The Government of the Virgin Islands has received seven new heavy equipment vehicles in addition to six pickup trucks from the Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom (UK).

At a brief handing over ceremony on April 24, His Excellency the Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert thanked the United Kingdom for its continued support towards the Territory’s recovery including security, rebuilding infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

The Governor said, “There has been huge support and today is about support to the Public Works Department and another gift from UK taxpayers to the BVI with a range of trucks and equipment to help clear debris, to help support sewerage and to help across the islands in support of our recovery.”

The Governor presented the keys to the vehicles to Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE who then handed them over to the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool.

Premier Smith also thanked the UK for their contribution.

He said, “The vehicles will help greatly to put more capability and capacity within the Public Works Department to do what they have to do in terms of cleaning the road and cleaning the ghuts, etcetera which is important that we prepare for another hurricane season.”

Meanwhile, Minister Vanterpool said that the equipment will be put in use to help push the recovery efforts forward and will be used on each island.

He said, “We are pleased that we have received two 20-yard trucks which will be used by the Public Works Department (PWD); three backhoes – one to PWD Tortola that will be available

for sister islands, one to PWD Virgin Gorda and one to the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD); two 5-yard trucks – one to PWD Virgin Gorda and one to WSD. We also have six brand new pickup trucks that will be used by the various departments.”

The Government of the Virgin Islands is continuing its work to recover the British Virgin Islands by rebuilding stronger, smarter, greener, better.

NOTES:

• Audio clip of His Excellency the Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert at Handover.
• Audio clip of Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE at Handover.
• Audio clip of Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool at Handover