A decision on whether the BVI will see cruise passengers for the upcoming season is expected to be made within the coming days. The BVI has been given until tomorrow, September 2 to decide whether it will accept vaccinated cruise passengers without administering additional COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in the territory. The current protocols require all fully vaccinated persons coming into the territory to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival at the territory’s ports of entry. “Now, we have up until I think it’s Thursday to respond to the industry or we would lose the industry in terms of most of it for the rest of the season and perhaps next year. That is the long and short of it,” Premier Andrew Fahie disclosed in blunt terms during a Transportation-For-Hire Industry Meeting held with taxi drivers and other stakeholders last evening. After being asked to reconsider the current regime, the Premier said he pleaded for extra time to consult with stakeholders before coming to a decision on the matter, hence the consultation session held last evening. Commenting on the abrupt nature of the meeting and decision, the Premier said: “We didn’t get much time with it. In case you’re wondering, how come now they come, we didn’t get much time with it. We have to make a decision.” The territory’s leader said the health sector has put forward solutions but the government thought it best to consult with stakeholders first before implementing any of those proposals. The Premier further noted that doing nothing was not an option and urged the stakeholders to “come together for a common cause and balance lives and livelihoods”.
BVI’s testing regime impractical
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Oleanvine Maynard revealed that cruise lines felt the BVI’s entry testing regime was impractical.
According to officials in the cruise industry, precious hours will be wasted for hundreds or even thousands of passengers to be tested after only arriving for a day stop in the BVI.
Furthermore, they said the physical space and shelter to administer the tests are not available at the BVI’s cruise pier.