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‘Remember your life matters’- Premier Fahie to scooter riders

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) during his COVID-19 update to the Territory on Friday, August 14, 2020, used the opportunity to appeal to scooter riders and other bikers to exercise safety on the roads and to ensure they are in compliance with law. Photo: VINO/File
The responsibility as a Government is to keep the people of the Virgin Islands healthy and safe as much is humanly possible during this COVID-19 era and at all times, Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) stated on August 14, 2020, as he appealed to motor scooter riders and other bikers to exercise safety on the roads and to ensure they are in compliance with law. Photo: Facebook
The responsibility as a Government is to keep the people of the Virgin Islands healthy and safe as much is humanly possible during this COVID-19 era and at all times, Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) stated on August 14, 2020, as he appealed to motor scooter riders and other bikers to exercise safety on the roads and to ensure they are in compliance with law. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The frequency of motor scooter accidents and the recklessness by some of those riders continue to get the attention of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) during his COVID-19 update to the Territory on Friday, August 14, 2020, used the opportunity to appeal to scooter riders and other bikers to exercise safety on the roads and to ensure they are in compliance with law.

“I want to take this time to remind our bikers those on the scooters, all our bikers, that safe riding save lives. Please ensure that you have a scooter licence, ensure that your motorbikes are licensed and insured, always wear a helmet, know your scooter’s limits, watch your speed, keep your distance from other vehicles, use both brakes, avoid blind spots, always use signals.”

‘Your life matters’

Premier Fahie said the young generation is important to the future of the Territory.

“When our youth damage themselves, they damage their future potential in the Virgin Islands. Remember Your Life Matters!”

The Territory’s leader added that the responsibility as a Government is to keep the people of the Virgin Islands healthy and safe as much is humanly possible during this COVID-19 era and at all times.

Meanwhile, Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, has been on an active campaign to get motor scooter riders and bikers to get licensed and insured.

Minister with the portfolio for Transportation, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) had also previously called on the police to find creative ways to tackle the issue of errant motor scooter riders.

23 Responses to “‘Remember your life matters’- Premier Fahie to scooter riders”

  • Eardrums Matter Too (16/08/2020, 12:13) Like (53) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is not easy waking up out of one's peaceful sleep after 3:00 a.m. from a noisy scooter riding through your town, like what happened to me and countless others night before last.

    Government should seriously consider banning those ear-splitting mufflers.
    • @ eardrums matter Too (16/08/2020, 13:29) Like (49) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am in total agreement with you. It drives me up the wall when those things come blazing through the community. Government need to cut the BS and ban the loud mufflers. Like seriously! I can’t imagine what the older folks go through .
      • down2earth (16/08/2020, 15:26) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
        Hell !!! They suffer from loud music blasting from cars and businesses too!
    • @Eardrums Matter Too (16/08/2020, 17:36) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do you live in the Huntums Ghut area?

      I woke up at least 5 times through the night because of a loud motorbike.

      The noise travels up the hills.
    • biker (17/08/2020, 09:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      I empathize with you. I would say lets ban scooters from 12am to 6am
  • NOT (16/08/2020, 13:23) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree that some riders need to do better but worst than that there are some bars that think they own the communities and want to dictate how the community should just turn a blind eye. They are the most disturbing factor right now. You cant enjoy your rest. This is what the government should pay serious attention to. Change laws. You think it's fun having to beg bar owners to turn down their music every week and to contain their noise. It is sticking you come home from a hard day and need rest you have to go beg for it and they come meet you in your place. Every day smiling in your face this is wrong I'm tired of it.
  • Hmmm (16/08/2020, 14:45) Like (53) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Fahie please do something about these loud noises through our communities. If you don't curfew them atleat in the night time. We'll have no choice but to take this matter in our own hands. So you have a choice. I need my nightly rest.
    • @ Hodgie (16/08/2020, 22:35) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      I can relate, I have to be up at 5:00 every morning to get ready for work and I’m telling you I am so tired of being disturbed out of my sleep because of the loud music and motor bikes all time of the night.I’m telling you sometimes I feel like going out side and shooting them off the damn bikes. It is not fair to the people that have to get up to go to work. I am so tired of it.
  • Darwin (16/08/2020, 15:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Survival of the fittest applies to all species. Seems like BVI bike riders are not to fit.
  • Norris Turnbull (16/08/2020, 15:33) Like (37) Dislike (0) Reply
    A scooter dont have to be Loud to enjoy it, neither does music. There's a noise abatement act I want to believe. If so, enforcement needs to be stepped up.
    • To Government (16/08/2020, 17:33) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      Please have police officers patrol Huntums Ghut at night.

