Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

Premier proud of BVI’s recovery progress since Irma

Premier proud of BVI’s recovery progress since Irma

The BVI has been able to restore much of its educational infrastructure since the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria almost five years ago, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley stated.
Pointing to successes such as the Elmore Stoutt High School which is nearing completion and the Ivan Dawson Primary School, Dr Wheatley said that a number of projects have already been completed and described this as an important achievement for the territory.

“I would say that we have a lot to be proud of. Of course, it’s going on five years and we don’t want to be in a perpetual state of recovery. We want to move on from recovery and move forward with our development,” the Premier said.

Dr Wheatley noted, however, that there are some lingering projects that need to be sorted out, including the Ralph O’Neal Administration Complex and several schools such as the Isabella Morris Primary School and the Eslyn Henley Richiez Special Needs Learning Centre which he said is already moving forward.

The territory’s leader also highlighted schools in Virgin Gorda such as the Bregado Flax Educational Centre — where he said major works have already been completed — and the Robinson O’Neal Primary School in North Sound where private donor funding was used to help complete that project.

Government facilities, such as administration buildings in Anegada, the Valley Virgin Gorda, North Sound, Jost Van Dyke, and BVI Port Authority facilities in Jost Van Dyke were also singled out as achievements in the recovery process.

The Premier pointed out that the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall — which previously served as a cultural centre before its destruction by the hurricanes — still remains to be fixed.

He further expressed that there are a number of other things that may not have been affected by the storms that the government is planning to look at as well, such as libraries and museums.

“I can go down the list, just about all of [or] over 90 percent of our recreational infrastructure was destroyed. We did quite a bit to restore our recreational grounds even though we have a few outstanding ones left, that still need some work,” the Premier stated.

Premier Wheatley also congratulated the team at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) for its role in assisting with the territory’s rehabilitation, pointing to the Elmore Stoutt High School as a shining example of the type of management they have brought to the table.

He seized the opportunity to issue a heartfelt thank you to the donor community for their contributions and said that a ceremony will soon be held in their honour to properly thank them for their efforts in helping the territory to recover.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×