British Virgin Islands

Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering and United Kingdom Overseas Territories Minister, Lord Ahmad held a bilateral meeting on 12 June in which they discussed preparations for the 2018 hurricane season, recovery of the British Virgin Islands and public registers of beneficial ownership.

The Deputy Premier confirmed that the Territory will be ready for the peak of the hurricane season as work on shelters and other areas proceed.

Wednesday, May 30 – The impact of the 2017 hurricane season on member states of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) was reviewed at a two day After Action Review (AAR) meeting on May 28 and 29.

During this meeting, health representatives from the impacted countries of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands and the BVI also developed a plan for improving health response in the Caribbean region.

Planning and Preparedness Manager of the Department of Disaster Management Ms. Sheniah Armstrong accepted a donation of communications equipment to strengthen the emergency telecommunications system in the Territory.

The equipment was provided by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, (CDEMA) and handed over by their representative Ms. Andrea Grosvernor. The donation consisted of an extreme satellite phone, a satellite internet terminal, and two solar panels.

The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) is advising patrons and the public that the Road Town Jetty will resume full operations on Sunday, May 13.

Immediately following the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017, with the assistance of divers and speciality contractors, surveys were completed on all of the Territory’s port facilities. The Road Town Jetty was deemed unusable for international travel upon inspection and services have since temporarily continued from the Tortola Pier Park Tender Dock for travel to and from the United States Virgin Islands.

The Government of the Virgin Islands signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Bank of the Virgin Islands (NBVI) today as efforts heighten to assist property owners in the rebuilding of their properties.

The agreement facilitates funds being deposited with the bank and the disbursement to beneficiaries approved by the Ministry of Health and Social Development who leads the Housing Assistance Programme.

Road Town, Virgin Islands – 12 April 2018 – The UN Development Programme (UNDP) will support the Government of the British Virgin Islands with the implementation of US$65million Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), following an agreement signed here today.

The Territory is gearing up to observe the very first “Flood Protection Awareness Week” to educate persons on how to protect themselves, their property and businesses against floods.

Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Communications and Works, Ms. Haley Trott said the ministry in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM)will be hosting a week of activities from May 7 to 11 and will incorporate a lot of community outreach events especially in communities that are vulnerable to floods.

Some 25 Government communicators, including statutory bodies and media professionals recently completed an intense two-day training workshop on ‘Media Relations in Crisis for Disaster Preparedness’.

The workshop was facilitated by Professor Lee Miles and Associate Lecturer Jamie Martin of the Bournemouth University, Disaster Management Centre. The training sessions were held on April 16 and 17.

Honourable Minister of Finance, other Members of Government, Ms. Diana Wilson Patrick, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome.

by OECS

A SERIES OF WHITEBOARD ANIMATIONS ARE BEING AIRED THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

The OECS Get Creative with Climate Change and Sustainable Land Management GCCA iLAND Resilience Project, is launching a major climate change and sustainable land management awareness initiative in the form of whiteboard animations.

Good morning to everyone and a special welcome is extended to Ms. Diana Wilson Patrick who is representing the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) Board of Governors.

Ms. Patrick, your presence here this morning represents the continued relationship and partnership between the Government and people of this Territory and the Caribbean Development Bank. We are especially grateful that in the weeks following the devastation by the hurricanes you were one of the first to come forward offering help to the Territory

Tuesday April 10th, 2018 – Residents, visitors and the public are urged to pay close attention to the 2018 Atlantic hurricane predictions and to “Be Ready and Stay Ready” come June 1.

Forecasters are becoming more confident in releasing predictions on the possible impacts as the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches. Considering the devastation caused by the events of 2017, the Department of Disaster Management is urging everyone to prepare early and remain in a heightened state of readiness throughout the hurricane season.

In 2017, EM-DAT data indicates that 318 natural disasters occurred, affecting 122 countries. The impact of which resulted in 9,503 deaths, 96 million people affected, and US$314 billion in economic damages.

The human impact of natural disasters in 2017 was much lower than the last 10 year average, where events with extremely high mortality occurred, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti (225,570 deaths) and the 2008 Nargis Cyclone in Myanmar (138,400 deaths).

New York, 8 March 2018 – Six months after two of the most powerful hurricanes recorded over the Atlantic wreaked havoc in the Caribbean, women and men in island countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten are working around the clock to build back better, with another hurricane season only four months away. In the immediate hurricane aftermath, governments requested the UN Development Programme (UNDP)’s technical support to recover, while boosting climate resilience.

PANAMA CITY/GENEVA, 19 March 2018 - Thousands of children, adolescents and their families affected by the devastating effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, six months ago, in the Eastern Caribbean islands, Cuba and Haiti have been supported by UNICEF and its partners thanks to the US$11.5 million raised through international donations during this time.

Friday, 16th March 2018 – Training Officer, at the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) Ms. Carishma Hicks said that CARIBE WAVE 18 provided an opportunity for the Territory to test its tsunami warning systems, contingency plans, and promote tsunami preparedness.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) participated in a simulation exercise to test their tsunami response strategies. The exercise entitled ‘Carib Wave 18’ (Caribbean Wave 18) took place today Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Caribbean Wave 18 provided an opportunity for the Territory to improve the effectiveness of its tsunami warning system while maintaining and promoting tsunami preparedness.

As part of this simulation, notification was done by emergency siren, loud hailers, social media and messages disseminated by cell providers and local media.