Statement
Statement By The Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley
Minister For Health And Social Development
At The Twentieth Sitting Of The First Session Of The Fifth
House Of Assembly Of The Virgin Islands
Friday 18th October 2024
Repairs To The Cane Garden Bay And East End / Long Look Community Centres
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Honourable House that the much-needed repairs to the Cane Garden Bay and East End / Long Look Community Centres are finally completed. An official handover ceremony for the Cane Garden Bay Community was held on 15 October 2024, while the ceremony for the East End / Long Look Community Centre was held this morning, 18 October 2024.
Madam Speaker, the repairs to the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre were completed by No Limit Construction for a sum of three hundred twenty-seven thousand, five hundred twenty-six dollars and nine cents ($327,526.09). The scope of works included painting, tiling, upgrades to the electrical and plumbing system, roof and ceiling repairs, installation of a new central AC system, kitchen repairs and other millworks.
The repairs to the East End / Long Look Community Centre were completed by Quality Construction Limited for a sum of five hundred fourteen thousand, five hundred ninety-three dollars and ninety cents ($514,593.90). The scope of works for this particular project included repairs to the AC system, roof and ceiling repairs, plumbing repairs, installation of hurricane shutters, repairs to the stage and other millworks.
Madam Speaker, the completion of these two community centres marks the fifth and sixth Community Centres to be restored following the catastrophic hurricanes in 2017. The first was the West End Community Centre, completed in November 2021. This was followed by the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay, the Emile Dunlop Community Centre on Anegada, and the Gertrude and Christiana Warner Community Centre in Purcell Estate, which were officially handed over in February 2023. These projects were made possible with the generous support of the European Union (EU) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), working closely through the Premier’s Office.
Madam Speaker, in alignment with PAHO's SMART standards, we have ensured that the Cane Garden Bay and East End / Long Look Community Centres were rehabilitated to a standard where they are resilient and environmentally sustainable, like the other restored centres. The Ministry of Health and Social Development remains committed to rehabilitating all our community centres to a high standard, ensuring they are better prepared to withstand future shocks.
These community centres have become cornerstones in the development of their respective communities. These facilities are where our Golden Gems meet to socialise and engage in meaningful activities. They host community meetings, church events, and some of our most cherished occasions, such as birthday parties, graduations, wedding receptions, family reunions, repasts and other celebrations that bring us together as a community. Equally important, these centres also play a critical role as emergency shelters during natural disasters. For these reasons, I am pleased that my Ministry was able to complete these long overdue projects.
Madam Speaker, I would like to give a special thank you to the contractors - Quality Construction Limited and No Limit Construction Limited, for the fine work that they have done. I would also like to show appreciation to the Honourable Members for the Second, Seventh and Eighth Districts, and also to their constituents for the patience that they have displayed as we completed these much-needed projects. Lastly, I would like to thank my team at the Ministry of Health and Social Development for their hard work and efforts in ensuring that these projects were completed.
Madam Speaker, I thank you.
