Premier hopeful A/C at Sports Complex installed by October

In an update on two government projects that are currently ongoing, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said the repair and installation of air conditioning at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Road Town is well underway while a loan had to be secured for the refurbishing of the Ralph T O’Neal Administration Complex.

In response to a question from a member of the local media, Dr Wheatley said he received an update from the contractor — Quality Air Condition and Refrigeration — over the festival period.

“It seems like the chillers will soon be arriving in the BVI and then it will only be a matter of installing them. I am hoping by October that that would be completed. We have our fingers crossed, but they will be arriving in the BVI shortly,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Multipurpose Sports Complex was damaged during the September 2017 hurricanes and since then the government has been doing some quick fixes to deal with the air-conditioning issues.

However, last December the contract was signed by Quality Air Condition and Refrigeration for the procurement, installation and commissioning of the heat, ventilation, and air condition system at the facility.

Admin Complex

Meanwhile, the Premier said as it relates to the Administration Complex, the government only received approximately $11 million in insurance payouts for damage sustained. However, he said the project cost roughly $25 million.

“So, we had to get additional funding to complete it and most of the interior works still have to be done and we have to get additional funding for those. So, the loan we speak of has to cover the works of the Ralph T O’Neal Admin Complex which would be good for us as right now we are renting from lots of different places and that is money that we can invest in other areas. In our schools, in our healthcare, in our sports, in other areas,” the Premier said.