Volunteers in the Virgin Islands community have come together to assist a needy airline that is in danger of falling through the cracks.
For months, BVI Airways has done its best to provide direct flights between the VI and Miami on a shoestring budget. But with only $7.2 million in taxpayer money, it has struggled to make ends meet, and government has repeatedly refused to provide more funds.
“We’ve stretched every penny as far as it would go,” said a BVIA official, “but it’s all gone.”
Now several churches, service groups and businesses across the territory are rolling up their sleeves to lend a hand.
“Unfortunately, the Virgin Islands has no social safety net for heavily subsidised businesses like BVIA,” said an East End pastor who recently launched a fundraising campaign for the airline. “If they don’t get it right the first time, they don’t usually get a second chance. So we believe it’s up to the community to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are able to survive hard times.”
After reading news reports about the airline’s struggles, the pastor decided that his church would do all it can to help out.
“Our motto is ‘There but for the grace of God go we,” he said. “I don’t think any of us would want to find ourselves in a position where we have to get by on just $7.2 million of free money.”
Though his church has had to temporarily suspend its soup kitchen in order to assist the airline, he said the beneficiaries of that service understand completely.
“Our shut-ins have been more than willing to sacrifice their regular meals after realising that BVIA’s situation is far worse than theirs,” the pastor said. “Many of them have even donated their last possessions to help the airline stay afloat.”
So far the church’s members have raised $87,000 through collection drives, sports fundraisers and related activities, he said.
More funds
Other initiatives around the territory have raised similar sums for the beleagured airline.
“That’s what’s great about the VI,” said a Girl Scout who hosted a bake sale at Rite Way on Saturday in support of the airline. “Whenever someone is in need, we all come together to help out. Every little bit helps.”
Another community member launched a GoFundMe page that has already brought in more than $74,000.
“I know that’s only a drop in the bucket, but the page is catching on because everyone realises that this is a truly worthy cause,” he said. “Needy businesses should not be allowed to suffer so.”
He added that he is particularly concerned about the unnamed investors who own nearly 26 percent of the airline.
“I suspect that these are Virgin Islanders who were expecting to make big money from the subsidised contract,” he said. “At this point, it’s not clear if they made anything at all. I can’t even imagine how they must be feeling.”
Continued support
Even if the airline gets up and running with the new funding influx, community organisers were quick to point out that it may never be self-sufficient.
“Too often we assist a struggling business and then forget all about it once it gets back on its feet,” a Rotarian explained. “But BVIA will likely need millions every year to stay afloat even after it launches. So we’ll have to continue helping out as much as we can.”
She added that a relatively small annual contribution from all residents should be enough to get the job done.
“If everyone in the community donates just $1,000 each year, the airline will receive $30 million annually,” she said. “That’s not a lot, but we’re hoping it could be enough to keep them in the air. We believe in giving a hand up, not a hand out.”
Unfortunately, such lofty goals are often stymied by community members who stubbornly refuse to come on board.
“It’s not that they’re bad people,” she said. “They’re just misguided. They will argue that because BVIA got millions of dollars of taxpayer money they shouldn’t need handouts. But that’s probably just because they don’t know what it’s like struggling to get by on $7.2 million.”
Disclaimer: Dateline: Paradise is a column and occasionally contains satirical “news” articles that are entirely fictional.
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