Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) made the call during a May 26, 2021, update on current affairs in the territory.

Recipients of COVID-19 stimulus grants from the inception were asked to account for the use of the funding. This was relayed to them via a letter that accompanied their cheques.

“I want to remind the recipients of the various economic stimulus packages, that when they received the funds, they committed to providing statements to confirm how they utilised the funds provided and to provide data on the impact this funding support had on their ventures,” he said.

The premier pleaded with persons to not delay sending in the information, which he said will allow the ministries to close off the paperwork and complete reports to account for the monies given.

Premier Andrew A. Fahie made the call during a May 26, 2021, update on current affairs in the territory.

Updating of stats & record

Hon Fahie informed that COVID-19 also “exposed a number of flaws and weaknesses within our systems in the BVI, in particular certain areas of reporting and statistics.”

He said some aspects of the government’s records were not up to date or were not being kept up to date, and one area where that was happening was the farmers and fishermen's register, which is now being rectified through the stimulus with information received.

“We recognise that the status of all these persons needs to be regularised in the system. The objective is not to stir up any blame game or to point fingers at any public officers but to finally get it right.”

Hon Fahie's said the objective also is to take what was learned and to strengthen the systems with the aim of building resilience towards future economic shocks and catastrophic weather and climate events.