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BVI government blasted as discriminatory by expat residents
| Published: | 26 Jun at 6 PM |
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Tagged: Visas
Expats in the British Virgin Islands are unhappy about the government’s strategy as regards quarantine for new arrivals.
In a somewhat original take on the solution to the pandemic, the BVI’s government has budgeted $2.3 million for the provision of 250 government-run quarantine rooms. At the same time, the criteria for arrivals will be different dependent on whether a work permit is being held.
The 14-day quarantine facilities are located in 12 separate properties, costing the government a total of $ 2,357,000 for the period between now and 14th September. Numbers of units, rates to be charged, meal plans and suchlike are not as yet drawn up, but at least the government has pledged to cover all meals for the occupants unless they hold work permits.
Apparently, government funding for quarantine per se will only include the mandatory expenses for Belongers, nationals and BVIslanders, leaving expat residents with no official status to pay their own way for the stated quarantine period. Worse yet, for those expat living in the BVI not covered by the above, home quarantine is now disallowed due to instances of violation. Testing on arrival isn’t mentioned, with no reasons given for the omission.
Unsurprisingly, expats without ‘statuses’ living in the BVI are less than pleased with the new rules, especially if they’ve been separated from their loved ones due to worldwide flight cancellations. Online comments are calling the ‘special treatment’ discriminatory at best and financial greed at worst, but it’s unlikely anything will change as a result.
In a somewhat original take on the solution to the pandemic, the BVI’s government has budgeted $2.3 million for the provision of 250 government-run quarantine rooms. At the same time, the criteria for arrivals will be different dependent on whether a work permit is being held.
The 14-day quarantine facilities are located in 12 separate properties, costing the government a total of $ 2,357,000 for the period between now and 14th September. Numbers of units, rates to be charged, meal plans and suchlike are not as yet drawn up, but at least the government has pledged to cover all meals for the occupants unless they hold work permits.
Apparently, government funding for quarantine per se will only include the mandatory expenses for Belongers, nationals and BVIslanders, leaving expat residents with no official status to pay their own way for the stated quarantine period. Worse yet, for those expat living in the BVI not covered by the above, home quarantine is now disallowed due to instances of violation. Testing on arrival isn’t mentioned, with no reasons given for the omission.
Unsurprisingly, expats without ‘statuses’ living in the BVI are less than pleased with the new rules, especially if they’ve been separated from their loved ones due to worldwide flight cancellations. Online comments are calling the ‘special treatment’ discriminatory at best and financial greed at worst, but it’s unlikely anything will change as a result.
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