Community leaders being selected on sister islands
Residents at a community meeting on the island Virgin Gorda on Monday, February 26.
Community leaders are being selected to shepherd residents on the sister islands in the event of future disasters like hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Leaders are being selected as part of a series of hurricane preparedness meetings on the sister islands.
The meetings are being held between stakeholders such as the BVI Red Cross, the Lions Club, the Department of Disaster Management, and residents.
Once community leaders are identified, they will be trained and equipped with debris clearing machines, food supplies for distribution, communication devices, among other disaster preparedness tools.
“We are going to empower these leaders to make sure that if it happens again, God forbid, that we are a lot better prepared,” said Sister Islands Coordinator Vincent Wheatley at the first meeting held on Virgin Gorda on Monday.
“We were not prepared at all with what happened with hurricanes Irma and Maria and in my mind, we were just very lucky and by the grace of God that all these elements fell together and we are here today,” he added.
Self-empowerment
Following the hurricanes, Virgin Gorda received overwhelming support from a number of international business gurus who had developed a fondness for the island.
But Wheatley warned residents not to take that assistance for granted.
“One of the things we want to do is to empower the communities. Last time we were very lucky. The community came together very genuinely and worked well. But going forward, we have to take this Bible principle of being our brother’s keeper a little more seriously. Not after disasters, but every single day of the year and even more so leading up towards hurricanes.”
He further called on residents to ensure that homes within the community are prepared for disasters.
“We have to make sure that if we are knocked down again, we can bounce back again and even in a shorter period of time, this time.”
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The picture did capture look like a boring meeting but it was actually productive and informative meeting of introduction of who VG Roc is and BVI DDM team executed their presentation well. It’s now on us as individuals and as a community to just do what’s right. North Sound. I’m right here! Organize something and let’s do it. We’re going to benefit in the Long run.
Well look at what the BVI coming to so why is their a Government or house of assembly and Government department that should deal with these things. Well saw.
the persons who were trained to be on charge by the DDM left the island during the hurricane so what purpose does it serve to train and give items to wannabes who bolt when the first sign of trouble happens? FACT
Just look at the body language
Everyone in that room looked passed off or disgusted.
Who is he kidding? Maybe VG gets his support but how involved is this man with the other sister islands? What is he really coordinating? Tired of the nonsense… if District reps can’t help he at least should have but nope! Folks don’t be fooled