Lineworkers from 23 countries awoke to dark skies over Road Town on Sunday, but sporadic rain showers throughout the day didn’t slow them down.
Behind the still-unfinished Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex, the 100-plus lineworkers faced off throughout the day, climbing waterlogged telephone poles that were temporarily erected by the BVI Electricity Corporation for the 2025 CARILEC Lineworkers Rodeo, Symposium and Field Safety Training held over the weekend.
Based in St. Lucia, the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation began organising industry competitions in 2015, according to CARILEC Department Manager Sophia Laurena Primus.
It has since held seven, with breaks for the 2017 hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic, but this year’s was among the most successful, Ms. Primus told the Beacon.
“Having 23 countries on the island from the Caribbean and the United States combined, that is the highest on record for our rodeo,” she said. “One hundred and fifteen participants coming out of those countries: That is also the highest on record for our rodeo. In the last rodeo, we had 23 teams, and this one we had 31 teams. So this year was a record-breaking year.”
‘Welcoming’
The three-day event began with a Friday morning opening ceremony in the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.
Speakers included Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer, and BVIEC General Manager Neil Smith.
“Let us pause to truly appreciate the extraordinary work of electric power utilities and the remarkable men and women who keep our lights on,” Mr. Wheatley said during the ceremony. “Your contributions are easily taken for granted — until a power outage reminds us just how essential your expertise is.
In moments of crisis, these skilled professionals rise to the occasion, swiftly restoring comfort and security to our communities.”
‘Team spirit and warmth’
Ms. Primus was pleased with the leaders’ participation.
“We’ve never had a rodeo where the hierarchy in the government would’ve been present,” she said. “In the BVI’s case, we had the premier and we had the minister of communications. That was telling for us.”
The CARILEC manager also praised the BVIEC.
“We’ve been taken to different places of interest,” she said. “The team spirit and the warmth, the excitement, and the zeal with which the BVIEC team executed the task made us feel like the BVI could have just been the pick for the rodeo every year.”
The Friday opening ceremony was followed by training sessions, panel discussions and other activities, and Saturday’s agenda was dominated by bucket-truck and pole-top rescue training.
The rodeo
On Sunday morning, Mr. Smith delivered comments before the “rodeo” competition got under way, the rain falling harder as he spoke.
“Number one, I’d like all you guys to be safe. That’s the main thing,” Mr. Smith said. “After that, I want you all to enjoy yourselves.”
After his well wishes, the general manager issued his final comment as a point of caution.
“Thirdly, let us play nice with each other,” Mr. Smith said. “You know that the competition will be stiff — at least for the BVI, I can guarantee you that — but I’d just like to encourage you all to do your best.”
VI winners
At the end of the day, the BVIEC won awards in multiple categories.
Lionel Smith took the top spot in the “Mystery Event” category in the “Apprentice” class, with Jio Vonni Croal earning third place overall.
In the “Experienced” category, Edward Pollock took third in the “Pole Speed Climb” with a time of 45.38 seconds.
The BVIEC’s experienced team finished second in the “Mystery Event” and third in the “Three-Phase Earth Installation” event, setting the fastest times of the day but losing points for infractions.
Wet weather
Rain fell intermittently for most of the weekend, but the main competition Sunday took the brunt of the bad weather with rain saturating the telephone poles erected between Maria’s by the Sea and Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park.
Despite the adverse conditions, however, lineworkers forged ahead — just as they would in the field, according to Ms. Primus.
“The motto of a lineman: They work in sleet, snow, rain or mud,” she said. “The only time a lineworker would not execute his work is if there is lightning, because the risk of that is not good.”
