UPDATE ON HEAVY RAINS
STATEMENT BY CHIEF MINISTER
DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE
THIRTY FIRST SITTING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Tuesday, 11th October, 2005
10:00 a.m.
Madam Speaker, it is not unusual around this time of the year for our
Territory to experience heavy rain. As predicted, we did indeed experience
heavy showers and I will like to pay tribute to the hardworking men and
women who braved the rains to ensure that our roads were passable.
Madam Speaker, on Monday morning, I took a tour around the island to see
if and how the heavy rains affected us. Throughout my drive around the
island, I either saw private individuals lending a helping hand or the
hardworking crews of our emergency personnel including the Department of
Disaster Management, Police, Public Works Department, Water and Sewerage,
Conservation and Fisheries, Fire and Rescue, Facilities Unit, Red Cross,
and the Hospital team.
I would also like to thank the Acting Governor Ms. Dancia Penn and the
Acting Commissioner of Police for keeping me abreast of developments
throughout the day.
Madam Speaker, I must also thank the private sector and those persons who
assisted with clearing the Huntum’s Ghut road and other areas. Along
with the private sector I must also thank the media houses who assisted
DDM and the police in getting timely information to the public and they
also toured the island to update their viewers and listeners.
Madam Speaker we must all be thankful to God that what could have been a
catastrophic situation at the Delta Gas Station was brought under control
by their staff and the staff of various government departments. I stopped
by the Delta Gas Station on my tour and was briefed on the situation as
decisions were quickly taken to close the road and evacuate the area.
I am also pleased that despite the weather conditions the Terrance B.
Lettsome International Airport remained open all day yesterday.
This weather system created unstable atmospheric conditions across the
Territory resulting in flooding, closing of government offices, schools
and most businesses. More rain is predicted so I urge the motoring public
to continue to exercise caution while driving on the western end of the
island, the Ridge Road and other areas susceptible to flooding including
the Flemming Street, Joe’s Hill Road and the Purcell Estate vicinity.
Residents on Virgin Gorda are also asked to exercise caution in those
affected areas as well.
Residents and visitors are still urged to continue to remain alert to the
rapidly changing weather conditions for the next couple of days.
While touring the island I was able to review some long term problems with
our roads network which contribute to flooding and mud slides, in addition
to areas damaged by the 2003 rains. As we all know this government moved
with haste to address the damage to our roads following those rains, and
we were able to effect substantive repairs, but lack of funds prevented
the completion of that task.
The recent borrowing of $10 million from the BVI Social Security Board for
our road rehabilitation programme from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke, will
allow us to address those long standing problems as well as to complete
the repairs to those damaged areas, some of which projects are now ready
for implementation.
Thank you.
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