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‘Irresponsible & Disrespectful!’- Premier wants $20K fine for breaking quarantine

- says persons labelling him as 'dictator' for wanting to put 'foot down'
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says he is pushing for a 20K increase in fines if possible, for persons who break COVID-19 quarantine in the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: HoA/Youtube
The Premier's push to increase the penalties from $1000 comes following a Tuesday, December 15, 2020, announcement from Health Minister Hon Carvin Maine (AL) that two COVID-19 positive persons had breached quarantine and would face charges as recommended by the RVIPF. HoA/Youtube
The Premier's push to increase the penalties from $1000 comes following a Tuesday, December 15, 2020, announcement from Health Minister Hon Carvin Maine (AL) that two COVID-19 positive persons had breached quarantine and would face charges as recommended by the RVIPF. HoA/Youtube
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says he is pushing for a $20,000 increase in fines, if possible, for persons who break COVID-19 quarantine in the Virgin Islands (VI).

The Premier was at the time speaking during a presentation at the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on Monday, December 14, 2020.

“I want to say this very blunt, that’s irresponsible, it’s disrespectful to the people of the territory… I tell persons all the time that everyone wants the BVI to be the Burger King, where you could have it your way,” he said.

Labelled Dictator for ‘putting foot down’ – Premier Fahie

“When I as Premier have to put on my foot on certain things and say no, they say I'm a dictator,” he said.

According to the Leader of Government Business, he is often extremely pro-active regarding asking questions and making sure measure are in place to protect the territory.

“Because I know if it goes wrong, the first person they are going to hold accountable, going to be the Premier, everybody else will be home sleeping,” Hon Fahie said.

“We put these measures in place and my God… everyone been here, working hard, adhering to everything and then in come somebody and decide they going to just leave the quarantine area and they're positive,” he said.

More stiff penalties to come – Premier Fahie 

Hon Fahie maintained that he will push for the fines to increase given the ‘foolish and irresponsible’ actions of the few. “It vexed my spirit,” the Premier went on the say.

He said for those who have been trying to push the administration to make reckless economic moves in the midst of the COVID-19, “sometimes I wonder if they are trying to set us up to fail.”

The Premier's push to increase the penalties from $1000 comes following a Tuesday, December 15, 2020, announcement from Health Minister Hon Carvin Malone (AL) that two COVID-19 positive persons had breached quarantine and would face charges as recommended by the RVIPF.

26 Responses to “‘Irresponsible & Disrespectful!’- Premier wants $20K fine for breaking quarantine”

  • Enough blame for all (17/12/2020, 07:42) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Did the government and the company they are staying did all they can to prevent this from happening,,,, For sure the technology the government depending on is useless,,,,, Did the company where they were staying have preventive measures in place,,,,,These are issues and lessons we have to learn and fix going forward,,,,
  • wow (17/12/2020, 08:46) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dem turn-up people needs to relax. The 20k is to encourage people not to disrespect the rules that’s been put on place. I’ll recommend people who disrespect the rule also be made public as public shaming will humble them
    • Agree (17/12/2020, 12:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      So agree with you SMH. Should also include jail time.
      Disrespectful and have no regards for our Government and populus indeed.
    • Agree (17/12/2020, 12:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      So agree with SMH
      Comletely Disrespectful and disregard to the Government and the populous indeed.
  • Wise upn (17/12/2020, 08:49) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
    I agree with u 100%but if the BVI is put a negative ways on international news like they did with the yacht would this do more harm than good?We have to be careful how we do things.
  • the plan (17/12/2020, 09:19) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    “You will own nothing and you will be happy about it.”

    –Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum
    • The Rest of the Story (17/12/2020, 14:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Author's note: Some people have read this blog as my utopia or dream of the future. It is not. It is a scenario showing where we could be heading - for better and for worse. I wrote this piece to start a discussion about some of the pros and cons of the current technological development. When we are dealing with the future, it is not enough to work with reports. We should start discussions in many new ways. This is the intention with this piece.

