Hon Fahie made the statements on Friday, April 23, 2021, shortly after Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL), and the Governor of the Virgin Islands John J. Rankin CMG received their second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.

Protocols will be re-examined with re-opening

According to the Premier, the territory will be looking to re-examine some of the existing COVID-19 protocols to allow for cruise tourism and other travel, "but it will be one in which the advantages are for towards persons that are vaccinated,” he said.

Hon Fahie reminded that persons who will be coming to the territory via cruise liners must be vaccinated, which includes both the crew and the passengers.

“And I say again to all our people in the tourism industry, that they have also stated as we speak with cruise liners … they are stating that they want to make sure that whoever they come in contact with, with the bubble situations that we have, that all those persons are vaccinated also,” he said.

Hon Fahie said from then on, persons who are coming to the territory to spend money will be the ones dictating on vaccination in the Virgin Islands.

Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie says with about 7 cruise calls expected in June 2021 when the territory re-opens, businesses and others in the Virgin Islands who are fully vaccinated (VI) will reap the most benefits.

Locals must be aware & ready for protocols – Premier

“I want to make sure that our taxi operators understand this and they are ready, I want to make sure that our vendors understand this and they are ready, I want to make sure that our Craft Alive people understand this and that they are ready,” he said.

Premier Fahie reiterated that vaccination remains the best bet to protect people as well as to get the local economy going.

“Because we cannot dictate for persons that come into the territory where and how to spend their money if they do not feel safe being in areas with persons that are not vaccinated,” the Premier went on to say.