Acting Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr. Kelvin Penn has confirmed that following the results of a completed study the Cane Garden Bay beach is re-opened for swimming and related recreational activities.

Mr. Penn said water sampling was done at Cane Garden Bay on January 23 and the results are excellent water quality at all sampling sites. All bacteria levels are far below the recommended standard levels for coliforms bacteria.  

Water quality sampling of popular swimming beaches was conducted late last year at Cane Garden Bay, Smuggler’s Cove and Long Bay, Beef Island. The water quality at Smuggler’s Cove and Long Bay, Beef Island beaches were said to be of excellent quality.

Mr. Penn said in December that 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.

He 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.”

Mr. Penn further stated that his team will be conducting further testing for the coliforms bacteria in Cane Garden Bay.

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