On April 5 to April 7, 2019, 180 derelict vehicles were collected and transported off Virgin Gorda (VG) in a continued effort to clean up the Virgin Islands (VI) after Hurricane Irma and Maria of 2017 wreaked havoc on the territory. Photo: GIS

Over the years, residents have complained of derelict vehicles on the side of the roads and in people’s compound in Virgin Gorda and their potential to harbour mosquitoes thereby spreading diseases. Photo: VINO/File

The derelict collection operation took place in collaboration with the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) and manager of the Department of Waste Management, Mr Greg Massicote stated that this is all a part of the overall goal of cleaning the Territory of bulky waste, debris and derelicts.

In a public release on the initiative, Mr Massicote said, “We began crushing cars and metals in late 2018 in Tortola and had Virgin Gorda on the schedule but were met with some delays from other events taking place such as the fire at the incinerator to name a few,”.

He added that he is grateful that the majority of derelicts stored for some time on Virgin Gorda are now off the island.

Derelicts now on Tortola

According to the release, the derelicts have since been transported on a barge to Tortola to be processed for deportation in the near future. 

“In March 2019, approximately 1700 tons of scrap metal which also included scrap metal from Cox Heath and approximately 600 derelict vehicles were exported to Columbia for recycling,” the release noted.

The Department of Waste Management in collaboration with the RDA will continue the derelict vehicle collection initiative on the Virgin Gorda during the next few days. 

The initiative will also include the barging of the remainder of derelict vehicles to Tortola for processing and eventual exportation.

Over the years, residents have complained of derelict vehicles on the side of the roads and in people’s compound in Virgin Gorda and their potential to harbour mosquitoes thereby spreading diseases.