Gov’t won’t budge! Four-day quarantine for visitors remains
Although some sections of the public have called for the government to reduce the four-day quarantine currently set for visitors as of December 1, Premier Andrew Fahie has indicated that the government hasn’t decided to change this protocol.
The Premier gave that indication in a recent interview with ZBVI Radio when he was asked if the government had considered the suggestion to reduce the number of quarantine days tourists have to undergo once they land in the BVI.
He said while the government is willing to adjust some protocols to appease stakeholders and the public, it will not relax measures that threaten the health of the community.
“I could tell the public that we still maintain the four-day quarantine … That is something I could tell the public. The other areas are what we are discussing but we are not compromising certain areas,” the Premier said.
He added: “We are in discussions with the marine industry in terms of what would be best for their clientele without compromising the safety of the people.”
Those who call for a reduction in the number of quarantine days say it will give travellers more opportunities to patronise local businesses and stimulate the economy which has taken a battering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the government remains adamant that it has implemented the four-day quarantine policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the territory.
In the meantime, Premier Fahie said the government has appointed a BVI Reopening Steering Committee to facilitate ongoing public engagement as the BVI gets ready to tests it protocols.
He said this committee consists of stakeholders from the private and public sector and will be the ‘face of the BVI’s reopening’. The committee will address concerns, disputes and suggestions that the public may have regarding measures for the December 1 reopening.
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It’s about is the ppl of the bvi kick this *** out of office
Who in there right mind will go on a 7days vacation to quarantine for 4days
Ppl won’t come here you are killing the economy
Tourism is the only industry that brings revenue in to this island
You going down on your knees and pray, what exactly are you trying to show the world???? that you’re a good man lmfao
I get news for you the world is seeing what a w****d man you and your ministers are
Andrew you need to sit down and think the island was close for 8months is that the best you can come up with
The ppl of the industry sector are crying out listen to them for god sake
If you are trying to get raid of the expats it’s not working you are destroying our businesses eventually all the hotels, yachts companies etc will close down
Over 200 reservations get canceled at my place of employment
You keep saying your are protecting ppl from the virus
This virus is not going anywhere anytime soon grow up Andrew fahie
But we will die faster in the bvi of hunger
Oh then again you won’t know the meaning of starvation cause your b***d well butter
What use is money to the dead?
Mr Premier stand firm let them talk these fools need to see what is happening around the other caribbean island who rush to open up and covid free case back to lockdown mode and case up example st lucia .Premier Mottley of barbados have a similiar requirement to us and she dead serious some of us will sell our soul for a dollar, who come come thats our rule ,i like many depend on tourism for a living but not at the risk of loosing my life and love ones.
Hold firm Hon. Premier don’t compromise our health for money.
How are you remaining healthy without money?
They work for Government, which remains untouched, inefficient, fat and complaining about their increments, while hard-working people suffer.
MR.GAGE, WE CAN OBVIOUSLY SEE THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE CRONIES AKA A**LICKERS THAT IS GETTING YOUR PALMS GREASED AND POCKETS LINED. DO EVERY ONE A FAVOR AND GO F**K OFF. MR. GAGE, YOU GO OFF AND ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY AND ENJOY YOUR BARBECUE A** SANDWICH.
To little to late. Games, run around, having NO idea how things work.
Laughing stock of the Caribbean.
Hopefully decisions can be made by early 2021 so we can still have a tourist season for 2022.
Spreading propaganda. How are the BVI the laughing stock when others are more strict? stop acting like a little child spreading lies when he/ she doesn’t get their way. Don’t budge premier. 4 days or no stays? …PERIOD!
Exactly. I just read that the first cruise line operating in the Caribbean since March left Barbados on 8 November. The protocols seem pretty strict to me, and I see nothing wrong with theirs nor what the BVI is proposing. This virus has taught us that prevention is much better than cure.
Mary Brockway
That’s not quite true — the vessel sailed with 52 guests aboard and will also visit St. Vincent and Grenada.
The same way your Premier AIN’T BUDGING, WE AIN’T COMING. YOUR LOST, ANOTHER CARIBBEAN ISLAND’S GAIN.
@Tourist We don’t need pretend tourist like you that don’t know the difference between LOSS and LOST anyway…
Go have a seat you inept joke of the CARIBBEAN.
It’s very similar all around the Caribbean in terms of protocol. And the protocols are changing every month it seems like. So we are not mad at you for making a different choice – that’s your prerogative. But stop acting as though your presence is a great gain to anyone…be a little more humble.
I suppose once the vaccine is freely available, that will be a mandated requirement to travel here as well. A final nail in the coffin for tourism!
This will be a better choice then the 4 day quarantine that in place now. We need tourist back and that will keep everyone safe,alive and making MONEY..
Less than 3 weeks to opening and now decide we need a steering committee? I thought the plan had been being vetted since March? strups
I arrive and then get to my rental house and have no food or drinks for 4 days while in quarantine. Who is going to provide me with food?
