I would like to start, on the second anniversary of Hurricane Irma, by saying that my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the people of the Bahamas at this extremely difficult time following the passage of Hurricane Dorian. 

People of the Virgin Islands, good day and God’s blessings.  As you would have heard me speak about in the House of Assembly already, I have been in contact with Prime Minister of The Bahamas Dr. Hubert Minniss on a daily basis since Hurricane Dorian made its destructive landfall on those shores. Dr. Minniss and the people of The Bahamas are grateful for our prayers and for the assistance that we have been able to offer thus far.

Mr. Speaker, this morning I give God many thanks for extending His mercies unto this Territory as we weathered Hurricane Dorian, first as a Tropical Storm and then as a Category 1 Hurricane on Wednesday, August 28.

Fellow Virgin Islanders, Residents and Visitors, a pleasant good morning to you.

The Deputy Governor has advised that based on the initial assessment of the Central Administration Complex, a decision has been made to close all offices that occupy this facility for today, 29 August 2019. Further details will be communicated on the resumption of services in a later announcement.

At 500 AM, the centre of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 20.5 North, longitude 66.6 West. At this distance the hurricane has moved approximately 195 miles away from the BVI. 

I want to address a number of factual points on the loan guarantee offered by the United Kingdom Government and what this means for the British Virgin Islands.  

Fellow Virgin Islanders and Residents, Good day and God’s Blessings.

In the very near future, a delegation from the Virgin Islands is expected to meet with officials of Her Majesty’s Treasury and other departments of the UK Government, to discuss what can be described as, one of the most critical issues facing us as residents of this Territory in modern history.

Land owners with property along the Nibbs Ghut in Sea Cows Bay have been holding discussions on the installation of sedimentation traps along the ghut to reduce the extent of the flooding that affects the community.

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent Wheatley; Junior Minister for Tourism, Honourable Shereen Flax-Charles; representatives from the Recovery and Development Agency, and the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands are pictured at the contract signing for remedial works at the Baths on Virgin Gorda.