The Premier said a special committee will be set up to carry out this study which will help the government to better aid residents who continue to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With this pandemic and its effect on the social situation in our society, I intend, through the Cabinet, to ask the Minister for Social Development to set up a special committee to inform on the social impact of COVID-19 in the BVI and to make recommendations on how to reach affected persons so that they can get the support they need,” Premier Fahie said.

When COVID-19 first hit the BVI in 2020 and forced a territory-wide shutdown, the government gave food supplies to households across the territory. Thereafter, each district representative was given $300,000 to assist vulnerable constituents.

Additionally, the BVI recently received approval for a grant of just more than $350,000 from the United Nation’s (UN) COVID-19 Response & Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund.

Premier Andrew Fahie said these funds will contribute to the Government’s Income Support Programme established for those vulnerable persons financially impacted by COVID-19.

With the partial reopening of the territory’s borders, tourism remains on life support; causing hardships for many residents who rely on the industry. Many have also lost jobs as businesses had to scale down their operations to survive the pandemic.

Family life is also being impacted as laid-off parents struggle to find jobs while juggling work and at-home schooling for their children.