$217K in contracts signed for police station and sports arena works

The government recently signed two contracts valued a little more than $272,000 for the construction of a car park and auxiliary facilities at the Jeffrey A. Caines Sports Arena in Virgin Gorda and for architectural and engineering design services on the Road Town Police Station.

OBM International won the $45,001.93 contract for the police station while the $172,716.08 contract for the Jeffrey A. Caines Sports Arena was awarded to No Limit Construction.

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, Governor John Rankin — who has portfolio responsibility for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force — said he was pleased to see the contract being signed for improvements to the Road Town-based station. He used the occasion to further note that the United Kingdom government was funding the design phase of the project.

“This is an important step to improve the safety and security of the Virgin Islands by improving the physical working conditions of the facilities for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). The security of the island remains a top priority and the police, in recent days, have highlighted the strong work the police force is doing here in the BVI. I will continue to support them because together we can all help to make the BVI a safer place”, Governor Rankin said.

Sports Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley said he was also at the contract signing in the capacity as a member of the National Security Council and he was pleased to see the government moving forward with the development of the police station.

“I’m also here as the Minister of Sports as we see the Jeffrey Caines Arena that we did so much work on before. The parking [at the sports arena] was a little difficult. There were a lot of cars in there and I’m happy to see that we are going to develop the car park there so we can have more activities there. It really is a wonderful facility,” Wheatley said.

Meanwhile, Premier Andrew Fahie said the contract for architectural and design services for the Road Town Police Station Phase II is one sponsored by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

“This project complements the efforts of the Virgin Islands government to provide our police officers with a comfortable and functional accommodation that they deserve and which will help to improve their efficiency in performing their role in public safety and law enforcement,” Fahie said.

The Premier also highlighted that earlier this year, through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), his government was able to refurbish the Jeffrey A. Caines Sports Arena since the passage of the hurricanes in 2017.

He said the construction of the car park and auxiliary facilities is a continuation of that redevelopment. The funds for the physical project are being provided by the government.

“Persons who are familiar with the facility will know that it is one of the main sporting venues on the sister island of Virgin Gorda. It comprises a covered sporting complex, a singular integrated volleyball and basketball court and a parking facility. All of which are used for regional, national and community-based activities for the strengthening of sports throughout the Virgin Islands,” the Premier said.