O’Neal pledges speedy recovery for Ninth District, blast critics

While dismissing claims that his representation in the Ninth District is grossly lacking, Dr. Hubert O’Neal has assured residents he is working overtime to ensure Virgin Gorda and Anegada are among the first to recover from the devastation caused by recent hurricanes.

The first time politician has also described his critics as being in the minority.

“You have a number of folks, probably a minority of folks making some noise, maybe not my supporters, who were probably opposed to me from onset, saying that I was absent.”

“I have not been absent. I have been on a regular basis to Virgin Gorda, and I have been doing my best to provide whatever is the need after such a horrific experience we had,” Dr. O’Neal told BVI News Online yesterday.

He noted that since the hurricanes he has been on the ground, finding out the needs of residents as well as assessing the damages done to homes.

With respect to Virgin Gorda in particular, he noted that electricity has returned to 50 percent of the island, and within the next four weeks it should move to 100 percent.

“It is because of the goodwill, the people of Virgin Gorda. We have plenty of friends all over the world who are concerned about us, sending us relief supplies in abundance…Virgin Gorda is doing exceptionally well since the storm,” said Dr O’Neal.

Noting that Anegada was not as severely impacted as Virgin Gorda, he said work is ongoing to ensure the island is back to full recovery also.

“Anegada was very lucky, they didn’t get the full brunt of the storm, so the damages were not as significant.”

He said due to the hard work of linesmen that were brought in from Grenada, electricity has been almost fully restored on Virgin Gorda.