Premier and Minister for Finance Andrew Fahie said he is pleased that his administration was at long last able to provide stimulus grants to the micro, small and medium-sized businesses in the British Virgin Islands.
The $6.5 million grant is as a result of the ongoing
Coronavirus Disease pandemic which has affected every sector financially.
News of the grant was first revealed four months ago in May.
“We are happy that persons have begun to receive their stimulus cheques. Last week we distributed over 30 cheques to businesses, and today another 70 businesses are receiving their stimulus cheques. By the end of this week we would have processed and released a combined total of 500 business stimulus grants out of the just over 1,000 business stimulus grants approved in the first phase,” he revealed on his social media page, with photos of two business owners being handed their checks.
He added: “So many businesses are already calling and expressing their gratitude for the assistance …we are truly in this together. Of course, there are bureaucratic processes that we must follow – we have no choice in that, there is no option for going around the bureaucratic processes which are there to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Meanwhile, the Premier mentioned that his administration has spent millions to assist the people of the territory since the
COVID-19’s arrival.