Kevin R. Gordon, CEO of Digicel’s Virgin Islands branch and a member of his team working on one of their sites that was damaged during the hurricane. Photo: Provided

Work being done on one of Digicel's site that was damaged during Hurricane Irma. Photo: Provided

This is according to Kevin R. Gordon, CEO of Digicel’s Virgin Islands branch, in an exclusive interview with our newsoom on on Wednesday September 27, 2017.

According to Mr Gordon, Digicel’s staff worked tirelessly and did what was necessary to keep the service up and running.

“When the air condition, light and power went and when everything was dead, our generators kicked in. There was no air condition in the office because Irma decided she was going to take those air condition units off the roof and the guys did what they had to do. They strung up the air condition fans in the server room on a 120 volt system and hung them right across the entire server room to keep the heat out; it was 110 degrees at the time but they did what they had to do,” adding that he is very grateful for his technical team.

Mr Gordon noted that the work being done is not just an individual effort but rather a community effort, adding that although he is the face of Digicel, he has a “system in the backing”, so he is grateful for his staff’s unwavering dedication.

The CEO disclosed that following the devastation of hurricane Irma, Digicel is currently going through a complete rebuilding of its entire network to better serve customers.

Areas restored with service

According to Mr Gordon, there are 34 communities from East End, going back to West End, that have full coverage.

He explained that there are strategic sites that will bring coverage into other areas until the key sites are fully operational.

“There are some key sites that we have to get online and that’s what the guys are working on and we have over 5 to 6 sites that the guys are working on,” said Mr Gordon.

Digicel service has been restored to the following areas: Spanish Town and Virgin Gorda Ferry Dock, Purcell Estate, Shannon, Beef Island, Steep Hill, Road Reef Marina, Chalwell, East End, Ridge Road, Threadfall, Sea Cows Bay, Albion, Long Bush, George's Hollow, Cane Garden Bay, Lower Estate, Huntums Ghut, Baughers Bay, Meyers, McNamara, Free Bottom, Lower Fort Hill, Prospect Reef, Manuel Reef, Pasea Estate and the Lower Fish Bay regions.

In addition, Parham Town, Greenland, East End Village, East End Long Look, Hannah’s, Fat Hogs Bay, Long Bay, Trellis Bay, Guana Island in regions of Tom Bard Bay, Low Bay and West End Bay, along with the Scrub Island districts of West Bay South, East South Bay and Marina.

Waivers on bills

Mr Gordon also disclosed that concession will be given to customers especially those who are involved in relief efforts.

He further explained that during the hurricane persons where allowed to make free calls – whether prepaid or postpaid- and free credit was given to allow persons to active a data plan before and after hurricane Irma, noting that he understood that everybody would not be able to make it to the retail store.

Meanwhile, Mr Gordon admitted that in order for Digicel to get back to where it once was and to do a complete rebuild of its network, it would take millions: “This is a complete rebuild and it takes money to get back to that place and we are working as fast as we can. We have already invested millions just to get the temporary structures here on the island to restore service and we are going to spend millions to rebuild the network,” explained Mr Gordon.

He continued, “So we are asking for your patience. We are asking for your support and it’s not a lot to ask and we will make concisions when and where we can but we are asking for everybody’s support as we try to get the entire territory connected.”