Cabinet’s new decision to extend the 7pm to 5am curfew to August 20th has once again resulted in major public outcry.
Many residents have resorted to social media to express frustrations while others have openly condemned the Government’s decision keep certain businesses closed with no form of financial support.
One salon owner said “It was sort of a good idea when covid was outside and we didn’t have the things in place to deal the disease at our businesses. Also there was no vaccine. Now more than 16 months later, all of these businesses have invested in making sure we meet a standard for operation. Also because of the nature, the majority of these workers have vaccinated. After all of this work, why are they still defaulting to preliminary measures? Make it make sense.”
Another resident wrote “I can try and understand the curfew but what I cant understand is the logic behind closing of some businesses when other businesses harbor more gathering than the ones closed. Somebody please help me understand.”
Our newsroom has since contacted Premier of the Virgin Islands and Minister of Finance, Honorable Andrew A. Fahie who stated that the curfew has been a great deterrent to rising cases in the territory.
Premier Fahie said “Our Territory recently experienced a sudden spike of covid cases that rose to as high as 1604 Active Positive cases with over 30 covid related deaths in a short space of time. These factors caused our Health Team to recommend some immediate measures be put in place because without them the active positive cases were projected by our epidemiologist to rise to as high as 5000 active positive cases.”
WILL BUSINESSES FORCED TO CLOSE RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT?
As a result of the restrictions announced on July 5th, hair salons, barbershops, gyms, bars and clubs were forced to close. Restaurants with inhouse dining are also limited to one person per 36 square feet to a maximum of occupancy of 25 persons.
In response to the recent extension one resident said “Dear Government of the Virgin Islands, you have closed peoples business for even longer and continued to put others in a place they can be open but can’t actually earn anything. This is unfair without providing immediate restitution. How do all these businesses and staff pay their bills? Your ongoing lack of concern is deafening and frankly disgusting. You obviously do not care about these people at all. The thousands of people affected need you to provide a solution by the end of the week. A minimum would be to pay both business and employee rent and utilities for the month.”
When questioned on the economic hardship being faced by those businesses and whether Government plans to offer financial support, Premier Fahie said the government is privy to the issues and consideration is being given to less stringent measures.
“Like everywhere in the world these measures when implemented causes financial hardship in different areas. However this matter is fluid and being reviewed daily. Given that the measures implemented have significantly contributed in our active positive cases being significantly reduced, now opens the way for the consideration of the relaxing of some of the measures recently implemented to try to save lives but by no means should any of think that we are out of the woods.”
“Such announcement(s) should be forthcoming shortly as Government is extremely sensitive to the financial struggle of businesses who are affected from the latest urgent measures implemented to save lives. The discussions are ongoing as to how to assist those businesses that have been closed due to the latest measures,” the Premier later added.
The leader of the territory also reiterated the need for persons to abide by protocols and get vaccinated.
“All of us must come to grips that covid is not going anywhere soon. This means we have to change our behaviors and take a personal responsibility to adhere to all the approved Health protocols because we must learn to now live and work with Covid-19.”
“While vaccination is not made mandatory by this Government, we strongly recommend that persons be vaccinated as it gives one of the best available line of defense to fight the virus.”
RESIDENTS CALL OUT GOVERNMENT FOR VIOLATING CURFEW TO HOST MOTORCADE
Persons also spoke out against the recently held motorcade that was organized by Government to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of the BVI’s athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.
Taking to social media, one resident stated “I’m all for celebrating our athletes but I was sure they’d follow their own rules and shut down that motorcade before the 7pm curfew. How did the people get home when that motorcade ended at 10pm and are you saying if I’d joined the motorcade I’d be exempt from the curfew? But businesses can’t operate past that time? I’m in awe. I’m glad I don’t own a restaurant for that same reason….the unrest and turmoil I feel in my spirit and I’m not even an affected worker is surely resonating with everybody in the Virgin Islands?
Some residents said this was a clear violation of the curfew by the Government of the Virgin Islands and those who participated in the motorcade.