Both Road Town and East End now have mains running water, and Water and Sewerage Department workers (above, in Pasea Estate) continue to conduct repairs. Governor Gus Jaspert gave updates on these and other infrastructure works on Friday. Photo: FREEMAN ROGERS

Governor Gus Jaspert travelled to London on Friday to discuss the Virgin Islands’ recovery plans with the United Kingdom government and other partners, and Premier Dr. Orlando Smith is to follow soon, Mr. Jaspert said in his weekly statement on Friday.

“We will be meeting with our UK colleagues and working very hard to present the priorities and the next steps that need to be undertaken to progress our recovery plan as we work to build back stronger,” the governor explained.

Infrastructure

Both Road Town and East End now have mains running water, and Water and Sewerage Department workers (above, in Pasea Estate) continue to conduct repairs. Governor Gus Jaspert gave updates on these and other infrastructure works on Friday. Photo: FREEMAN ROGERS
He also gave a broad update on the process of restoring critical infrastructure, which he said is his top priority and Cabinet’s.

“Progress continues and this week the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island was supplied with electricity,” he said. “Approximately 45 percent of transmission lines have been reinstalled on Tortola, with 20 percent of households on that island now being supplied with power. On Virgin Gorda currently about 50 percent of households have electricity and about 80 percent in Anegada, and we hope to connect the rest soon.”

Roads

Meanwhile, the “temporary resurfacing of roads” continues, according to the governor.

“Since my last update, teams from the Public Works Department have done resurfacing from Road Town going west to Duffs Bottom, Sea Cows Bay and Towers, and in the east from Paraquita Bay to the Airport,” he said. “General road clearing has been completed on major roads such as Windy Hill, Great Mountain, Bellevue, Fort Hill and Joes Hill.”

In spite of these works, he added, drivers should continue to use caution, especially on hillsides.

Water update

The governor also said that East End and Road Town now have mains running water.

“Anegada’s water network has been restored and the reservoirs are filled nightly, while on Virgin Gorda there is water distribution throughout The Valley,” he added. “Provision of a water tank and cistern have made it possible for water distribution to higher and lower areas of Jost Van Dyke.”

Improving JVD’s utilities, he added, “remains a priority.”

Household assistance

The governor also announced that as of Friday 1,064 people had registered for the government’s Household Assistance Programme.

Registration for the initiative, which is a partnership with United Kingdom Aid and the British Red Cross, closed Saturday.

The programme provides assistance with money and shelter to the residents who were most badly effected by the hurricane.