Madam Speaker, as the Government of the Virgin Islands continues to work tirelessly to address the needs of the people of this Territory in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, I bring before this Honourable House updates on initiatives being spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Social Development. 

Madame Speaker, I address this Honourable House to report on the progress made in the massive job of cleaning up our beaches and clearing the same of any marine debris which accumulated along our shores.  

Madame Speaker, immediately following the passage of Hurricane Irma, on September 11 I held a meeting with the Territory’s insurance providers and one with the Territory’s banks at the NEOC, which was at the hospital at that time. In that meeting, insurance companies assured the Government that they are ready to address claims and I was surprised that two companies had already started their claims process during those very uncertain days.   I also received assurances that their re-insurers were prepared to pay out claims. 

Madame Speaker, I am pleased to provide this update to this Honourable House on the progress of the Territory’s recovery from the devastations of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

I wanted to take the time to clear up the misrepresentation of events in support of our clean-up and recovery efforts. Financial Services and tourism are the twin pillars of the Virgin Islands’ economy. Our financial services sector accounts for 70 cents of every dollar of our GDP. It is how Government makes an income to pay civil servants, our law enforcement officers and our teachers. It is how Government can support the provision of services such as electricity, garbage collection, roadworks, health services and importantly, education. 

Fellow residents of the British Virgin Islands, as you may be aware, today December 5 is observed worldwide as International Volunteer Day (IVD).

My Lords, Excellences, ladies and gentleman, 

Good evening.

It is always a pleasure to meet and greet you here at BVI House, even under the most difficult of circumstances.

The Government of the British Virgin Islands was faced with accommodating close to 300 persons in emergency shelters following the devastation left as a result of the passage of Hurricane Irma, followed by the impact of Hurricane Maria two weeks later. 

As you just saw in the video clip, in a span of just six weeks the combined impact of a tropical wave, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria devastated the BVI. I will say a little more about this shortly

Good day, I am Myron V. Walwyn, Minister for Education and Culture and I extend warm greetings to everyone as we move forward with celebrating another Virgin Islands Culture and Heritage Week.