Nationals Threatened Legal Action After Border Closure

No Image Found!

(PLTM) - When the Government of the Virgin Islands shut the borders to all passengers including BVIslanders in response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, legal action was threatened.

“There were those when the borders were closed started to argue legal points that the country cannot shut out its nationals. And it became a legal discussion and a legal argument. So, what happened is that some of our own people started to push back at the Government legally that they have to be able to come home,” Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Andrew Fahie has disclosed.

He was speaking during the debate of the COVID-19 Control and Suppression (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (2020), in the House of Assembly on Friday, March 27.

The Act allows for mandatory quarantine for 14 days and if they refuse to abide by the order, they can face up to $5,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment.

Hon. Fahie said because of the pressure, they allowed some locals to return home, but some of those persons refused to be quarantined.

“We said to them, alright, although we close the borders only nationals will come home, but you have to agree to be quarantine. Some of our people agreed and they stick to it, but then some of them agreed and when they land, they land with some poor attitude and say that there is no law to make me quarantine and I am going home,” Premier Fahie said.

He said that it was unfortunate that some Members in the House of Assembly supported the actions of those uncooperative locals.

“You have some of them in this House supporting their action and then when we went and try to tell them we want to save lives, you just come from this part (country where the virus is widespread), then they started to argue. If I had my way, they wouldn’t reach back at all. I ain’t afraid to tell them,” the Territory’s leader stressed.

He said it was a good thing that none of these persons were tested positive for the virus.

“But now to make it mandatory we have to come to pass a law because some of our people don’t want to police themselves. They want to behave like its slave master days when somebody have to be over them with a stick to do the right thing,” Premier Fahie said.

At a press conference on March 24, Premier Fahie said that his daughters who are in college are also shut out during the closure of the borders.

-----
Copyright 2023 by Virgin Islands Platinum News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Reader Opinion
Please note that the opinions posted are the opinions of its author and does not in any way reflect the views of the management, staff, parent company or sponsors of Virgin Islands Platinum News.
There are no comments to show at this time.
Cruise Schedule
IN PORT - TODAY ( 28 March )
We have no cruise ship in port on this day!
IN PORT - TOMORROW ( 29 March )
We have no cruise ship in port on this day!