The Cane Garden Bay beach is closed for recreational use until further notice due to poor water quality.

Water quality sampling of popular swimming beaches was recently conducted at Cane Garden Bay, Smuggler’s Cove and Long Bay, Beef Island.

Acting Chief Conservation Officer, Mr. Kelvin Penn said the results obtained for Cane Garden Bay indicated poor water quality in the swimming water which may have resulted from the excess runoff into the sea due to heavy rainfall just prior to testing and the non-functioning sewage treatment plant.

Mr. Penn added, “The water sample results showed very high bad bacterial counts for Cane Garden Bay within the designated swimming area at both the cemetery and Rhymer’s restaurant.”

He said the water quality at Smuggler’s Cove and Long Bay, Beef Island beaches are of excellent quality.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is working diligently to clean our beaches and coastlines.