2020 in the British Virgin Islands

Events from the year 2020 in the British Virgin Islands.

2020
in
the BVI

Decades:
See also:

Incumbents

Events

January

  • 20 January - House of Assembly representative for the 6th District, Alvera Maduro-Caines "crosses the floor", leaving the opposition NDP to join the ruling VIP.[1] Politicians crossing the floor is relatively common in the Territory.

March

  • 25 March - The British Virgin Islands confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19. One was a visitor from Europe and one was a visitor from New York.[2]

April

  • 5 April - The Territory implements a 24 hour per day lockdown for a period of 14 days due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the British Virgin Islands.[3]
  • 18 April
    • The Territory suffers its first death from COVID-19.[4]
    • The Territory imposes a 7% tax on all money transfer services out of the Territory.[5]
  • 19 April - The Territory-wide 24 hour lockdown is extended by seven days.[6]

May

  • 24 May - Former first lady, Idris O'Neal OBE (wife of Ralph O'Neal) dies.[7]
  • 26 May - Health Authorities announce that there are now zero confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Territory, but warned that the fight against the virus is "not over".[8]

June

  • 3 June - The report of the Auditor General in relation to the Government's controversial investment in BVI Airways is published.[9]
  • 8 June – An American commercial fisherman is arrested for illegal entry, unregistered and unlicensed fishing, and failure to arrive at a customs port.[10]
  • 15 June - Controversy arises as a local media outlet publishes a cartoon of Governor Augustus Jaspert standing on the neck of a local media personality, in imitation of the murder of George Floyd.[11]

August

  • 3 August - Government issues a directive barring work permit holders and work permit exempt persons from returning to the Territory indefinitely.[12]
  • 14 August - Curfew relating to Covid-19 pandemic ends after five months.[13]
  • 21 August
    • Gambling laws are liberalised in the Territory pursuant to the new Gaming and Betting Control Act 2020.[14]
    • Nine new cases of Covid-19 diagnosed, leading the Government to reimpose curfew restrictions.[15] The rise in infections was blamed by the Government on people re-entering the Territory illegally from the neighbouring U.S. Virgin Islands to evade mandatory quarantine restrictions.[16]

September

  • 21 September - Government announces a proposed 1 December re-opening of the Territory for tourist visitors.[17]
  • 22 September - Government announces its commitment to "implementing publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership" for the Territory.[18]

October

  • 8 October - Government warns the public of an apparent Dengue fever outbreak in the Territory.[19]

November

  • 6 November - A man is shot dead in the Baugher's Bay area of Tortola.[20]
  • 10 November - A serving police officer is arrested in the largest drugs bust in the Territory's history - around 2,300 kilogrammes.[21]

Deaths

See also

Footnotes

  1. "Alvera Maduro-Caines joins the VIP! Fahie is a productive leader". BVI News. 20 January 2020.
  2. "BVI confirms first two cases of coronavirus". BVI News. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  3. "Shop for 14-days! BVI going on complete lockdown in 3 days". BVI News. 1 April 2020.
  4. "BVI Reports First Coronavirus Death; Extended Curfew Announced". VI Consortium. 18 April 2020.
  5. "7% tax on all $$ leaving the BVI via money transfers". BVI News. 18 April 2020.
  6. "Batten Down As Lockdown Extended For 7 Days". BVI Platinum. 18 April 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. "Former BVI First Lady Edris O'Neal dies". BVI News. 24 May 2020.
  8. "BVI Is COVID-19 Free". BVI Platinum. 26 May 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  9. "BDO Warned About BVI Airways Investment, Instead Gov't Appointed Company's Director To Airline's Board". BVI Platinum News. 3 June 2002.
  10. Radel, Dan. "New Jersey family fighting for return of fisherman jailed in British Virgin Islands". news.yahoo.com. USA Today. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  11. "News site's 'distasteful' cartoon of governor sparks public outrage". BVI News. 15 June 2020.
  12. "Work permit holders, exemption holders barred from entering indefinitely". BVI News. 3 August 2020.
  13. "BVI no longer under curfew!". BVI News. 14 August 2020.
  14. "Gaming & Betting Control Act now law!". BVI News. 21 August 2020.
  15. "Nine new COVID cases detected between Anegada and Tortola! Curfew reinstated". BVI News. 21 August 2020.
  16. "New Curfew Imposed On BVI After Reports Of New Covid-19 Cases". Government of the VI - Press Release. 21 August 2020.
  17. "BVI reopening for tourism on December 1!". BVI News. 21 September 2020.
  18. "Premier commits to 'publicly accessible registers' despite reservations". BVI News. 22 September 2020.
  19. "59 dengue cases for 2020 and rising! Mosquito hotspots in East". BVI News. 8 October 2020.
  20. "One dead after fatal shooting on Tortola". BVI News. 6 November 2020.
  21. "Cop arrested in largest drug bust in BVI history!". BVI News. 10 November 2020.
  22. "Former BVI First Lady Edris O'Neal dies". BVI News. 24 May 2020.
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