Deputy Premier discusses support for recovery during Hertfordshire visit
Photo provided
PRESS RELEASE: Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources & Labour Dr Honourable Kedrick Pickering has met representatives of the BRE Group in Hertfordshire County to discuss support for the recovery of the British Virgin Islands.
On 12 June the Deputy Premier toured the facilities of the BRE Group which is a world leading, multi-disciplinary, building science research centre. Among the facilities toured were a wind tunnel, innovation park and humanitarian Demo Shelter.
The Deputy Premier also heard a presentation on Quantifying Sustainability in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters (QSAND) programme which features a self-assessment tool to promote and inform the sustainability approaches to relief, recovery and reconstruction after a natural disaster.
He also held positive discussions with BRE’s CEO Niall Trafford, BRE Group Research Director Dr Deborah Pullen, Existing Building Lead James Fisher, Group Operations Director Mike Grant and George Foden on BRE Group’s support for BVI in its recovery process and agreed to explore options in the future.
The Deputy Premier was accompanied by Deputy Director of the BVI London Office Dr Sandra Besson and Cultural Attache Siobhan Flax.
Commenting on the successful meeting with the BRE Group in Hertfordshire County, Hon. Pickering said, “This was an extraordinary visit with huge potential to benefit our recovery from several different perspectives. The BRE Group is world class and will be a great partner for the BVI under our Memorandum of Understanding with Hertfordshire County Council. It is critical that we follow-up on the support on offer.”
The Deputy Premier is currently leading a delegation in London, on behalf of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D Orlando Smith, OBE to attend the UKOTA Pre-Joint Ministerial Council, Joint Ministerial Council for the Overseas Territories on European Negotiations and other meetings in the margins.
He is accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Dawn Smith, BVI UK Representative Benito Wheatley, BVI London Office Deputy Director Dr Sandra Besson, Cultural Attache Siobhan Flax and Economic Advisor Steve Johnson.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This the same guy that ‘declared war’ on the UK just a few weeks ago?
So the Minister of Natural Resources and Labour knows what exactly about building? Not much in my view if he chooses to discuss reconstruction with an English firm in a place where they do not have hurricanes or earthquakes. They may be world class for lots of things but building for Cat 5’s and earthquakes require serious knowledge of those things if we are going to do them “smarter”. What is wrong with these people in government? Why are their heads so far up their collective a$$e$ that they cannot see simple things? How is Dr. Besson and Ms. Flax going to help us with any of these things in the next disaster? Wouldn’t someone with engineering, construction, disaster preparedness, be better bets for spending our money on this kind of fact finding mission? Another big waste of tax payer’s dollars.
Actually, the UK has more tornadoes per square mile than any other country (source: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/new-map-of-uk-tornadoes-produced/).
They also have earthquakes ( source http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/hazards/earthquakes/UK.html). Not many, I grant you, but unlike many who cry at the first inkling of non-BV Islanders not getting contracts, companies such as this do actually work in regions where the problems are severe.
Typical BVI, dissing the experience of others without first doing any research.