BVI News

Some of our decisions at start of pandemic weren’t the best — Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie. (Photo from Fahie’s Facebook page)

Premier Andrew Fahie has admitted in retrospect that his government made several decisions, during the initial stages of the pandemic, which were uncomfortable and which may not have been the best choices made.

Fahie did not specify the decisions to which he was referring but said the territory lockdown was an option implemented in the beginning to stop the spread of COVID-19. He, however, noted that this shutdown caused a massive reduction in business operations in the territory.

“We had a lot of tough decisions to make in the beginning and we know that some of them were not all the best. They were uncomfortable to businesses and uncomfortable to us all. We were able to make those decisions and we have seen now we have come thus far by faith and by the different measures we had to put in place,” Fahie said while speaking at the Health Ministry’s virtual stakeholder meeting last Thursday.

The Premier thanked the business community for its patience and noted that the situation in the BVI as well as the measures put in place to minimise the effects of the coronavirus were not unique to the territory.

Pledge to continue dialogue with business community

Fahie said the business community has offered many solutions. He further noted that he is committed to continuing dialogue with the business community as the territory continues to recover from COVID-19.

“We thought it best to continue to grow the involvement of persons in the business sector and overall as we make more and more decisions. It is not the intention of this government to shut the country down again at all unless it is something overwhelming that we cannot do any better with. It is not something in our foreseeable future that we want to gravitate towards.” Fahie said.

“The truth is we have to learn to live and work with COVID-19. I call it the new regular because I do not want to call it the new normal cause hopefully it does not become normal. That is the reality of it. We know of the sacrifices being made by the businesses and you and many persons,” he added.

Hardships

The territory’s Premier said COVID-19 has created some very grave hardships and said the territory is not out of the woods and residents must be vigilant.

“We as the government have not mandated or legislated to be vaccinated but we do strongly urge and push people to be vaccinated. We also know vaccines are the greatest fighter that we have but we do respect the person’s democratic right.” Fahie reiterated.

The Premier used the opportunity to highlight people within the Health Ministry for their continued support in combating the effects of the pandemic.

“I also want to publicly thank every member of our health team. We had our Health Emergency Operating Centre personnel leading the way with this. Being the Permanent Secretary (PS) and the Ministry of Health; first with Miss Petrona Davis and now the Acting PS Sasha Bertie. We also had the Chief Medical Officer who we started with Dr Irad Potter, now we have Dr Ronald Georges. We have the Director of Communications Dr Arlene T Penn. We have also, head of DDM, Jasen Penn,” Fahie stated.

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27 Comments

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  1. heckler says:

    For once he is telling the truth

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  2. Eagle eye says:

    When you going to tell people they can’t through away their garbage and can’t go to the beach because of a flu. You are very slow in thinking.

    Like 15
    Dislike 3
  3. Get away from us! says:

    No forgiveness for you for destroying our businesses. Election is drawing close so now you want to wash your sins off. Numerous people spoke to you about your policies. You ignored them. You ignored the businesses. You ignored people who know much more about you than the economy. You turned it into a political side show like you do with everything. I could never forget that “LIVE” you did just to answer remarks from the leader of opposition while the whole country was on emotional edge for their lives. So No Andrew! You do not get to apologize and expect us to forget it. You have to dealt with for what you did. Your ego and lack of planning pushed numerous residents further back into poverty.

    Like 41
    Dislike 3
  4. Smh says:

    You had no plan and you were told that a plan was needed. The opposition did a plan which you scorned while you didn’t have one. Your words “ the situation is fluid so we don’t need a plan”. It’s because it’s fluid why you need a plan smarty pants! You messed up the economy for us and now looking pity. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired of you. You need to be gone from our lives.

    Like 39
    • local business says:

      This pious show of remorse is supposed to excuse a policy vacuum, ever since he refused to protect our borders in the beginning.

  5. Help us says:

    This the same person who was up and down criticizing the NDP for the immediate aftermath of the hurricane? Acting like he could have done better. Now listen to this joker. If we let Andrew fool us again then we really deserve it. Everybody spoke to this man about the nonsense he was doing during the pandemic. He wouldn’t listen now he come slithering looking sympathy because election coming up.

    Like 35
    Dislike 2
    • @Help Us says:

      He will be right there as Premier after next elections, just watch. The people here are short-sighted and money hungry, he knows this very well!

      Like 1
      Dislike 16
  6. Too late shall be your cry! says:

    The damage has already been done. Live with the consequences.

  7. HMMM says:

    In my opinion no country, not one had all the answers when to came to covid, I think the government did all it could to protect its citizen from the spread of this illness, and it worked, even though some of the methods used was a bit harsh like beein able to dump ones trash and the need to purchase your own food etc, but it worked. If the government had let everyone did exactly what they wanted then what? I am sure we would have been in total dismay. Some people need to stop complaining, because if they had all the answers why didn’t they voice their opinions to the government, but you did not so SHUT UP!!You made it to 2022 thank God that you are alive and well.

