Reopening of seaports to international visitors deferred to April 15, 2021
The last reopening date was set for March 1, 2021, with the date before that being January 21, 2021.
The further delay to the reopening of the seaports was announced by the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) today, February 24, 2021.
Increased cases in region & new strain
According to the BVIPA, the reopening of the Road Town Jetty to incoming visitors has been deferred to April 15, 2021, for several reasons including “that islands within the region have reported increased numbers of COVID-19 cases” and the “increased possibility of the introduction of variant strains from international travellers.”
It also said due to the demands of the roll-out of the vaccines and the need to ensure a large percent of the local population is vaccinated, the health personnel normally needed to assist in monitoring procedures at the entry portal is significantly stretched and as such the efficiency to monitor the opening is challenged.
Opportunities
The BVIPA said the new date would also allow the BVIPA to enhance the customer experience through further infrastructural improvements at the Road Town Jetty and other ports of entry in light of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
“The BVI Ports Authority apologises for any inconvenience caused to residents, industry partners and our visitors. We want everyone to experience an authentic BVILOVE welcome from the moment they begin their journey to our islands and throughout the entire entry process at our seaports,” the BVIPA statement read.
The Virgin Islands reopened its borders, via the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, to international visitors on December 1, 2020.
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41 Responses to “Reopening of seaports to international visitors deferred to April 15, 2021”
I buried my mom in March of 2020 and can’t even get up there to place her tombstone and or visit my relatives!! What they should have done first was open the seaports then the airport!! But it’s BVI Love right .....pls !!
It’s staff on the payroll whilst the ports have been closed - if not then what have they all been doing?
Stop paying the government employees ANY money/salary and see how fast things re-open from this foolishness.
Have there been more deaths from mental issues/violence since this started or COVID. HMMMM?
Saw a post with someone jokingly saying they got vaccinated and are ready to sneeze in faces.
If Vaccinated:
1. You can still get the virus
2. You can still spread the virus
3. You may not know you have the virus and although you may not become severely ill there is no guarantee
It is going to be a very long climb back for the BVI . While we are over here watching Netflix they are building their tourism product. We are doomed.
When you fail to plan....... that’s all
This is not helping our economy in any way at all, this is not what you were placed there for.
2. Increased possibility of increasing new variant strain from international travellers: this also applies to the airport.
3. Need to get a large percentage of population vaccinated: this is a joke as so far there is only vaccine for 4,000 with some 30,000 plus still to go. There is no way 20,000 will be vaccinated by Apr. 15th.
4. No work yet on fixing the port.
POOR planning = PISS poor performance, while the people suffer.