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Anegada continues to suffer; no airport runway lights

-Sick residents can die in emergency situations with no night flights
Fifteen months after the devastation of Hurricane Irma and Maria of 2017, there is still no runway lights on the Captain Auguste George Airport, located on the sister island of Anegada. Photo: Team of Reporters
The Director of Operations at the BVIAA, claims that parts for the lights have been ordered and “could be here by next week”, while declining to give any further details as to why it took almost 15 months after the passage of the Hurricanes. Photo: Facebook
The Director of Operations at the BVIAA, claims that parts for the lights have been ordered and “could be here by next week”, while declining to give any further details as to why it took almost 15 months after the passage of the Hurricanes. Photo: Facebook
THE SETTLEMENT, Anegada, VI - Fifteen months after the devastation of Hurricane Irma and Maria of 2017, there is still no runway lights on the Captain Auguste George Airport, located on the sister island of Anegada.

The lights were destroyed during the hurricane devastation and since then, no repairs were made. It has resulted in no night flights at the Airport for over a year, resulting in the lives of the Anegada residents being placed at risk whenever the need for emergency night flight arises. 

No help for sick residents

It was also reported that just last night, Tuesday, December 11, 2018, a resident who is also a teacher, had a heart issue, and could not travel by sea.  

Air transportation could not be an option due to the runway light situation preventing planes from landing or taking off in the nights. 

Many residents on the sister islands continue to voice their concern, owing to the fact that they have been ignored by the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government since 2011, as the complains are the same on Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke.

On the Anegada airport issue, when Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) tried to make contact with Denniston S. Fraser, the Managing Director of the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA), calls were not returned.

Help is on the way

However, Mr Coy W. Levons, Director of Operations at the BVIAA, claims that parts for the lights have been ordered and “could be here by next week”, while declining to give any further details as to why it took almost 15 months after the passage of the Hurricanes.

One frustrated Anegada resident said, “they better not come over here this election season, as their treatment will not be nice.”

The BVIAA falls under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.

12 Responses to “Anegada continues to suffer; no airport runway lights ”

  • wize up (12/12/2018, 18:25) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    now you see why Mr New Zealand up in here distributing our tax money!!!!(run talk dat..
  • just asking.... (12/12/2018, 18:50) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    What else is new here
  • going green (12/12/2018, 19:54) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ain’t Coy from Anegada and sits in NDP committee? His own people he neglecting, anyways the article is right. Why only some 15mnts they now ordering lights? Gov’t need to Step in the airport matters and shake it up a bit.
    • wize up (13/12/2018, 01:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ going green: the answer is crystal clear(an election is in the air) same mind game on Tortola(full steam ahead with the fire station and high school) almost 2 years after: the politicians will be all over your front lawn in the next weeks (all in your livening room and your business place...mind games) once you given them your vote on Election Day you will not see them again in your neighbourhood until 2023(might see them on TV or some radio talking show)....
      • @ Wise Up (13/12/2018, 09:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        I think BVIAA have their own spending capital, they don’t need to wait on government or election to buy these things... Safety Is Their #1 Priority? Yeah right, with that slogan. I heard they got money back from insurance for disabled fire trucks and the same said trucks out their working. They clearly need a change of management up there.
        • wize up (13/12/2018, 10:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          @ wise up: thank you for that point of information(so the heat need turning up under BVIAA...them holding up progress): I personally usually hold those I voted for accountable for any issue within this community....
  • Vi citizen (12/12/2018, 22:19) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Anegada really needs a whole lot mot assistance than just runway lights.God forbid one those plainehave to crash out there. Everone will die waiting to get help
  • insider (12/12/2018, 23:27) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr fraser has been in that seat too long time for new blood
  • JACK BE STILL (12/12/2018, 23:30) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    We on tola get treat like dirt, I could only imagine the outer islands
  • ReX FeRal (13/12/2018, 09:10) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    No representation . It's a darn shame.
  • Islandman (13/12/2018, 13:14) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Sometimes the citizen's,need to do for themselves ,what the government dont do.this is nothing new.
  • Political Observer (PO) (13/12/2018, 18:51) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVIAA is a statutory body so it should have the money to repair the runway lights, should it not? If no why is it a statutory body? Too many statutory bodies in the the BVI; many of them need to be just departments. Nonetheless, the situation at the Anegada airport is a health and safety issue. What if there is an emergency to medivac someone by air at night. Too bad too sad. Sad. Where is the Hon H. O’Neal, the D-9 rep, and the Hon Dr. Hon Premier D. Orlando Smith, Hon R. Skelton, Hon M. Walwyn and Hon A. Christian, the 4 At Large reps. Nothing new here, vir outlying islands have always gotten the backhand, short end of stick.......etc. Fam on Anegada, be strong, be hopeful.


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