My heart bleeds for the sister islands — Opposition Leader
More needs to be done for the BVI’s heavily tourism-reliant sister-islands to be able to survive following the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions put in place.
This is the view of Opposition Leader, Marlon Penn, who said a balance needs to be found for businesses to operate safely given the current constraints.
Speaking on JTV’s The Big Story recently, he noted that other countries around the world have been able to strike this balance, even with the number of cases that they have in place.
The latest round of COVID-19 restrictions was implemented last month after the BVI experienced an unprecedented surge in positive cases, resulting in a community spread and more than 30 COVID-19 related deaths being recorded.
According to Penn, the BVI’s tourism industry has been hit the hardest since the onset of COVID-19.
“My heart bleeds for the sister islands,” Penn said. “I continue to say that we have to find a way to give some support to the sister islands more than ever because they, in particular, are the ones who are hurting because of their dependence on tourism.”
Penn made calls for similar concessions – such as those given to resorts like Oil Nut Bay and Scrub Island – to also be conferred on the neighbouring islands.
Penn said some of these resorts allow patrons to dine in at their restaurants but this is not extended to many other restaurants who are restricted to take-out only services across the territory.
And with the latest restrictions in place, Penn said tourists are now visiting the sister islands but have nothing to do.
The Opposition Leader said he is not asking for persons to be irresponsible, adding that he continues to be a strong advocate for persons to follow established health protocols.
“We have to find a way to live with COVID-19 and it means for us to be coming up with safe and creative procedures for people to continue their livelihoods and businesses have to respect those procedures when they go in place,” Penn stated.
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Hon. leader of the opposition you need to stop cause when you were in the government you never mentioned such word. why try to be who youre not. and for god sake stop comparing us to other countries. just stop if you are not going to help or be a solutioner.
Poor falla trying all kinds of things but he just not able better they put back Myron to lead the charge
Every time one of these useless cor***t politicians opens their mouth about how they are so concerned about the people I want to puke. Your heart bleeds? Really? You have ice water running through your veins and you bleed water. You only care about staying relevant and hoping after the COI you can continue lining your pockets like the rest. Go away. Go very far away.
Stop the drama! There are always plenty of construction and maintenance jobs on the sister islands. It’s true that the easy, comfortable, high wage tourist jobs are gone but that’s life. Time to put on the heavy boots and work outdoors all day again.
I respect hon. Marlon Penn in speaking out on behalf of not only his 8th district, but on behalf of all the People. Before the onslaught of the pandemic, Ho. Marlon had started to make regular visits to the 9th district and was making plans to opening an office. Hon. Frazer similarly, when he was in the opposition and briefly chairman of the Vip had also been making visits to the 9th. The opposition is also a part of the government and is acting in the best interest of the country and people. Hon. Penn is correct about the challenges for tourism businesses on the sister islands. If hotels and villas are permitted to seat their guests for meals, restaurants should also be permitted to seat their patrons, if it is only for limited numbers at a time; while they insist on honoring and insist on adhering to the protocols. On the sister islands the yachtsmen make their stops both at lunch and overnight. Should these folks be fourced to go back to their limited space and crampy yachts for lunch or dinner?. Like Hon Penn mentioned we have to devise and impliment methods enabling businesses to operate thbusiness.
Thanks for posting for yourself Marlon because you came to the 9th once before the pandemic. However the truth is this present Government has visited and assisted the sister islands more than any previous Government including the one Hon. Penn was a part of.
OMG!!!! AYO SHUT UP!!! MARLON PENN IS SOOOO RIGHT!!! ANDREW HAS GIVEN US NOTHING BUT TALK TALK TALK! WE ARE SICK OF THIS VIP’S BULLS**T!! ALL ANDREW DOES IS MAKE FALSE PROMISES! HE HAS NOTHING TO SHOW THAT HES HELPING THE PEOPLE OF JVD WHO ARE WAY BEYOND DESPERATE!!! IT’S THE IGNORANT BVISLANDER THAT CAN DO NOTHING BUT OPEN THEIR BLABBERING MOUTHS JUST TO HEAR THE SOUND OF THEIR VOICES!!! JVD IS SO SICK OF YOUR L**S AND NEGLECT ANDREW FAHIE!!!!! Y’ALL IN POWER NOW NEED KICKING YOUR NON TRANSPARENT A**ES OUTTA HERE FOR GOOD! YOUVE DONE NOTHING FOR JVD!!!!!!
Where’s my comment?