Malone Address: COVID, Small boat entry, Water taxis

Honourable Malone made an address today.

Text of Honourable Malone's address of 29 June 2021.

In addition to discussing the new COVID cases and urging vaccination, he mentioned that an entry protocol for small vessels has been approved and a protocol for water taxi operators (apparently BVI-based only) has been approved. No date mentioned for implementation.

We have a charter out of USVI starting 7-24. We would have booked out of BVI if we had known that the protocols would be relaxed for a vaccinated crew. It would be awesome to spend half of the week in BVI if those 3 ports allowed a small vessel full of vaccinated pirates to clear customs as in the past.

Just curious ~ They are saying that these vaccines expire at the end of the month and to act now. Will there not be any vaccine availability after August 1st? Or perhaps it will not be free?

I'd be very surprised if they don't have a unpublished plan to bring in more vaccines in small quantities. At the same time, there's not really much point. The last reports were 4 days apart and only 83 new people chose to get their first shot.

We have a reservation with 'Chillout Water Taxi' July 24th for transfer from St. Thomas to Voyage Charters, which looks like it can now happen. The problem is we have 3 kids, (6,6, & 8) not eligible for a vaccine. Everyone else is vaccinated. I don't yet know if the children will be allowed to travel with their parents. It is now 'crunch time', only three weeks away.

Most likely not because the children will have to test on arrival and the "fully vaccinated ports" will not have testing facilities. Still some time for protocols to change but have a backup plan.