A pleasant Good Day and God’s Blessings to all the people of the British Virgin Islands. Today, I thank God for His continued favour and for His gratitude towards us as a people and as a Territory.

Good day to all.  Many of you would have already been following – and possibly feeling – the increase in seismic activity that has been occurring in our region since the earthquake swarm south of Puerto Rico in December last year.  Seismic activity continued this morning with a magnitude 6.4 earthquake at 4:24 am. This event was followed by several aftershocks, and taken together, these seismic events have caused damage in Southwestern Puerto Rico in areas like Guanica and Ponce.

The Department of Disaster Management is advising the Virgin Islands community that Governor Augustus Jaspert, after consultation with the Premier and the Director of the National Emergency Operations Centre, is satisfied that the current weather conditions are no longer a threat to the Territory. He is therefore de-activating the NEOC.

The public is advised that while Hurricane Dorian has passed, the region is still in the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Residents and visitors should maintain a high level of awareness of approaching systems and remain prepared.

Eighteen persons have now completed the first in a series of VHF Radio Courses planned for 2019.

The BVI Amateur Radio League recently received new radio equipment to boost its operations and the service it provides to the Territory in the event of an emergency.

Students aged 12-17 have the opportunity to learn the basics of how to respond to various emergencies during a three-day Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

The public is notified that the Department of Disaster Management will be testing its National Siren System and National Emergency Broadcast System today Friday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m.

The Department of Disaster Management will be testing its National Siren System and National Emergency Broadcast System today Friday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Minister of Transportation Works and Utilities Honourable Kye Rymer has commended Chief Fire Officer Zebalon Mclean and his officers for extinguishing a bush fire that was threatening the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Potter at Meyers Estate.

Today I recognise the start of Red Cross Week, an annual celebration of the BVI Red Cross and the work that they do in communities throughout the Territory.