STATEMENT BY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE HONOURABLE ANDREW A. FAHIE

DURING THE ELEVENTH SITTING OF THE THIRD SESSION

OF THE FOURTH HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Good Day Mister Speaker, I stand before this Honourable House today to share what I think would be some good news relating to our COVID-19 situation here in the Virgin Islands. 

Over the last month the BVI has seen some very rough and challenging waters with the impact of a literal COVID-19 wave and surge in this Territory.  We have lost loved ones, we have grieved and continue to grieve the loss of our friends, our co-workers, our family, those dear to our hearts. 

Thank you Mister Speaker, for this opportunity to make this statement to this Honourable House. As Premier and Leader of Government Business, I wish to express gratitude on behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, as well as that of all Virgin Islanders and residents, to all persons who have contributed in some way to our battle against COVID-19.

Thank you Mister Speaker, for allowing me this opportunity to make this statement to this Honourable House. I wish to provide an update to this Honourable House on the measures being implemented by your Government for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the various COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Grants.

His Excellency, the Governor Mr. John J. Rankin, CMG, chaired the virtual Special Meeting held on 16th July, 2021.

I greet you at a difficult time in our Territory.  Covid-19 has spread throughout our Virgin Islands and has robbed us of many of those we love.  My Ministry is no exception.  Several of the hardworking and dedicated public servants under the Ministry have been affected by this vicious pandemic, and I take this opportunity to offer sincere condolences to those within the Ministry, the wider education system and the wider Virgin Islands who are coping with the loss of loved ones.

Good day and GOD’s blessings to you all.

Many of you would have seen that forecasters in Antigua have issued a Tropical Alert regarding AL94, a weather disturbance that is expected to pass near the Virgin Islands tomorrow.

Good day to all in the Virgin Islands. As weather watchers will already know, there are currently two weather disturbances in the Atlantic that are showing the potential to develop into tropical storms. The first, which forecasters are calling AL94, was this morning located about 150 miles east of Barbados and is expected to pass near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico tomorrow.

It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Lester Bird KHN, MP.

Good evening and God's Blessings to all the people of the Virgin Islands and beyond.

Let me say once again, Happy Emancipation to all.  August is our emancipation month and this year we were not able to celebrate our four-day Emancipation activities physically, the traditional way.