Unite BVI recently donated $190,000 to the Recovery and Development Agency for the renovation of three community areas.
According to a Dec. 19 Facebook post announcing the donation, $60,000 will be put towards repairing and enhancing sections of the Anegada Recreation Field, $80,000 will go towards replacing equipment at the Long Bush Recreation Park, and another $50,000 is earmarked to extend the scope of works at the Jeffery Caines Sports Arena on Virgin Gorda.
“These community areas have been selected due to their culturally relevant locations, because they will benefit neighbourhoods affected significantly by Hurricane Irma, and also because no funding exists elsewhere to support their restoration,” Kim Takeuchi, operations manager at Unite BVI, said in an emailed statement.
With Unite BVI’s donation, the RDA will make repairs to the Anegada field’s playground, compound, basketball court, lighting and fencing, while at the Long Bush park the agency seeks to improve a “community recreation space” and replace existing playground structures with new ones, according to the Facebook post.
At the Virgin Gorda arena, the agency will use the donations to expand the scope of ongoing work to include restroom facilities, fencing, drainage, and the reconstruction of the parking area.
More funding needed
A detailed plan of the three projects must be drafted and approved by Unite BVI before construction can begin, said Colene Penn, RDA head of communications.
Unite BVI’s donation alone is not enough to cover project costs, and the RDA is still seeking other donors, Ms. Penn said.
“There is more funding required [for the RDA] to do the work they want,” Ms. Takeuchi said in an interview.
Additionally, each of the three community areas will be outfitted with recycling bins in support of Green VI’s “We Recycle” programme.
The Facebook post added, “The RDA thanks Unite BVI for their kind support and continues to work with community partners to raise additional funding to support and implement recovery projects on behalf of the government of the Virgin Islands.”