Ever hear of provisioning? You know, you place an order and it gets delivered??ijit.
I get it. I call Rite Way and use my credit card and tell them to deliver my food to the blue house in a Bay, with a dirt road drive way and no name street and no house number? and the owner is Smith.
If that is how you wish to do it. There are much better descriptions. Do you have a phone once they get to the top of the hill in Cane Garden Bay. Those providing delivery service will find you. The BVI is very small
you just looking to complain. Food, drink,
…you can order what ever you want to your house
Accessing food should not be a problem. You can order online, and it will be delivered to you.
No problem not budging on the 4 days, but PUT OUT SOME WRITTEN GUIDELINES! I am getting enquiries and have to explain the rules and the portal (the portal site just says ‘under construction’).
You are putting up all these new rules, but you are making us enforce them without any support.
The new rules say that if a person tests positive the BVI government will not let people leave the country if they are Covid positive. That means we have to get these people to pay for 14 days more accommodations, and potentially bump the next guests. This info was sent in 4-5 different FB messages and not written on any of the BVI Tourism sites.
Trip Insurance will only pay $200 a day for trip extensions caused by Covid. The Trip insurance will not pay for the next guests lost airline tickets. So now the owners of the Villas have to explain this to the renters…
You created this big mess. Please step up and own it. I can not enforce this without some help!
committee committee committee thats all we hear, we voted you in tomake decisions not outsource all the work just grow a pair
When is the online portal going to launch? Was supposed to be 11/2 but still nothing 🙁
Tell me about it. They haven’t even provided an email address where people can make inquires how unprofessional is this. If I did not have family I needed to visit in the BVI I would not be wasting my time with this run a round.
I arrive and then get to my rental house and have no food or drinks for 4 days while in quarantine. Who is going to provide me with food?
No opening. Tourism is dead. The economy is in free fall and about to collapse.
Meanwhile, Dear Leader sits on the throne waving his fist with edicts and babble. The nobility of “protecting the people” is marred by the fact that those very people can no longer support themselves. Who will? The government? No. The only monies left in the treasury are directed towards keeping government in charge and employed. Those elected to protect you are responsible for your demise.
And you sit there. Still.
Carry on…
When will the bvigateway.bviaa.com website be up and running so we know what documents to upload? We are now 20 days out and we need to know.
Thank you,
These reports are as damaging as the government not announcing anything. Why don’t you let people know they can quarantine in resort and still swim etc. if on a boat they can sail, swim and snorkel in these 4 days
The issue was never the 4 days, the issue is always the lack of firm information and the additional 4 days that they required ‘limited movement’, whatever the f**k that means. So sick of these games from the Government.
Exactly and this over testing.
I hope that the Government has another $20 mil in stimulus to dole out because if not, the BVI will be in deep, DEEP trouble!
It amazes me that we have roads where manhole covers are not level with the Road Surface, Water pools everywhere today as no proper drainage. People are scared to go to Peebles hospital through years of neglect in this service. Trying to encorage Digital Nomads to set up here for an extended stay. But as I type this im sitting in the dark with no power because it rained for 30 mins.
But its easier to just seal up the borders and let no one in as were just not prepared for the basic things the rest of the world take for granted. Were used to the neglect of the island and its people plus the services. If we just listened to outsiders who want to help us here to become the nation we strive to become. We need a country fix not just a bandaid veneer of tarmac to patch up the underlying issues.
I get it. I call Rite Way and use my credit card and tell them to deliver my food to the blue house in a Bay, with a dirt road drive way and no name street and no house number? and the owner is Smith.
SMFH Andrew and Vincent are two disg****d to this territory
The cure can’t be worse than the disease. You need to be sensible and open up like STT. You are wrecking your economy and your people’s livelihoods. Require mask and social distancing. Your main tourism, Chartering, is the ultimate social distancing vacation. Your government is out of touch.
Vincent did not fight for VIRGIN GORDA, THE TOURIST HUB OF THE BVI.
Hahaha this is bvi love
The world laughing at the bvi
Y’all don’t want expats here
Guess what the are leaving on there own will the won’t be coming bk neither
We will find a few stupid expats that consider the bvi there home even though the know the are not welcome here
What fahie need to look in to if he still get a little decency is the employers that refusing to pay off there there staff so the can leave that’s what keeping back most expats
I know of one place that the owners left the island because the were supposed to pay there employers off now the claiming how the don’t have money which is a lie the are one of the rich ones on this island
Now it seems as though the bvi don’t want tourists to come here neither
What a shame cause the bvi depends on tourism
Ayo too wicked expats work there labour out in this island and y’all don’t want them here the pay so much social security, tax etc and can’t get a cent from it during this crisis
Time will tell one of these day a big hurricane worst than Irma and a earthquake worst that what hati had will wipe y’all off the globe
Doesn’t anyone here watch the US news? Not the election news, the COVID news?????? It’s BAAAAAD up there and there is absolutely no policy to mitigate. The US is filling emergency hospitals as fast as they can build them.
