BVI News

Policy coming to fast-track select trade licenses within 3 days

Premier Andrew Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie has announced that the government is exploring a policy that would allow some trade licenses to be approved within a maximum of three days.

The Premier said these fast-tracked trade licenses would be given to Virgin Islanders who can create new, innovative businesses linked to the tourism sector.

“It will allow you to come to us and say ‘this is where I can fit in the tourism industry and how can I fast-track my trade license to go into these new niche areas?’ The entrepreneurs are the ones who will help us to identify the niche areas. For example, the eco-tours and the hiking, we [the government] didn’t come up with all of that. But those are innovative areas. Innovation is the only way we’re going to be able to strengthen our economy beyond what we ever saw before,” Premier Fahie stated.

However, Fahie said the government will not be approving several trade licenses in the same innovative niche.

“So that area we will be working on to ensure that we have more persons from all over the Virgin Islands diaspora coming forward. And it (a new business) can’t be in the same section of the industry to have congestion. It has to be innovative ideas … We’re talking about a maximum of three days in which you can have your trade license,” Premier Fahie explained.

He said the new policy to strengthen the tourism sector is being spearheaded by Junior Minister of Tourism Sharie DeCastro and Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Shereen Flax-Charles.

The government has announced numerous plans to advance trade within the territory. It is currently working to establish the Virgin Islands Trade Commission which is expected to be a statutory body tasked with developing policies, programmes and initiatives to improve trade relations of the BVI.

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17 Comments

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  1. Rubber Duck says:

    “ select” . That will be for the cronies. The rest will be waiting as usual

    Competitive fast growing free economies, like the USA or the UK , don’t have trade licenses or Trade Commissions. Anybody who wants to can start a business without a government of never so much as run a coffee stall sticking their useless noses in.

    Like 39
    Dislike 2
  2. hmm says:

    Like another ferry boat? Money laundering? Wait, wait how about another charter company, grocery, jewelry store or just another ice cream stand? Wow, opportunity is knocking and you can be all set in 3 days.

    How to make a small fortune, in the BVI? Start with a large one and watch your money evaporate.

    Or buy Prospect Reef off the Government who never could figure out a plan to make it profitable. A new hotel is just what we need for the huge tourism we are expecting any minute. . . I’ll wait.

    Like 25
    Dislike 1
  3. Pandora's Box says:

    Hmmm .. then you steal the business plan and give it to one of your cronies (along with a fast tracked Trade License) while denying the entrepreneur their opportunity. Seen it happen all too many times!

    Like 42
  4. Hahahaha says:

    Good one!!!!!

    Like 13
  5. Sorry says:

    Sorry but I cannot believe a word from your mouth. That has been my experience with you Sir. I cannot trust you from my eyes to my nose.

    Like 27
    Dislike 2
  6. who said that? says:

    “you cannot trust this guy”

    Like 23
    Dislike 2
  7. Smith says:

    This is pure f**king rubbish and the Premier knows it!! You cannot get people back their COVID tests in time to travel back to their countries, sometimes they spend their entire week’s vacaction in quarantine as a result, but we should all be honky dory about your promise to turn around trade licenses in 3 days. Give it a rest and enjoy your last few months as Premier. Absolutely embarrassing!!

    Like 27
    Dislike 4
    • So Sad says:

      Foy is beyond a joke and the sad thing is he believes in his own bulls**t. Let’s hope his cronies and his mouthpiece CSK’s and gansta friends will be enough votes to get him re-elected

      Like 5
      Dislike 2
    • Anonymous says:

      Say what you want to say but I know for a fact that the government was able to provide Covid test results for dozens of people in just over 2 days for those that attended the funeral. I was one of them so for every person that had a bad experience there are 3 that can say it worked out fine. Sometimes things dont always go according to plans. No business is perfect.

      Like 1
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  8. Doh says:

    “fast-tracked trade licenses would be given to Virgin Islanders who can create new, innovative businesses linked to the tourism sector.”

    So no new investment from outside of the territory. I see…

    But that’s how you encourage economic growth, Dear Leader, as we do not have the means to promote ourselves from within. Simple math, taught in second grade. Sigh

    Carry on

    Like 17
    Dislike 3
  9. lol says:

    MORE MALARKY FROM FOY

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  10. LB says:

    The thing is that they wouldn’t know innovation if it hit them in the face. All the eso tours and hiking and Bonfire bliss they would have turned down or not paid any mind if those applications hit his desk for approval. But now that they are doing good now you know them as innovative ideas? You wouldn’t have had the vision to approve or support those people. So when an application comes now you still will be blind as you have no vision. And we know that where there is no vision, the BVI dies!

  11. no says:

    the people do not like you Fahie the blind man can see this.

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  12. LILIS says:

    PROSPECT REEF HOTEL IS A GREAT IDEA TO RE-BUILT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY ALL INCLUSIVE HOTEL IT HAS SPACE ENOUGH TO BE A 3 STAR AT LEAST IN BVI AND ALSE WILL BE ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING FOR BVISLANDERS TO HAVE JOBS IN HOTELS INDUSTRIES TOURISM ! GREAT IDEA FOR BVI AND BVISLANDERS TOO .

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  13. Boris says:

    If you make a donation to the party, you can get a work permit quicker than that!

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  14. 2cents says:

    If you don’t fix the protocols you won’t need to worry about fast tracking trade licenses. Who wants to spend a dime to lose money?

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