      The noise of motorbikes after midnight into the wee hours of the morning disturbs residents.

      Consider babies and older children as well as the elderly. Consider everyone period!

      Not because you choose to be up at that hour means you have to disturb everyone’s peace.

      We don’t want to hear your noise or your music in the comfort of our homes.
  • Lawlessness (16/08/2020, 17:29) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some don’t care about their or other’s lives.

    Friday after 5pm one was coming down the highway heading west past Port Purcell Warehouses and clipping through vehicles NO HELMET plus speeding.
  • ?? (16/08/2020, 20:49) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am going to say this again. Get a track for those young persons. Looking for one? Start with the reclaimed land done across from the West End Police Station for now or use a piece down by Pockwood pond. Do something otherwise more youngsters are going to die on the streets.
  • Comment (16/08/2020, 20:50) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I saw several swaying throughout traffic last week with no helmet and no common sense. One day I saw a few with their little teenage girlfriends seated behind, driving pass the roundabout in town with ‘no helmet and no regard to traffic regulations’. On another occasion, I saw several speed through traffic and ran the red light. I also saw a 9 or 10 year old boy learning to ride a scooter on the road next to the Government Complex and Maria’s by the Sea.
    • @Comment (17/08/2020, 13:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      lol. It's sheer madness and nobody in authority is doing anything about it. Only death can put a stop to it and even then, the others still don't learn. It's like they start to do worse.
  • tola (16/08/2020, 21:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them scooters annoying baddd
  • Fran (16/08/2020, 22:42) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honorable Premier, this is a matter of life and death. I was so scared going up Belview (country) the other day. I drove very slowly and far away from a scooter driver who has a little child about 4 years old in the front, with another about 7 years old in the back. My heart was in my throat for these little ones. I was trying my best not to allow any cars to pass me and hit them. Finally he pulled off and I realized my nerves were shot from holding my steering wheel so tightly. What in the world was he thinking? I couldn't take a picture because my phone is in my pocketbook. Please have more police visibility in these areas where they take chances like these all of the time. Lord help these children that have numbskulls for parents.
  • Ghost (17/08/2020, 00:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Premier I applaud you for trying with these bikers; sadly to say it’s some of them obviously have a death Wish for they’re not listening no matter the advice Being given Repeatedly.. Proverbs tells us that Wisdom crieth in the streets begging people to listen and when they get in their calamity they will wish them they had listened but would be too late.re: the noise from these bikes and bars etc. Unsure if we have a “Noise Pollution Act” But if not this is what we need to be fighting for and have that Law enacted and enforced.. the Gov’t should put a curfew on these bikes; sadly the innocent will suffer for the Foolish guilty. And definitely not bring in any bigger bikes.. Absolutely Not!
  • Nice (17/08/2020, 10:56) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Premier, please address the noise issue. It is a concern for many but no one seems to care. Please ban the noisy mufflers.
  • Outsider (17/08/2020, 14:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The biker who had his face corrected at the NHI expense should make a live broadcast about it and any other survivors of these bike accidents!!!!
  • Sgt Cop (17/08/2020, 18:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Driving or Riding a noisy Vehicle is the first charge in the Traffic Book, why the po po skip and enforcing seat belt and minor parking in a no parking spot and do not stake out for these a@@holes who thinks that noise from a vehicle makes it more powerful or makes them macho. Do we really have Police Officers now who cares about their job, this Country, The young Babies or the hard working people who want to rest peacefully. Long ago Police use to do their job. Me win kno wha going on now, smhh.
  • sunnyday (18/08/2020, 14:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do not blame the police.
    What about the chief he is the one in charge of the whole brigade.


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