2020 in the British Virgin Islands

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Events from the year 2020 in the British Virgin Islands.

2020
in
the BVI

Decades:
See also:

Incumbents

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Events

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January

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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]
  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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

November

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  • 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

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See also

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Footnotes

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  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.