Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

Don't Wait For The Law

Don't Wait For The Law

Residents are being urged to exercise the protocol surrounding COVID-19 and not wait until the government makes it mandatory for to wear facemasks and exercise physical distancing between individuals.
The plea came from Hon. Carvin Malone, Minister of Health and Social Development.

"...The Government will shortly be enacting legislation to enforce compliance with various Public Health measures, such as handwashing and sanitisation, physical distancing and limits on the size of gatherings, and the wearing of face masks or coverings in public places. I implore you not to wait until you come under the penalty of the law to do the right thing to protect yourself and others," he said on Friday, July 24.

According to the Health Minister, working together as a community can result in the BVI putting up a strong fight against COVID-19 and continue to safely reopen the borders, reboot the economy, put more people back to work, "put our children back in schools, and flourish as a Territory without taking undue risks with people’s lives," the Minister said.

The Health Minister reminded residents that they are15,897,482 COVID -19 cases reported globally with 641,042 deaths and 85,461 cases reported regionally with 1,592 deaths.

"The mere numbers have overwhelming medical facilities throughout the world. It is reported that the Government of Dominican Republic will introduce a 45 days lockdown to commence shortly. Bahamas has announced a 2 weeks lockdown and the banned on American tourists as reported," he stated.

On July 8, Premier and Finance Minister, Hon. Andrew Fahie in a statement said that the Ministry of Health and Social Development instructed the Attorney General to consider all relevant legislation, including the COVID-19 Control and Suppression (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020 for the purpose of enacting provisions to adhere to the social distancing measures, which include, but are not limited to the wearing of face masks/coverings by all individuals when in an indoor or outdoor public space; and the maintaining of the six feet of physical distance between individuals when in an indoor or outdoor space.

Further, that all businesses must ensure that employees and visitors (customers) wear face masks/coverings and adhere to all social distancing measures approved by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Also, non-compliance will see persons facing penalties.

Premier Fahie said to this end, an amendment to the Act will see the introduction of a range of penalties for individuals and businesses that violate the above listed measures, which may include the following: individuals facing for first offence - warning; second offence – fine and education/training; each subsequent offence – Fine; and failure to pay a fine will incur a further penalty

What is being considered for businesses is that in the first offence – a warning; second offence – fine, Notice of Closure, subject to re-inspection and education/training; and third offence – revocation of Environmental Health Certificate, closure and a further penalty.

It is not clear when the proposed amendment will be taken before the House of Assembly for debate and passage.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×