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‘Have mercy on the people’ – Premier Fahie to banks
The premier has on several occasions appealed to these companies, as well as landlords, to exercise compassion since many persons would have lost their jobs or fallen on hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘I am asking you to stop it’
“I am asking again to the phone companies, please don’t disconnect customers or harass them during this time. They cannot get out to pay, and please we are asking you to stop it. As the Premier of this country I am asking you to stop it,” Premier Fahie appealed on April 9, 2020, on ZBVI 780 AM.
Following appeals to landlords to not evict their tenants for non-payment during these times, landlords have been expressing their understanding with Premier Fahie’s position but noted that the banks still require their mortgage payments.
“Even those in the banks who have the automated things calling people now that they are home, call your head office and tell them look we under a 14-day curfew they can’t get out to pay. Lord have mercy on the people, stop it.
“We have to be more compassionate in some of these utility areas, whoever it is, even if it is Government entities, stop it for now,” Premier Fahie stated.
The Leader of Government Business also said Government will be assisting the people with an economic stimulus, which he said will be rolled out in stages.
One of the early measures of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government to mitigate some of the hardships of the people was the suspension of water bills for customers for 30 days.
‘Don’t worry with the dollar bill now’
Meanwhile, Premier Fahie also praised the work of the marine police and Her Majesty’s Customs for patrolling the borders; however, he appealed to residents to desist from smuggling persons across the borders to be vigilant of persons engaging in such activities.
“Let us know if you see any boats coming from the west, the east the south or the north and report it because we don’t want anyone smuggling the people right now or ever into the Virgin Islands that may be bringing the COVID-19 in with them and causing us more problems.”
Premier Fahie said persons have to understand that reckless actions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic will not only affect other persons, “it could affect you, it could affect your family and it could do great destructions, so please let us not be worried about the dollar bill right now and then don’t have life.”
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44 Responses to “‘Have mercy on the people’ – Premier Fahie to banks”
Hon Fahie it’s easy to say Have Mercy on the people and the business establishment bank’s etc but let me say those bank don’t have mercy especially the Bank Outsourcing to Santo Domingo they harassing you everyday with phone calls... you need to write to them for they can’t hear
Be fair and not misleading in your comment.
freedom of speech could be a f()ck and u just prove that point, if you hire OJ's Dream Team you might win those millions...citizens from so many caribbean islands are stranded outside of their homelands because of this health crisis: this health issue is universal and leave up to residents like yourself our territory might have far more COVID 19 cases: you are certainly not that important to pick on you; my children can not come home as well(grandfather, grandmother, father, mother and children all born right here)
You realize that he can sue and possibly win right? You realize government loses millions every year on law suits? A lot of them settled before they reach the courts?
Section 18 of the VI Constitution Order 2007 has a bill of rights that provides for 'the protection of freedom of movement'. There is an exception for matters of public safety and public health but that exception applies to restricting movement within the country and from leaving the country not entering the country. Now the government claimed that they closed to the borders to all incoming passengers as BVIslanders were returning and not adhering to the self quarantine procedures. Not only did they do that but they closed the borders with just 5 hours notice. Very unreasonable I might add. They decided to enact the Quarantine Law for that purpose to allow for persons to now be legally required to quarantine but yet kept the borders closed and will do so until 2nd June or maybe longer.
That is the legal side of it but what about the patriotic side? Which country turns its back on its own people? USA did not. UK did not. Caymans did not( offered repatriation flights). Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have done so but I am not sure what their laws are but I do know that the 31 Trinidad nationals stranded in Barbados are seeking legal recourse.We seem to be for our self rather than our country. This is not the time for that as we need all hands on deck.
Then there is the moral obligation of persons who are being locked out when they have a vested interest in the country. Whether it be family, work, business, mortgages, utilities etc. The bills don't stop coming. Some Creditors maybe understanding but others not so much.
Will need an overseas lawyer. No lawyer here will want to take this case.
