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'Emergency' sitting of HOA on Friday to tighten quarantine & curfew rules

- as Gov't seeks to further minimise traffic & interaction in response to threat of coronavirus
An emergency sitting of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) will be held on Friday, March 27, 2020 to give more teeth to the existing quarantine and curfew rules in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, during a joint press conference with the Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), left, at the Office of the House of Assembly's conference room in Road Town, Tortola on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Photo: GIS
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, during a joint press conference with the Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), left, at the Office of the House of Assembly's conference room in Road Town, Tortola on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- An emergency sitting of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) will be held on Friday, March 27, 2020 to give more teeth to the existing quarantine and curfew rules in the Virgin Islands.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) made the remark during a joint press conference with the Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) at the Office of the House of Assembly's conference room in Road Town, Tortola on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

"There will eventually be actions taken, and we agreed to have an emergency House of Assembly on Friday because we needed to beef up the law to strengthen and also to back up whatever actions will be taken from anyone who violates quarantine and violates these measures [business curfew]," he said.

"So we are going to amend the law to strengthen the capability of law enforcement and health enforcement agencies to be able to deal with these matters."

Amendments vital

According to the Premier, such decisions are being made in the best interest of the Territory and also called for understanding and cooperation.

"We wish that we did not have to do this because this is for everyone's own good. So once persons can adhere to this then it would make life a lot easier. It is not forever; it is for a short time to make sure that we minimise the traffic and interaction so that we can minimise the possibility of the virus spreading," the Premier stated.

Fines, jail time 

During a live forum with His Excellency the Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert on Monday, March 23, 2020, Deputy Commissioner of Police Alwin James urged persons to report any businesses not complying with the business curfew.

Businesses are required to only operate between the hours of 6:00am and 8:00pm daily.

"We are asking members of the community who are seeing violators of the business [curfew] to dial into our 311 number, report it, and officers will respond."

He said non-compliant business owners could be fined $1000 or made to spend up to 12 months in jail and that their operating licence could also be affected in the long run.

As for quarantine, any travellers who enter the territory from flagged countries are immediately placed in quarantine for 14 days.

20 Responses to “'Emergency' sitting of HOA on Friday to tighten quarantine & curfew rules”

  • asking for a friend (25/03/2020, 07:52) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    The house of Assembly very small how they going do social distancing?
    • Blind Man (25/03/2020, 09:26) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      I will count them to see if 20 or more gather in house of assembly
  • WOWW (25/03/2020, 07:59) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Need to be done these young men taking advantage of the Covid 19 situation every chance they get they breaking into stores because they know everyone shutting up early and don’t talk about the bike shows they be having in town at nights marking up the roads. And anyone caught outside disrespecting the curfew dealt with accordingly.
    • at woww (25/03/2020, 10:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      the curfew is for business. anybody choice to go on the street if they like.
  • Nice (25/03/2020, 08:01) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Have a curfew please and have police patrolling stop these robberies we residents not taking this serious. Period..
  • alfred (25/03/2020, 08:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Best news ever. Let's stop thing now .
  • alfred (25/03/2020, 08:55) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is the best news i have heard in a long time. Please stop ignorant people from compromising our health and future. Lock us up.
  • As Dave Chapelle Said (25/03/2020, 09:09) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    “I’m ducking a virus I don’t even know exist”
  • Repost (25/03/2020, 09:11) Like (47) Dislike (5) Reply
    When the blindfold comes off of the public faces and they see that its way deeper than a so call “virus” it’ll be too late, the average persons don’t see it, the whole world is under martial law over night, the dollar is crashing. We are headed into a cashless society, depopulation this was all done by design and y’all fell for it because you don’t question things and research, yall just believe in these governments that’s in bed together. They know how to play the game, it’s always problem, reaction, solution with them. Order out of chaos, they gave us the problem, wait for us to react and give us the solutions and it works everytime. I just hope when shlt hits the fan you guys can survive.
    • @repost (25/03/2020, 09:24) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well what then is your solution? Regardless of who did this it exists. People are dying. You can’t worry about economics as when the people are sick they still can’t work for you. Common sense says take all precaution.
      • @@repost (25/03/2020, 10:33) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
        You do know that this all happened during flu season right ? And you also know that what’s happening is when people now die from cancer or any other sickness their labeling them a victim of Covid-19, Stop believing the mainstream media and these sellouts, these people are shown on tv because their ACTORSSS ! Wake up
    • @repost (25/03/2020, 11:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am not afraid of the truth but I hate smart asses like you. Too arrogant and condescending. Next time speak your truth, if you have any, humbly.
  • whistle blower (25/03/2020, 09:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I saw a bar in parham town still selling drinks after 8 pm....Even though its door is closed, apparently someone is going in and bringing out the drinks and collecting the money....I also saw an island man selling stuff out of a basket along side the road across from the bakery in fat hog's bay way past 8 pm
  • whistle blower (25/03/2020, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A chal well boy came in on a private jet from a know carona country and still allowed to mingle among us...Just because he is big in the politics and a prominent business man he does what he wants....Apparently he is untouchable because it look like the 14 days quarantine doesn't apply to him
  • Ms P (25/03/2020, 09:48) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I love the HOA not a circus anymore
  • Cashless society (25/03/2020, 10:09) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    While you sheeps are being led to your slaughter believing in this distraction, here’s a few places that has gone cashless thus far

    -Washington Bridge
    -Holland
    -Lincoln tunnels
  • Eagle Eye (25/03/2020, 11:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This House of Assembly is very pro-active and I like that. ALL Members are there by God's will


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