Quick fix! Public Works gets $500k for storm repairs

Although residents have been calling for long-term infrastructure repairs, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that his government will be issuing a $500,000 contingency warrant to the Public Works Department to repair damage caused by Tropical Storm Philippe.

The Premier said the allocation to the Public Works Department along with US$552,297 from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) will enable the territory to address some of the most urgent needs and restore some normalcy to the community.

Dr Wheatley said the government and people of the Virgin Islands are grateful to CCRIF for the timely and much-needed financial support that will help with the recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Premier Wheatley also congratulated the members of his government for their foresight in entering the CCRIF insurance policy.

Tropical Storm Philippe caused significant damage to the already failing infrastructure, leaving residents to wonder when the government will be securing promised loans to do extensive rehabilitation works across the community.

The Premier has indicated that he is exploring a number of options with regional and international lenders as the extent of repairs needed far outweighs the financial resources that the BVI currently has.

He also said he will be lobbying authorities in the United Kingdom later this year for the lending requirements to be relaxed so the BVI can access the amount of funds needed to upgrade public infrastructure.

In the meantime, once the loans are received by the BVI government, it’s unclear whether external expertise will be sought to carry out repairs or whether the government will rely on Public Works and local contractors to carry out improvements.

Many residents, including Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn have urged the government to seek external assistance just to ensure that repairs last longer and valuable resources aren’t wasted.

However, Director of Public Works, Jeremy Hodge has stated he is confident that locals can build good quality roads that can last for many decades.