Citizens and residents of the Virgin Islands, I am Myron V. Walwyn, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports. I am once again taking the opportunity to update you the public on the happenings in education post hurricane Irma. 

Good afternoon:

I am pleased to provide this update on the current status of our Territory, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma almost nine weeks ago.

The public is advised that registration for the Housing Assistance Programme continues this week at the Road Town Senior Building and Red Cross in Tortola. 

Registration continues this week for the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Household Assistance Programme.

The Government of the Virgin Islands has lifted restrictions on entry and travel to make it easier for family members to visit the Territory to ensure the well being of their relatives.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Virgin Islands, today for my weekly brief, I bring to you an update on my meetings with the World Bank and its partners that I attended last week along with Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Ronnie W. Skelton, and a housing update. 

Residents of the Virgin Islands, there is a well-known saying that ‘tough times don’t last, tough people do’. When I reflect on this saying, I can’t help but think on the current status of our islands and the resilience of the people who are working endlessly day and night to build back our Territory. In this regard, I would like to take this time to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our partners, local, regional and international alike, for their on-going efforts towards recovery post hurricanes Irma and Maria. 

A British Virgin Islands (BVI) delegation led by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourble D. Orlando Smith, OBE held a high-level meeting on reconstruction with the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Warren Smith and senior bank staff at the Annual World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington, DC on October 13.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and European Union (EU) have discussed the EU’s support for the Territory in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the margins of the Annual World Bank/IMF meetings in Washington, DC.

The shelter box pictured is being installed on Frenchman’s Cay today, October 13.