BVI & Covid problems

[jim King]

I have a boat in charter with Sunsail in the BVI and was planning on doing a three week sail starting Dec 1. I was told I would need to quarantine for eight days followed by a negative Covid test and then another 8 days quarantine before I could sail anywhere. So much for my vacation. I chose to go to the Exumas where the protocal is much less sever.
Also in the BVI, you could only fly in to Buck Island (their main airport). You couldn't come by ferry from the US Virgins or sail in by any other private boat.

[sv_pelagia]

Originally Posted by endlesspursuit

Not complaining about boarders. Complaining about unfair treatment to others by others. You think 20K is fair? USA lets more people into this country than any other I know of. Even during the start of covid we took in cruise ships so people could go home to their own countries. How about NZ? You can also thank us you don't speak German.

The USA doesn't even make it into the TOP 10 countries that accept the most refugees;

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-cou...ugees?slide=11

[skipper53]

CBS also carried this story. The "imprisoned" couple's attorney explained that there are no signs marking borders in the ocean. Hardly seems like a defense for not knowing where you are.

Neither did the wife help by saying that they new the border was closed.

It seems like the BVI would want to make a case for defending their borders and protecting their population from Covid 19 without making this into an international incident, and without appearing hostile to cruisers. They could apply the doctrine of right to innocent passage if the boaters didn't go ashore without contacting customs and immigration authorities.

[SalingSue]

Seeing there are no military installations or forces on the islands, what are they using to capture to sailboat crews?

Did the Royal Navy send a ship over?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by endlesspursuit

Not complaining about boarders. Complaining about unfair treatment to others by others. You think 20K is fair? ...

But it wasn't $30k, it turned out to $1K.

#6 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3286882
and
#147 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3287205

[endlesspursuit]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

I think you are missing the point mate, this isn't about the USA. Hard to believe but it's the plain truth.


The BVI have spoken and people need to respect their wishes. Full stop.

Granymc was making it about Americans complaining. That was his point. Personally I could care less what they do. Fair treatment is another thing. Plus they are pissing a lot of people off by the way they are handling things and that will cost the people of the BVI's in the long run.

[endlesspursuit]

Originally Posted by GordMay

#6 ➥ https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post3286882
But it wasn't $30k, it turned out to $1K.

They were trying for 20K but I guess they settled for 1K each person. Kind of weird its negotiable when the world gets interested.??? Seems like they created a lot of possible exposure for the island when they probably could have fined them at sea. If they paid of coarse.

[Rorzech]

I wouldn't even go near the BVI in a bathtub when they are handing out tickets that start at 20K$ and bargain down to 1K$ per person. It makes you wonder once they get the taste for legal money stealing .What else are they going to dream up for fines once covid 19 is over. They will have become dependent on this cash grab and I doubt if they'll want to be deprived of their new found source of wealth. BVI will have covid 19 for ever, as far as I am concerned . I'll now put my money towards supporting a lot of other islands that respect sea travellers . BVI should be isolated or avoided for 20 years. that should be fair since their fine is $20,000.00 .

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by endlesspursuit

Not complaining about boarders. Complaining about unfair treatment to others by others. You think 20K is fair? USA lets more people into this country than any other I know of. Even during the start of covid we took in cruise ships so people could go home to their own countries. How about NZ? You can also thank us you don't speak German.

What an insulting comment

[Kd9truck]

BVI can do what they want, they are not the only country with strict COVD RULES

It seems from a tale I read (on another forum)about a couple who just purchased a vessel and were trying to get back to NZ or Aus, they were held to strict quarantines and reprimanded and threatened by Turks, Italians, Maltese, and croations. Sadly in attempt to respect “rules” they could not get fuel and provisions and badly needed back up technology, the got caught in a storm and had to abandon ship 40 miles off Malta.
As for the USA and its borders, hordes of destitute impoverished make 2–4 thousand mile treks across sometimes several countries to unlawfully enter American soil to enjoy the privileges American citizens provide for them. In many places these illegal occupants are afforded more benefits than that of a middle class citizen. FREE COLLAGE is one of them.

I am not mad at the BVI it’s the politicians that make the policy not the citizens, those islands are pristine, it would not surprise me if the intent was to impoverish the BVI population so that they will become dependent on the government, apparently this part of world has forgotten what socialism is like.

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by endlesspursuit

... USA lets more people into this country than any other I know of. Even during the start of covid we took in cruise ships so people could go home to their own countries. How about NZ? You can also thank us you don't speak German.

Maybe you don't know a lot.

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Maybe you don't know a lot.

You got that right... the level of ignorance in this thread is astounding to me. All things considered though, maybe it shouldn't be...

[ksuderman]

Originally Posted by endlesspursuit

They were trying for 20K but I guess they settled for 1K each person. Kind of weird its negotiable when the world gets interested.???

No, that is how court cases around the world work; if you plead guilty you can get a reduced penalty, if you fight and lose you face the whole shebang. And I hardly think the world is interested; I suspect no one outside this forum and Cruising Anarchy cares a whit about what the BVI is doing because it is what all countries are doing right now.

What I find astounding is the entitlement some people feel. You are a guest in another country; act like it or stay home.

[250224]

Originally Posted by ksuderman

What I find astounding is the entitlement some people feel. You are a guest in another country; act like it or stay home.

In the case of the BVI those guests bring (brought) a lot of money. One would feel that guests shouldn't arbitrarily be threatened with a 20'000 $ fine. Even worse with such a bad justification (Covid risk is certainly bigger if you catch and bring people in).

No entitlement, just common sense. Furthermore, BVI is not alone on the world (otherwise their rather shaby financial services would not work). And, lastly, another Hurricane may come and BVI depend on help.

[IAmGroot]

Originally Posted by ccwoodhead

This is from the Salty Dawgs:

[CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][CENTER]

Hello,



Please be aware that the BVIs are not permitting vessels to enter their waters until at least December 8. This includes sailing through the waters with no intent to stop. Here is the information from Noonsite:

I looked and do not see any reference to Dec 8 in this post or the others on the BVI site...looks like a grain of fact mixed with some FUD. Dec 8 is the date that BVI is allowing folks to check in some place OTHER THAN the airport, so maybe that is where the date is coming from.

I DID find something very interesting following the category links from the original BVI post: https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/trav...ect-quarantine - showing the permitted moorings/anchorages for the 4-day quarantine period. Would be nice if they could post this in the main https://www.bvitourism.com/reopening site...

Not sure anyone in their right mind would moor overnight at George Dog...happy to be corrected by anyone that has done it...along with any tips.