2020 in the British Virgin Islands

Decades:	; ; ; ; ;
See also:	Other events of 2020; Timeline of BVI history;

Events from the year 2020 in the British Virgin Islands.

Incumbents

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]