Work on the Brandywine Bay project is moving forward as the Government of the Virgin Islands moves to create a new leisure destination for residents and visitors.

Presently, the project’s activities include dredging and widening and reclamation of the beach front with dredged sand and levelling of the beach.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering said that the end game would be to produce another leisure destination for tourists and locals alike.

Minister Pickering said, “Persons need to understand that the project is not just reclamation, but includes landscaping, beach utilities, vendors and other conveniences. The project will be an enthusiastic addition to our tourism product and our economy and we are working towards our goals here using the most environmentally sound methods so that the least amount of impact is being taken at every turn.”

Minister Pickering also added that the Brandywine Bay beach has long been earmarked as an alternative to add to the tourism product for cruise ship passengers to reduce the strain of overcrowding on other beaches such as Cane Garden Bay and Brewer’s Bay.

Permanent Secretary Ronald Smith-Berkeley stated that persons driving in the area should see several developments now that the project is in its first phase.

Mr. Smith-Berkeley said, “We commenced with the first phase of the project last year. At first we had a few delays but now we are moving at a very consistent pace and members of the public can note the difference as the project moves forward.This, of course, is not just haphazard but is necessary and moving at a visibly stable pace as the weeks go by.”

Works on the Brandywine Bay project commenced in 2015.The Project is funded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and managed through AR Potter and Associates Ltd.