Last Wednesday in a LIVE press conference, Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie unveiled the first phase of the territory’s re-opening plan. During the press conference Hon. Fahie announced that all the beaches will remain close at this time. The residents of the B.V.I were completely devastated by this announcement.
Immediately after the announcement, persons turned to social media to share their favorite moments at the beach and expressed how much they missed the white sand and the crystal clear waters.
As B.V.I residents await the days that they can lay on the beaches and wet their feet, residents of the U.S.V.I rejoice as U.S.V.I beaches are scheduled to re-open on Monday.
Reports by the V.I. Consortium confirm that beaches in the U.S.V.I are expected to re-open to the public on Monday.
The U.S.V.I-based news agency reported that, Governor Albert Bryan explained that the two weeks beach closures were primarily to prevent camping on the beach during the Easter weekend. Apparently this is a longstanding tradition among Virgin Islands families, particularly on St. Croix.
“Beaches heavily populated with campers was a COVID-19 risk the government didn’t want to take” Governor Bryan said.
Although immensely missing the beaches, the residents of the B.V.I understand that the precautionary measures implemented are to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to ensure the safety of residents within the B.V.I.