To do otherwise completely belies the premise of being 'patriotic'; it is a VERY transparent "I want this therefore I will do whatever I can to have this" attitude. As you yourself say, SELFish (focused on self) rather than saving the lives of their fellow countrymen. The administration would do very well to take note and to trace IPs as necessary. As regards the 31 Trinidad nationals in Barbados, and the 40 odd who were off the coast of Guadeloupe and the others in Venezuela and elsewhere... make no mistake that public opinion in Trinidad is decrying their behaviour as VERY selfish and UNPATRIOTIC, and many quarters are asking to arrange for them to be quarantined in one of the outer islands to get around letting them within territorial waters, but yet KEEP THE MAIN POPULATION SAFE as PATRIOTS should seek to do.
There may be legal grounds on the basis of the UN charter of human rights, but I want to say once again that I completely agree that patriotism should be paramount over selfishness in the times of a global pandemic.
The BVI has numerous smaller islands and cays; perhaps a workaround could be to let those wishing to return home to be escorted from limited ports of entry (duly sanitised and with a controlled flow) and let them be quarantined as necessary on one of the smaller islands or cays. Unfortunately, precedent has already been set that GROWN people who were oh so patriotic that they wanted to 'come home' were really more selfish than patriotic and did not adhere to the quarantine and self isolation measures. Hence our current situation. Physically separating returners on smaller outer islands (which we are blessed to have) would be a good compromise; PROTECT THE MAIN POPULATION as a truly PATRIOTIC measure (prioritising country above individuals) and also allowing individuals the benefits of their human right to return home. No true patriot could object to that... unless of course, they weren't patriotic to begin with... merely couching their selfishness in 'patriotism'.
Let the government adopt this approach and make the terms known to all and see how many clamour to return home with their 'patriotic' (country above self) selves...
They were some selfish ones who spoilt it for the rest of the overseas BVIslanders, perm residents etc. They came here and did not adhere to the self quarantine. Did all the people return act the same way? No. they were responsible ones. Despite all that only three cases.
With legal quarantine in place and the law on our side we should be able to overcome this.
Banks, telecommunications companies, and utilities companies are profit making businesses with obligations to share holders. However, in these challenging times, they must show some corporate social responsibility. They must show compassion and understanding and work with customers to restructure reasonable and practical payment plans. Additionally, though the VI is primarily a capitalist country, nevertheless, government needs to develop stimulus packages that offer medical, housing, food family and other allocations, unemployment, along with other assistance, to residents.
On another note, though residents may be frustrated with the strict and tough measures to mitigate the Coronavirus, ie, physical/social distancing, border closure, 24-hour curfew/lockdown, quarantining.......etc, the VI cannot in a wholesale manner relax the measures, for if it does, all the sacrifices endured thus far would have been for nought.
Agreed with most you said exception being the border. We have a quarantine law. Enforce it and allow fellow BVIslanders their right to return to their families and livelihood.
Premature reopening the borders will be challenging and needs some smart, strategic and tactical actions. Yes, there is a quarantine law. However, executing the law could be problematic at this time. Will all the passengers coming in thru St. Thomas from the US, Canada, Europe, UK......etc or thru TBLIA be quarantine? Where will all these passengers be housed? Will the border be opened just for locals/belongers? Will it be economical for airlines and ferries to restart routes just to transport a few people? Will tourists swarm back to the VI if the border is open now? How long will it take for tourist arrivals to ramp up to pre-border closing levels? Will premature reopening of the borders place a heavier burden on an already limited and strapped Customs and RVIPF marine assets?
No doubt residents/workers need to get back to work, economy needs to be restarted, businesses need to reopen, government needs to collect revenue....etc. However, government must strike a delicate between the economy and public health and safe. It must protect the low confirmed virus levels. It needs to protect life. But I will leave that decision to government, for what do I know.
You have already restricted access to just TB Lettsome. i am firm believer that you do not turn your back on your own. They are responsible enough people out there and I am sure the fact that they have been out over a month they will be willing to cooperate especially knowing there is a law with a steep fine and potential jail time.
Fahie made his point. Let the people in.
We have seen employers act with unkind speed to use the opportunity of Coronavirus. As with post-Irma, it is those who care nothing for their people who act first.
@Harneys, Westwood & Riegels, perhaps your equity partners could dip into their millions before you lay people off. Look forward to your two faced publicity re a donation to FSN or the Humane Society or some other good cause in the next couple of weeks, paid from the souls of your former laid off employees.