Tuesday, 6^th September 2022 marks the 5^th Anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Irma on the Virgin Islands and the Government is inviting the community to join in reflecting and looking ahead as the day is observed.  

Director of Communications Dr. Arliene T. Penn said the Government has planned communication activities focused on where the Virgin Islands was in 2017, where it is today and the look ahead. 

“Throughout the day, there will be several reflective pieces comprised of videos, interviews, statements and messages, reflective quotes from leaders and reflections from a cross section of the Virgin Islands business community,” Dr. Penn said.

Photographs will also be shared to highlight the progress made with developments across the Territory. There will also be a quiz in the morning on ZBVI led by the Recovery and Development Agency and the release of the Recovery and Development Impact Report.

The Director explained that the day will also include reflections and a look ahead with interviews on the following topics:

• Through the Lens of Disaster Management
• Through the Lens of Emergency Responders
• Through the Lens of Utility Responders
• Through the Lens of Recovery

“Additionally, the Governor, Premier, Ministers and Members of the House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor will also give AN IRMA REFLECTION, which will come in the form of a visual quote of either a reflect, a lesson learned or a message of hope,” Dr. Penn said.

Community involvement will be welcomed via social media where persons will be invited throughout the day to finish the sentence: “HURRICANE IRMA 2017 TAUGHT ME…”, and hashtag: #Irmalessons, #Irmareflection and #Irma2017taughtme.

“The Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley is looking forward to everyone coming together to reflect and to look ahead.”

Government Information Services will publish the schedule of the day’s activities.

Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on the Virgin Islands in 2017 during the daylight hours on Wednesday, 6^th September.