BVI to observe Irma anniversary
PRESS RELEASE: Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D Orlando Smith, OBE is encouraging territory-wide participation in the observation of the 1st anniversary of Hurricane Irma.
The Government of the Virgin Islands will observe the occasion on Thursday, September 6 under the theme, ‘Service of Thanksgiving, Reflection and Restoration’.
The event will be commemorated through a series of reflections through song, dance and remarks. Premier Smith is encouraging territory-wide participation in this event at a place and time to be confirmed.
The Premier said: “After the unparalleled destruction caused by Hurricane Irma, it‟s important that we reflect on our progression and thank God for his mercies.”
He added: “We recognise the ways in which Hurricane Irma affected the lives of everyone in our community and commemorating it cannot be done in a vacuum. The Premier said his government welcomes the opportunity to partner with the community in its plans to observe the historic day.
The public is also being encouraged to commemorate the day through community outreach programmes, social events or conducting activities at church, home, schools or places of business.
Premier said: “The vision for a future BVI will be built around our most important resource: our people. The resilience and faith instilled in our DNA by our ancestors has brought us through many challenges. Our future vision will therefore be built around the lessons we have learned from our shared experiences immediately following Hurricane Irma.”
On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma affected the lives and livelihoods of the territory‟s residents. The event resulted in significant damages which exceeded the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the British Virgin Islands and caused widespread damage to the housing stock, road infrastructure, ports, telecommunications, electrical infrastructure and critical facilities.
Four lives were lost and 125 persons were injured in the devastation.
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Schools not rebuilt,sewage everywhere,dumps on fire,nothing to celebrate, get to work.
Life cannot be replaced, there is always a reason to celebrate life. Everything else is replaceable. Without life you have nothing.
Who wants bad memories?
What about all the persons we lost post Irma?
They too should be included
How can you include something that’s lost?
I thought a holiday would be warranted
Do us a favor and announce your resignation and step aside today. Our country is on fire. And what’s left is broken. Why do we have to wait until the elections. Let’s start our recovery today!
Irma was bad, the problem is everything was going to hell in a handbasket way before it.
So true. The ministers should disclose the kick backs they or their family members received before the storm. Have they been using BVI companies go hide their beneficial jnterests in public projects that they have pushed through?
Please explain Mr Ministers, why did you prepay the $7.2 million in the BVI Airways? Were you that anxious to get your share of our money or is there another more reasonable explanation?
Mr Premier, why did you continue to push for the $300 million runway extension after the storm? Why did you invest $7.2m in the airline that was scheduled to land on the existing runway? Didn’t that investment contradict the need for a longer runway? Please explain your actions before you disappear.
Another holiday for the lazy people of the BVI. Don’t let any opportunity pass you buy as excuse not to work and have a day off. I can’t think of another place on the planet that would do such a thing. Since it’s a Thursday, might as well make it a 4 day weekend. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Where does it say it’s a public holiday?
It said observe the day so if it is a holiday, it should be made clear
Hows about you mind your non-lazy business?
Observance not to be seen as a holiday
What does observing have to do with being lazy? It you don’t care to observe, then don’t. some nearly lost their lives and are still here today. We survived. That in it self is something to celebrate. Life. Do you have a problem with the number of holidays we have then you can always go work in a country where they work you to death. SMH. Too much negativity. I will celebrate, My son and I nearly lost our lives. We are grateful.
On September 06, 2017, the territory will observe the first anniversary of the on slaught of monster Hurricane Irma, a Cat 5 plus hurricane. The monster storm devastated the territory; it changed lives and circumstances, resulting in approx $3.6B in damages. September 06, 2017, is a Black-letter day in BVI history. It is a day of refelection on what was, what happened, what changed, how much progress was made, where we are now, how much farther we need to travel, lessons learnt……..etc.
Moreover, it is a day of thanksgiving for the many blessings in spite of the storm. It is a day of mourning and remembering for the 4 precious souls who lost their lives during the storm and also those in the aftermath. May they rest in eternal peace.
Sad to witness how slow we have been to recover compared to other places – the “No Direction Party” has been weighed in the balance and found wanting – a change must happen. But before the leader leaves he must be forced to produce audited annual accounts for the past 5 years plus …our country needs loans and … we can’t draw down upon them….
God is Good All The Time And All The Time God Is Good all I have to say go easy on the Expatriates
Let it be a day of prayer for the bvi
A year later all I observe is the islands are burning…and infrastructure worse than ever .the bvi is becoming a hell hole with nice beaches