STATEMENT BY PREMIER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
AND MINISTER FOR FINANCE

HONOURABLE ANDREW A. FAHIE
27 April, 2020

Soft Opening – No Mask, No Service

My dear Virgin Islanders, residents and visitors:

Buenas tardes y bendiciones de Dios para todos y cada uno de ustedes y sus familias.

Mañana, lunes 27 de abril a partir de las 6:00 a.m., comenzaremos el proceso de reiniciar y reactivar la economía de las Islas Vírgenes Británicas.

Good evening and God’s Blessings to each and every one of you and your families.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 27 from 6:00 a.m., we will begin the process of rebooting and reawakening the BVI’s economy.

Comienzo mis comentarios haciendo referencia al Director General de la OMS, Dr. Tedros, quien recientemente advirtió que “tenemos un largo camino por recorrer. Este virus estará con nosotros por mucho tiempo”. Agregó que “el mundo no puede volver a ser como eran las cosas. Debe haber una "nueva normalidad": un mundo más saludable, más seguro y mejor preparado ".

Me gustaría comenzar con un agradecimiento a todas las personas de este Territorio. Sé que estos son tiempos difíciles y la gente está preocupada, preocupada por sus finanzas, su salud, las limitaciones de su vida y sus amigos y familiares. Sé que probablemente sienta que su Gobierno le está pidiendo mucho y que el camino por recorrer es muy incierto.

The only way to know that you have caught COVID-19 is when you feel it inside your body; and by then it is too late to talk about prevention because you may have already passed it on to everyone you have come into contact with, especially your family at home.

I begin my remarks by making reference to the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros, who recently cautioned that “we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time”. He added that “the world cannot go back to the way things were. There must be a “new normal” – a world that is healthier, safer and better prepared”.

I would like to start with a thank you to all of the people of this Territory. I know these are challenging times and people are worried – worried about their finances, their health, the limitations on their life, and their friends and family. 

As the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the health, social and economic impacts continue to create unprecedented disruptions in our daily lives.

Yesterday, Saturday, April 18, 2020, we announced the need for the adjustment of the curfew orders in the Territory.