BVI News

Calm down! Be patient and stop questioning BVIEC’s motives

Dr Karl Dawson

First District Representative Dr Karl Dawson has urged residents to be patient and understanding as the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) continues its efforts to restore power across the territory following Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Dr Dawson commended the community spirit displayed after the storm. However, he expressed frustration at some residents’ criticism of the BVIEC’s restoration efforts.

“We saw community actions where people started to help themselves immediately after the storm and help others. We saw the tireless effort of the BVI Electricity Corporation and we saw community-mindedness … I must say, though, that at times I was a bit peeved, especially in matters related to electricity, and I know some people will bash me and say well, we should have on our current half hour after the storm,“ the first-term legislator said.

He emphasised the dedication of BVIEC workers and defended their work ethic.

“The persons that we have on our teams have been working hard as best as they could to restore power across the territory,“ Dr Dawson explained.

“I’ve seen people asking questions and even questioning their motives as to well, ‘why they go to this place first and that place first and the other place first?’“ he added.

Dr Dawson appealed to residents for unity and understanding. “I’m saying to our people of the Virgin Islands, let us be one — let’s calm down. Every effort is being made to give everybody back their power and restore them to a level of comfort. And it hurt me most when we question even the motivations of the persons in the Electricity Corporation after they have been working so many hard hours to bring us all back to a state of comfort.“

The BVIEC has faced some challenges in restoring power after the storm, with several electrical fires and downed utility poles affecting the pace of restorations.

A temporary manpower shortage existed as some workers were still assisting with recovery efforts in St Vincent after Hurricane Beryl.  Despite these hurdles, BVIEC crews continued their work, prioritising areas with critical infrastructure in their restoration efforts.

 

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15 Comments

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  1. soil boy says:

    And this is exactly why we got more pothole than roads, you cant bathe past 7pm, and bread is twelve dollars.

    he say sh*t up, yuh def?

    Like 17
    • Time to Switch from Orange Phone Company says:

      Meanwhile the orange phone company leaves its customers wondering when their internet would be restored but the blue phone company and red phone company providing steady updates.

      Time to switch.

      Like 3
      Dislike 1
  2. Hmmm. says:

    What a stupid and uncaring response. This was a tropical storm that knocked the grid out , not a major hurricane but a tropical storm. People have the right to be upset and question everything millions were spent to rebuild and Minor storm took it out. Where’s the resilience?

    Like 34
    Dislike 1
    • @Hmmm says:

      Regardless of what even they do power will go. Remember same way you all was behaving when Irma did what it did to the infrastructure. So now poles were running sh to be planted. Some line were hurriedly done. Transformers. cross arms, insulators all go get damage. So please. I want one person to come here and tell me water did not come inside them out at not time during the storm. And we all prepare daily.

      Like 2
      Dislike 2
  3. NOBODY is questioning says:

    the motives or ethics of the BVIEC workers. We all feel only gratitude toward the linesmen and support staff. Our issue is with the ‘Corporate’ part of the BVIEC.

    Every June or July, Virgin Islanders stock up on batteries, flashlights (or bulbs), canned food and cleaning supplies. Those of us with generators have maintenance done and make certain we have fuel containers. We prepare for the coming hurricane season.

    While it is perfectly understandable to us that some workers would be working to restore power in the devastated Grenadines and their pathway home would take time, we are hearing there were shortages of predictable necessities like fuses. Please address this, Dr. Dawson. Was the BVIEC prepared with the most basic necessities needed for even a very small storm like Ernesto?

    We are ALL concerned about the next couple of months. Consider doing the job you were hired to do and set our minds at ease by telling us that you have investigated this debacle and are satisfied the BVIEC is doing their best to prepare for the height of the hurricane season. We didn’t hire you to scold us or put words in our mouths.

    Like 18
  4. PT09 says:

    Karl Dawson you need to shut up, from what I was told the government sent some lines men down Island to help out and that’s the reason why we have people without power since Tuesday night. Nothing wrong in trying to help but after what happened to the power in the BVI the government should have chartered a plane bring them home get things done and if still needed send them back once you took care of the people of the BVI, and $400,000.00 US is a lot of money to just give away when you can’t fix the roads garbage running water and many more problems. The whole lot of you is no good for the BVI. My wish is the UK take us over for two years get us on our feet then have an election and forbid anyone who has been a minister in government including the present government from running again.

    Like 20
    Dislike 1
  5. DJ Kaled says:

    And another One…………empty kerosene pan! KD is/was a grand mistake just to put back in an INEPT VIP government which has the country hostage with their failures to govern!

    VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE NOW!!!!

    Like 17
  6. Man pleaseeeeee says:

    This is not your call, Go focus on farming. I’m quite sure your electric is and was working during the TS. You are just as disgusting as the rest of them. Go do some real work for the salary that the tax payers is paying you to do.

    Like 18
    Dislike 1
  7. if you think says:

    if you think we making noise now… let a hurrican past through here for a joke

    you will hear some real noise bcuz if you struggling under a tropical storm we are very worried for the future!

    should of run those lines underground with ya 3rd world nonsense

    Like 12
  8. Resident says:

    It’s a shame we didn’t take the U.K. $400m loan guarantee after Irma; especially as we can’t say how the billions of govt expenditure was used since the 1980s. Not on infrastructure, that’s forcsure

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  9. @Hon. Dawson says:

    I’m more interested in hearing you speak about measures to reduce power outages during such events. That’s what we are paying you for. The lip service and smiles are meaningless to us.

  10. Sturpss says:

    I don’t know for sure but I bet he already have back his electricity while telling you to shut up about not having any.

  11. Ai says:

    So Karl want to get loud.Why karl didn’t come visit we farmers and see our damage and tell how Govt.will help?Waste of time you are keep talking tough faker

  12. Elephant in Room says:

    In December 2023 there was mention of a request for proposal being created for a new incinerator. We are now nearly nine months on and still no progress. Please provide an urgent update. How can you stay so silent on this national emergency?

  13. no says:

    “It’s a shame we didn’t take the U.K. $400m loan guarantee after Irma”

    NO! They would have screwed it up and we would be under 400m extra debt for nothing.

    Besides what kind of friend tried to financially enslave you after a territory wide truama?!!

    Like 2
    Dislike 1

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