An international architecture firm with a Virgin Islands office plans to donate its time towards drawing up plans for a new West End ferry terminal and a warehouse at the Port Purcell cargo facility, according to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith.
OBM International offered its design services to the government after both facilities were severely damaged by Hurricane Irma.
“This year marks 50 years since we’ve been doing business in the BVI and over the years OBMI has become woven into the fabric of the community,” Marvin Flax Jr., the managing director of OBMI’s VI office, said in a press release. “As a company, we would like to actively participate in the rebuilding of our territory.”
Dr. Smith praised the company for its donation.
“I believe that this demonstrates OBMI’s commitment to being part of the Virgin Islands and helping us to rebuild,” he said.
At a House of Assembly meeting last month, Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool announced that the West End terminal was operating ferry and barge services to Jost Van Dyke. The terminal was waiting on a temporary tent structure before offering international ferry routes to St. Thomas, he added.
The minister said OBMI would offer complimentary architecture and engineering designs for the jetty.
Mr. Flax said the firm planned to take advantage of the opportunity.
“Many persons look at our islands now and might just see destruction, but at OBMI we see a unique opportunity to help rebuild the Virgin Islands with resiliency in mind, and we want to be as supportive as we can in the territory’s reconstruction,” he explained.
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