Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE signed a contract for individual consultant services with Mr. Ronnie Lettsome for the contract administration and construction supervision for the restoration of the Department of Disaster Management’s Early Warning System.

The contract was signed on November 30 to the tune of fifty three thousand five hundred dollars ($53,500).

Director of Projects Dr. Drexel Glasgow said that the signing of this contract signals the restoration of disaster preparedness for the Territory, adding, “An Early Warning System is necessary to provide timely notification and accurate information to the population at short notice. These systems include sirens, seismic equipment, weather stations, and telecommunication systems including emergency broadcast, radio communications, AM and FM broadcast, among other things.”  

Dr. Glasgow added that the Early Warning System is essential to improving the ability of the Department of Disaster Management to monitor threats and the onset of potential hazards. This is expected to improve the disaster management system of the Territory, and reduce potential damage and loss from future weather events and other hazards.

He said the contract outlines that the consultant will be responsible for: overseeing inventory of the purchased equipment, undertaking contract administration and construction supervision for the installation of the equipment and its associated civil works.

The timeline for the works and services under the contract is 12 months.

For more information about rehabilitation and reconstruction loan projects funded by the $65.2 million dollar Caribbean Development Bank loan visit bvi.gov.vg/rrl and follow the Government’s social media (Facebook, Twitter and Youtube) accounts: @BVIGovernment and Instagram @GISBVI and search for content using #RRL.

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed to the rebuilding the BVI stronger, smarter, greener and better.          

Photo Caption - Photograph of Consultant, Mr. Ronnie Lettsome signing contract with Government of the Virgin Islands for supervision for the restoration of the Department of Disaster Management’s Early Warning System. (Photo credit: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS)