The BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITB) is emphasizing safety as top priority, as all roads lead to the island of Anegada for the 9th Annual Anegada Lobster Festival (ALF), being held from 26th to 28th November, 2021.
The BVITB has stressed health and safety from the initial planning of this year’s event. In the initial community meeting in September, the Board insisted that since the Territory is still being impacted by COVID-19, all stakeholders would be required to raise the level of their health and safety standards, including robust adherence to the Territory’s COVID-19 protocols.
Director of Tourism, Mr. Clive McCoy said, “Throughout the planning of this year’s Anegada Lobster Festival, we have emphasized safety. The approval to celebrate ALF this year was predicated on stakeholder buy-in, to promote the best practices in health and safety. Guidance from the Public Health and the Environmental Health Departments, along with the commitment of the stakeholders to hold an event that offers great enjoyment underpinned with strong health and safety practices, was paramount. We are also grateful for the continued multi-agency support we have received this year, including the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, BVI Health Services Authority, BVI Ports Authority, Public Health Department, Environmental Health Department, Customs, and Immigration. This multi-agency collaboration helps to ensure that Lobster Fest is celebrated and enjoyed, safely.”
The Environmental Health Department has been engaging everyone in the ALF supply chain, from the ferries, ground transportation providers, restaurants, and tour guides, conducting inspections and training, with refreshers leading up to the weekend event.
In keeping with its primary service standard of safety, and its ALF contingency plans, the BVITB has decided that only fully vaccinated staff will travel to Anegada to work for the Lobster Festival. As part of the preventive health protocols, these staff members will be tested daily during the festival.