      -Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum
  • facts (17/12/2020, 09:22) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    This agenda is the biggest crime ever committed on the world ! Is like these demons think ALL of us have lost critical thinking skills and we all know that the old normal will never return. If anyone believes that, then they a hopeless.
  • Bob (17/12/2020, 10:07) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Your bracelets are not working like you were told. You should have used security guards so there would be no breaking of quarantine possible and we wouldn't have to threaten tourists with a ridiculous fine.
  • Well (17/12/2020, 10:37) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    It vex your spirit you say. Well it should. You put your faith and complete trust in unproven and untested technology when you had persons physically employed to guard quarantine people but you prefer to see them unemployed so that irresponsible people can go running their covid infected selves through the streets and spread it to unsuspecting people. thank you very much mr premier! Not. BRING BACK THE SECURITY GUARDS BEFORE ITS TOO LATE. WHEN THE NUMBERS GET TOO HIGH AND YOU LOST CONTROL WHAT THEN? LOCK DOWN AGAIN??
    • @ Well (17/12/2020, 18:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      No, we put our trust in European, to do the right thing, and as usual this is what we get.
  • question (17/12/2020, 12:13) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    How do you assign Security guards out there on the water and who will pay for the service?
    They complaining about everything to keep the territory safe.
  • Styler (17/12/2020, 12:13) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is it every time this little BVI do somethings its a problem...Look at St. Lucia just jailed four Americans for breaking their COVID-19 quarantine in that island and thrown in prisons for 4 months. Talk that we have all rights to put rules and regulations in our country to protect its citizens and visitors these people just to DAM disrespectful fine them and let then leave. THIS CRAP MUST STOP AND A LINE DRAW SOMEWHERE.
  • Full Support (17/12/2020, 12:19) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you Andrew
    This is the only way to stop these persons who thinks they can do as they pleased snd putting the country at risk.

    Heavy fines heavy imprisonments plz .
  • WEW (17/12/2020, 12:30) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    I know you won't take responsibility for theses failures so who's fault is it ??? I like how you say theses cases are "imported", BY whom ? This always sounds like it's a white tourist when most are actually "locals" coming & going who feel the rules don't apply to them.
    • @wew (17/12/2020, 18:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well these set were white, you all think that you don’t have to abide by a black man’s rules, talk that!
  • See (17/12/2020, 12:30) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    You overloaded Blowhard ! Of course there was no problem when relatives of Belonger politicians returned and broke quaranteen to have sex . What a pathetic state we are in . Do as I say not as I do. Fools wearing suits .
  • Ghost (17/12/2020, 12:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is understandable that having security for all persons coming in and paying exorbitant hotel fees will put a toll on the government’s cash pan so they tried to find another way out which didn’t prove too effective.. the sad thing about humans is that some of us are TOOOO SELFISH.. we care nothing about anyone else but ourselves.. this tourist that broke quarantine do we all think they don’t know not to do this??.. of course they do but they’re just lawless with themselves and CARES NOTHING about us the people .. they want to do what they want.. that penalty is stiff yes but a message has to be sent and enforced for persons to listen.. “a price not paid in blood is soon forgotten”.. and this is for anyone breaking quarantine.. I want to believe that if a person in quarantine needs medical attention that there are measures in place but to be up and down among unsuspected persons and potentially infecting them this is CARELESS, SELFISH AND WRONG.. again a bit stiff but it’s to send a clear message that all of the work done by everyone the lock downs etc will not be undone.. anyone that knows they’re positive and put others at risk should be held accountable..no matter whom it is..
  • Go Ahead (17/12/2020, 13:37) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Sure, go ahead and fine $ 20K for breaking quarantine, but make sure this applies to belongers and residents as well as visitors. Just focusing on visitors will be the death knell on tourism, whatever is left of it.
  • Hmmmm (17/12/2020, 17:06) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    if you going to put that 20k in place just put it in place for everyone not just visitors, belongers does get special treatment.
  • Challenger (17/12/2020, 21:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    fully agree with the Premier. stiffer fines needed. the world is watching how we deal with this. if we do nothing...then everyone who comes here will have the same disrespectful attitude.
    I think they should be named also. if you break the law here be it robbery or something else the perpetrator is named. these people should be named also...no exceptions.
    please deal with this in a tough way...send the right message that we are serious here and our laws are our laws and they better be respected.
    respectfully submitted.


  • trrefdrfds (17/12/2020, 21:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr primer be careful of how you deal with the tourist because base on how you deal with them will determine the future of our tourist industry. Sir, it is better you change the amount of days in quarantine than what you plan to do change the 4 days to 8 days. I also plead to the bar association to speak out against thes draconian laws these government are putting on us in the region
  • guy hill (18/12/2020, 07:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is NO excuse for being irresponsible at any time.
  • Protocol support (18/12/2020, 08:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's not the number of days that the issue. They refuse to quarantine for a mere 4days what makes you think they will for 8d days?
    When these people, who ever they are break the protocols, do like the Cayman. Put their pics on blast out there for the world to see who these disrespectful morons are.
    It's not going to hurt the economy. What it's showing the world, is that the Government cares, and is protecting it's people and also making it a safe place and comfortable for
    visitors and Nationals alike to travel to.
  • rewrsdffds (18/12/2020, 09:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bring back the security. If the numbers gets so high that the majority of us here will have to quarantine at home, you wont have enough guards to guard everybody. God forbid but you get the point. Bring back the physical security before this thing gets out of hand.
  • top (18/12/2020, 11:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Trump supporters do not like to listen fine them a 20K
    I argree


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