Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has given the assurance that persons who booked trips to enter the Virgin Islands through the seaports, would be given the opportunity to enter the territory, as the government moves to defer the re-opening of the sector until January 21, 2020. Photo: BVI Welcome

The Premier made the commitment on Monday, December 7, 2020, during a live update on the reopening of the Territory’s borders. Photo: GIS/Facebook

The Premier made the commitment on Monday, December 7, 2020, during a live update on the reopening of the Territory’s borders; however, he hinted that those bookings must have been made before December 7, 2020.

“I also would like to do an apology to the public in general, those who have already booked, we're going to do our best to make sure that we accommodate you to get you to the British Virgin Islands, so it's not that we're going to ignore it,” he said. 

While the Premier said that the option to book trips to the VI through the seaports would no longer be available, he said the government will do its best to facilitate persons to enter the territory.

Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reached out to Premier Fahie and he confirmed that for the 127 persons who wanted to enter VI through the seaports, those travellers would have to be rerouted to the T.B. Lettsome International Airport. 

"All entry to the BVI by visitors and residents, unless otherwise authorized, will be via the T.B. Lettsome International Airport. All are welcomed with BVILOVE," he said. 

Gov't will do its best to keep people safe - Premier Fahie 

“We want to know that when this chapter of COVID-19 is written which it will be one of these days, just like the flu pandemic, and swine flu and all of them it will be written and we want to know that when it's written that we were able to keep your mother safe, your grandmother safe, your parents, your spouse, your children,” etc safe, the Premier said during Monday's update. 

The Virgin Islands moved to defer the Territory’s December 8, 2020, opening of marine traffic to international visitors until January 21, 2021.

According to Hon Fahie, “Given the number of persons that have been coming into the T.B. Lettsome Airport, which far exceeds our projection in this era, we see an opportunity to further strengthen our seaports to successfully balance lives and livelihood.”