Coming out from the recently concluded 8th Inter-Virgin Islands Council meeting held on February 4, 2020, it was revealed by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie, that government plans to partner with the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to lower the cost of transporting goods to the Territory.

The Premier on the Tuesday, February 4, 2020, edition of the ‘Honestly Speaking’ radio show noted that as part of a number of upcoming collaborations with the USVI, his government will be working to negotiate cheaper shipping rates.

He said to get food into the USVI, it is cheap; however, “when it comes to just sail it right across the waters to the BVI you’re paying couple thousands well, which has to be passed on to the consumer,” the Premier said.

Lowering the cost of food

USVI Governor, Albert Bryan Jr said an overall trade agreement will be looked into that would be beneficial to the people of the Virgin Islands.

“As we move on, we want to figure out how to make trade easier between our sisters, our brothers, and making sure that we get that done,” he said.

Premier Fahie, in highlighting one of the wins for the Territory that came out of the meetings, said the goal now is to work assiduously to bring food prices down.

“One of the discussions we had… is also to start to work tirelessly to see how we can renegotiate with the shipping companies to get better shipping rates and bring down food prices in the BVI.”