cuts will have to be made…Here is where it gets tricky, We been having massive community spread, with no cruiseship.. However if we were getting crusieship they would have been blame for this massive out break though they didnt bring any virus in…So if they start coming and the community spread jump again, now its going to be the cruiseship, , U do you damn, u dont u damn… Just do.
What a set of foolish post.
The cruise passengers are vaccinated so allow them to come and put them in a bubble and it can work.
Reality Check, I agree with you to an extent. However, the cruise ships stop at different places, and covid does not show signs immediately, so who knows what could happen by the time the cruise passengers get to the BVI, unless the BVI is the first stop. I do agree though that it is rather time consuming to test all those people and they still get to enjoy anything the BVI has to offer. That will be a major disaster because it is like hell to test 65 passengers coming from St Thomas on the ferry.
Government has to decide fast because the cruise ships make up their itinerary well in advance to allow for customer planning. This is a tough decision to make, but it has to be made.
Government, please see if the BVI could be the first stop on the Itinerary or there are ships that have only one stop, we could probably try for those. I once spent a week in Bermuda on a NCL ship, so its possible.
It’s 12 noon on Thursday and still no decision. Waiting …. If the cruise ship people are allowed in with no tests how can they force others coming in by air or ferry get tested and possibly quarantined ? Which way makes them more money ?
The truth is, there is no way the BVI can process 1,000 quick tests. Have you ever been to a bank here when there is more than 10 people in line!?
Imagine if there are 2 people that test positive…which one of those thousand people are those 2? Think about it for a moment?
This whole idea is a joke.