Contrary to suggestions made in a news article published on February 6, 2019, the ongoing Sea Defence Project along Cane Garden Bay beach is not funded by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and is not affiliated with the OECS iLAND Resilience Project.

Cane Garden Bay has significantly benefitted from the OECS iLAND Resilience Project through a rock revetment coastal defense system installed immediately at the base of Ross Hill. The revetment, valuing 300,000 EURO was completed in July 2017 and successfully withstood the unprecedented storm surge from Hurricane Irma.

The purpose of the rock revetment supported by the iLAND project was to protect the coastal road and adjoining properties from annual ‘ground seas’ and storm surge from stronger hurricanes as well as sea level rise anticipated with climate change.

The revetment was based on coastal engineering studies and the designs were prepared by a qualified regional consultant, Smith Warner International (SWI). The Cane Garden Bay Sea Defense Project, which should not be confused with the OECS iLand Resilience Project Funded by the European Union, is being implemented as part of the wider Cane Garden Bay Revitalization Project.

OECS and SWI were not involved in the design of the present Cane Garden Bay Sea Defense Project. An iLAND Resilience project sign board at the bus stop in Cane Garden Bay remains in place to identify all project partners, inclusive, of an image of the engineering design as a part of ongoing public awareness and visibility activities for the iLAND Resilience Project.

Attached (Photo 1):  Completed rock revetment coastal defense system implemented under the OECS iLAND Resilience Project. 

(Photo 2):  Ongoing sea defense works in Cane Garden Bay funded by BVI Government as a part of the wider Cane Garden Bay Revitalization Project."