Works Minister pleads for return of stolen tools

Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has appealed for the return of tools stolen from contractors rehabilitating the Hannah Hill reservoir, as workers press ahead with the final stages of the project.

Rymer said the workers discovered the theft when they arrived at the site on Wednesday and were forced to continue with the equipment still available to them.

“I just also want to acknowledge that the guys, they would have come to the site [Wednesday] morning and would have found their tools missing as well,” Rymer said.

“So whoever the culprits are, we hope that they would return the tools so the guys can finish the work here in the Virgin Islands,” Rymer stated.

According to the minister, the contractors were doing as much as possible with their remaining tools but would have to replace some of the stolen items.

In a separate update from the site, Rymer said the rehabilitation of the Hannah Hill reservoir was nearing completion. The contractors had resealed the reservoir, completed the internal work and reconnected the panels used to gain entry.

They were carrying out external resealing work to prepare the reservoir to receive water. Rymer said workers had also repaired the reservoir’s water-level indicator, allowing operators to determine from outside how much water it contains.

“The guys told me that water should be in the reservoir by Tuesday of next week. So we are excited about that. We are nearing completion,” Rymer said.

The Hannah Hill reservoir is the first of five facilities included in a $1.97 million rehabilitation contract awarded to Florida Aqua Store in January. The programme also covers reservoirs at Fort Hill, Sabbath Hill, Minton Hill on Virgin Gorda and Balsam Ghut.

Residents at higher elevations in Hannah Hill have faced reduced water availability while the reservoir remained offline. Rymer thanked them for their patience and said the contractors would move next to the Sabbath Hill reservoir to conduct repairs.