    Like 8
    Dislike 18
    • Secret Bear says:

      If we hadn’t done what we did, we would have been exactly where we are now, along with the rest of the world, because a virus can’t be controlled by government fiat. Before 2020, people knew that.

  8. hmmm says:

    Some mistakes didn’t need to happen. It just showed us where your priorities and morals were.

    The thing about handling a new problem for the first time is that you have a lot of free range to try something new.

    When they saw the standard policies weren’t working for anyone, government should have taken initiative to do something new. But instead we just continued to follow policies that were clearly failing in bigger countries but somehow we were hoping it would work for us. We were taking advice from entities that don’t have to answer to our laws and we can’t hold accountable for lies and bad calls.

    And worse of all, the government willing abused our human rights and sat back and let businesses abuse the rights of their workers.

    And now it’s time to be humble?

    If you guys can’t see this is a script and just another ploy to manipulate the public then I don’t know what to say.

    No one is sorry for anything. Pockets are fatter and heavier and they live another day to torment others another time.

    Won’t surprise me if this happens again and we learn nothing.

    Like 15
  9. marlon says:

    “yo gotta strike a balance” but the premier refused

  10. informed says:

    Well im pleased you acknowledge the fact. The biggest issue was saying we were opening and kept delaying. Form the opening date is was almost 6 months before the tourists returned at August when everyone had to close for Hurrican season. Without the proper facts you stopped business owners making informed decisions about labour etc. So we stretched ourselves to the limit waiting to open but it never came. The Government Lied about this and we made financial decisions on your information. So we are now struggling to get back on our feet due to poor information. Its good to hear you acknowledge the problem but too late for the damage done.

    Like 11
  11. Secret Bear says:

    Admit it: you panicked and acted out of fear. You violated rights and imprisoned people in their homes. Families with children were going hungry and living in filth. That isn’t promoting health, and it did nothing to ultimately change the trajectory of the virus. You can’t take it back, but you can move forward and learn from your mistakes by promising to never lock down again.

    Like 6
    Dislike 3
  12. He has no shame says:

    You made far too many monumental blunders for you to be forgiven Sir. You and your gang of misfits need to be fired! Your priorities were all over the place while people suffered. You were busy fixing your retirement package in the House, attempting to get additional insurance above NHI, paying 17k per day for each of three barges when the British government offered to guard the seas for free, gave out millions to people who neither farm or fish…. Andrew get from in front of our faces please. You have no shame whatsoever!

    Like 15
    Dislike 2
  13. VIP made big mistakes says:

    VIP made big mistakes but I would vote green over the other outfit anytime: we all remember those elitists good for nothings let the NDP back in and we will suffer even worse and we will well deserve the LICKS

    Like 3
    Dislike 5
    • @VIP made big Mistakes says:

      Talking like a VIP crony or someone who has a govt job and cant see that this country has gone no where, is going no where under these set of blind mice

      Like 5
      Dislike 2
    • Jah Know says:

      It’s not about party (ndp or vip) it’s about who the individuals are and how fit they are for the job.

  14. @ ANDY says:

    nah, you never make bad decisions , just look at the decisions to still have lobster fest / premier ball and festive gatherings ,where was your health Minister / the esteemed one on this OH and Dr George ?

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  15. To the left please says:

    I cannot wait to vote you and your incompetent and untruthful bunch out of our government. You have brought nothing but shame and disgrace to us.

  16. Experience Govt says:

    Listen to the voice of the people in your country. Not 5 or 13 .

    There is where you went wrong .
    Don’t divide and conquer.
    There is where you went wrong
    Don’t make promises you cannot fulfill to make previous govt look bad
    There is where you went wrong
    We now live in a diverse community. Don’t try to please one nationality over the other
    There is where you went wrong
    Don’t
    Give your supporters all the contracts , the members of board
    There is where you went wron
    A true leader put policies in place to take care of ALL OF ITS PEOPLE, not a selected few
    You can fool the people some of the time , but not all the time .
    People of the BVI would no
    Longer be fooled by your twisted lies , your technical
    Way of turning the tables on others or putting your team to defend you when the heat is turned up.

    We thought you were a leader you are a politician : CUNNING as a fox and slippery as an eel . Beware!!

  17. WEW says:

    A 5 day lockdown,4 more in which we could shop 1 day before a 14 day lockdown. Looks like you destroyed the BVI in 22 days. Nice work

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  18. Rex FeRaL says:

    You are only human, you are suppose to make mistakes.

  19. Nonsense says:

    Not when the lives of over 30 thousand people is in your hand

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