Good evening and God's blessings to the people of the Virgin Islands at home and abroad, all our visitors and all prospective visitors.

Today the Ministry of Health is informing you of a large cluster of cases associated with a local construction company on Virgin Gorda. 

I extend greetings to everyone in the Virgin Islands, the Region and the World.  In presenting this report, again, I would like to extend prayers and words of condolences to all families who have lost loved ones during this trying period, whether by COVID or other causes.

His Excellency, the Acting Governor Mr. David D. Archer, Jr., chaired the Meeting held on 1st September, 2021, in the absence of Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, who was overseas on private business. The Meeting was held at the Financial Services Commission’s Conference Room. 

We are now 18 months into the worst pandemic to hit the world in over 100 years. And by the Grace of God, and the cooperation of all our people – our public officers, our health personnel, persons in law enforcement and other agencies, the business community, and other members of the public – and with the support of many persons and agencies outside of the Territory, the Virgin Islands has been able to manage through the COVID-19 crisis thus far.

I consider it a sacred duty for a Premier to keep citizens informed of what their elected Government is doing, and hence I have been holding to this promise.

Mister Speaker, just last week Thursday I gave an update on the impact of COVID-19 in this Honourable House.  I started off that statement by acknowledging the community effort that it took to get us to a place where we could breathe a small sigh of relief because of the downturn in positive COVID-19 cases in the Territory.

Mister Speaker, Today, I stand before this Honourable House to give an exciting report about the BVI-USVI Vaccination Bubble Initiative as we continue our quest to encourage vaccination against the dreaded COVID-19 virus.

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 and God’s blessings.  This year’s emancipation holidays fall within a difficult period of BVI history.  Still reeling from the most devastating hurricanes in our history, we are in the midst of the worst pandemic in 100 years, which has now claimed more than 30 lives.  We extend sincere condolences to the people of the Virgin Islands who have lost loved ones.