Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

Territory failed to adequately prepare for Irma’s magnitude

Territory failed to adequately prepare for Irma’s magnitude

Opposition Leader Julian Fraser said he believes the BVI failed to adequately prepare for the magnitude of Hurricane Irma’s back in 2017.
The Third District Representative expressed this belief in a reflection posted on the government’s Facebook page in observance of the fifth anniversary of the hurricane’s passage.

An architect by profession, Fraser said the level of damage done following Irma’s strike was a misrepresentation of the true capabilities of the territory’s building construction standards.

“Essentially, we lost roofs because windows were either blown out by wind, or by flying objects. And those windows were lost because they simply weren’t protected. There should never be a next time,” Fraser stated.

The veteran legislator further noted that those who have experienced the wrath of Hurricane Irma, have been horrified to the point where it remains without question the most memorable moment of their lives.

Fraser said even though, for the time being, physical scars still remain on the territory’s landscape, there is no doubt that they will all go away, at some point.

According to Fraser, however, the emotional and psychological damage will forever be a part of the people of the BVI.

Meanwhile, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley chose to look back on the indomitable spirit and resilience of the people of the BVI in the aftermath of the hurricane.

“With our limited resources, some help from neighbours and friends, and our strength that comes from our faith in our God, we cleaned up the debris, restored vital infrastructure, and started rebuilding our homes and our lives,” the Premier said.

He added: “The greatest lesson we can take from this experience is that with trust in God, the support of our partners, and belief in ourselves, we, the people of the Virgin Islands, can triumph over anything — and we emerge stronger from every challenge that confronts us.”

Hurricane Irma – a category five storm with sustained winds of 180 mph – left four persons dead in its wake and caused widespread destruction in the territory.

According to a preliminary impact report by the government, the aftermath of the hurricane saw an estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage to the territory and its environs.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
×