British Virgin Islands

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.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is providing additional support to the recovery of the Territory’s Health Sector through funding from a number of donors.

Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W Skelton said he is grateful for the additional support which came as a result of further discussions with PAHO’s officials. He has also expressed his deep appreciation to the organisation on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Situation in numbers

+357,000 children in need of assistance in Cuba, ECA, Haiti and Dominican Republic.

+39,000 children in need of assistance in ECA, with 20,000 children affected by Hurricane Maria in Dominica.

Highlights

• In September 2017, category 5-hurricanes Irma and Maria caused devastation and extensive breakdown of essential services across several Caribbean countries, leaving at least 1.4 million people

Highlights

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been commended for its immediate assistance to the Territory following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering conveyed the Territory’s gratitude while addressing the 29th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from February 26 through 27.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE ON THE RECOVERY DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP

Thursday, 15th February, 2018

Ladies and gentlemen,

Shortly after Hurricane Irma affected the Territory, a Disaster Recovery Coordinating Committee (DRCC) was established to provide oversight and advice on all aspects of the Territory's recovery activities and initiatives following the unprecedented trio of disaster events - floods of August and hurricanes Maria and Irma in September.

Persons can now apply for Recovery Grants under the Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.

The programme is designed to address the needs of persons requiring housing support while replenishing the housing stock in order to be disaster resilient.

Assistant Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Alisia Browne said offering additional forms of assistance will expand the scope of persons who can apply for and receive the needed help to rebuild homes.

On the 9th February 2018, around 1:43 pm, according to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.5 was felt in the Virgin Islands. The epicenter was located at latitude 18.96, longitude 61.74 or approximately 166 milies east of Anegada, BVI at a depth of 10km. No tsunami watches or warnings were issued for the VI from this event.

The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) takes this time to remind the BVI community that we live in a seismically active zone, which makes the Territory vulnerable to earthquakes.

The impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the strong motion and seismic network throughout the BVI is being examined this week.

Director of the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Programme at the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez Professor Martinez-Cruzado is leading a team of engineers to conduct the exercise.

One thousand and seventy four households have benefitted from the financial assistance programme led by the BVI Red Cross and Caritas Antilles with the support of the Government of the British Virgin Islands.

The programme received financial support of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA), and is now complete.