You want them to bring both their money and the plague??? Really?
We have a reasonable policy- it needs to be published last week, but it is at least there.
That is not the case in the US. They are living normal there. Do the math. 240,000 dead divided by 350,000,000 people. That’s .00006 percent. In other words you have a greater percentage of murders in the BVI then the US has in Covid cases. There are no emergency hospitals being built and ALL hospitals have room for possible Covid patients. In other words they are living their lives and not hiding under a rock like the people of the BVI.
This is not true, COVID space in US hospitals is only filled to 6% capacity. COVID fatalities are low and flat over the past 3 to 4 months. This is a political crisis not a health crisis.
Anyone else think it is just a matter of time before COVID does return to the island? When the borders open there will be strict policies in place to deter and detain illegal arrivals (not your family members Mr. Fahie I’m sure…others….probably those damn expats as they are the root cause of all your problems). Yes I am sure we are all brimming with confidence on that one.
Keep on praying and eventually things will go away…just as the orange man up north….
You and your government of such an great example of inc*******ce at work it is almost laughable if it wasn’t so sad and lacking any original thought.
Ok so when is the November 2nd BVI gateway going to be operational? or at least where can potential tourist inquire about specific questions regarding traveling to the BVI in December.
Premier Andrew Fahie Government is the biggest disappoint we have ever had in a Government.
Okay people…come on. Four day quarantine isn’t bad..other places have way more. Places with better health provisions.
Yes quarantines will cause some persons to not travel here..thats a given. But you going to put the whole country at risk without having a proper plan in place? Lets Bring in everybody and we have limited bed space if covid start running crazy. smh. It needs balance.
Its all well and fine till someone father, mother, brother etc get sick and die from Covid. Smh.
This is crazy stuff. No one will visit the BVI. The USVI is right: Avoid the BVI.
Will we be able to quarantine on our sailboat? If so, no problem. I could happily find an anchorage or a mooring ball and spend four days never going to shore. Not as helpful to the bars and restaurants I would have spent money at, but hey that’s what the rest of the trip will be spent doing then. I just wish we had some clear guidance on this. We already canceled our Xmas/New Year trip, but so did everyone else, so I imagine I could find another boat. Has anyone heard any guidance on this?
I hope he really does not think tourists will still come. There is no BVI love and there will be no tourists with a quarantine. The rest of the world is opening up. What are you waiting for BVI?
So is the goverment willing to take pay cuts? It’s hard to have no income for 8 months while the goverment getting good money month after month for what?
We are watching amateur hour
Even New York requiring this!
Working on our boat in St. Thomas. Waiting to hear details if we can go to the BVI in January. Right now it looks like we will skip and move further south instead. At home i IS we are fully open, flare ups are a concern. St. Thomas has required one test which is reasonable. We could quarantine on our boat for four days, but what else is required and would our boat be OK? It doesn’t sound like it.
Canceled my trip today and heading to USVI instead on Dec 1. Have always enjoyed coming to visit for the last 15 years with my family however the restrictions make zero sense and was horribly executed. The government is still planning on changing the rules with only a few weeks left until they open their borders? I really feel for the people of the BVI’s. We hope to come back and visit when things are normal. Stay safe everyone and God bless.
Can you guys highlighted what is the protocals for workers returning at the same time please. I think he did say something can someone give clarity. Ty
If l come to Tortola for a funeral l have to pay $175 then go into quarantine for four days. I will have a negative test when l come so why do l need to quarantine? You are treating tourist as criminals. Mr. Fahie the BVI is suffering under your leadership. Poor people are going to get poorer. Starvation is not a joke. Who can live on $4.00 an hour give the people a pay increase. I am from Tortola l know what poor is. That’s why l left.
ALL THE GOV’T HAVE TO DO IS ANYONE COMEING TO THE BVI SHOUND GET A TEST TWO DAYS BEFORE TRAVELING TO BE SHURE THEY ARE POSITIVE ALONG WITH THERE RESULT ON ARRIVAL ALL U SHOULD NHAVE TO DO IS A TEMPERATURE CHECK.WHY ARE THEY CHARGING $175.00 FOT A TEST NO ONE GOING TO COME AND PAY $175.00 FOR A TEST AND GO TO A HOTEL AND QUARENTINE.I THINK THE GOV’T IN THE BVI THINK EVERY ONE IN THE USVI IS SICK.THEY EVIN TON’T WAN YOUALL TO TRAVEL TO THE USVI THERE IS SO MUCH PEOPLE FROM THE BVI LIVING HERE WILL LIKE TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.IT WILL BE GREAT IF THEY CAN DO TRAVEL FOR JUST LOCAL AND BELONGERS JUST LET EVERY ONE GET A TEST ONE DAY BEFORE TRAVEL LIFE STILL HAVE TO GO ON BUT DON’T KILL THE COUNTRY THEY JUST HAVE TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.