Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Delay to seaports reopening another ‘blow to already fragile situation’- BVICCHA

Calling itself the “proactive voice of business”, the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) has lamented that there has been another delay to the reopening of the seaports in the Virgin Islands to international operations.
Tourism sector on ‘life support’


Noting that the tourism sector is on life support, the BVICCHA in a statement on Thursday, March 3, 2021, said it is disappointed at the news that the reopening of seaports has been delayed for a second time since the initial announcement to open the seaports in December 2020.

“The seaports are the main point of destination access into the Virgin Islands and a further delay to April 2021 at the end of the regular tourism season is another blow to an already fragile situation.”

It further said that the delay means that for the second year in a row, the accommodations and food services sector, which “accounted for over $80 million in economic activity in 2016”, has suffered another major disruption that could result in permanent business closures.

Reasons for delay


The further delay to the reopening of the seaports was announced by the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) on February 24, 2021.

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.

Noting that the tourism sector is on life support, the BVICCHA in a statement on Thursday, March 3, 2021, said it is disappointed at the news that the reopening of seaports has been delayed for a second time since the initial announcement to open the seaports in December 2020.


Balance needed


BVICCHA said while the business community appreciates the priority of public health and safety, a balance is needed to protect livelihoods that, if not preserved, will have a long-lasting impact and result in socioeconomic fallout such as poverty due to chronic under-employment or unemployment.

It continued that the tourism sector businesses, which have earned little to no revenue over the past twelve (12) months, are in a dire position and unable to return persons to work or pay severance without going bankrupt.

“It is important to remember that the local economy is integrated and if one sector(s) is in distress, there is a significant impact across all. For example, the professional services sector, including the transportation, wholesale and retail sectors, will also be negatively impacted.

“As reported in October 2020, many businesses that rely on tourism dollars, directly or indirectly, have exhausted savings trying to survive thus far, and some are going into debt trying to sustain operations.”

No ‘relief assistance’ for some businesses- BVICCHA


The BVICCHA also claimed that some businesses are still reporting that they have not received business relief assistance promised from six months ago.

“This situation further highlights the need for immediate strategic actions to diversify the economy in the next 3-5 years to limit the economic shockwave of this magnitude. We again make the call for a Comprehensive Economic Recovery and Development Plan to be developed with stakeholder consultations that include unemployment benefit scheme, economic relief/paycheck protection program, bank deposit insurance, moratoriums, and bankruptcy regulations.

BVICCHA said longer-term goals such as diversification, workforce development plan, and regulations that make a more business-friendly environment also needs to be included in its proposed plan.

“A key element to start this planning process is quarterly economic reporting to provide information for planning and decision-making.

Meanwhile, the BVICCHA said it will be hosting a virtual Business Stakeholders Meeting on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at 5:30 pm.

It said all business owners are invited to attend to share their concerns and ideas.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
×