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'Money, manpower & materials will say when power is restored'- Leroy A. E. Abraham

- Said there are many factors that could affect restoration process
Leroy A. E. Abraham, General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) stated that he cannot give a definitive answer when full power will be restored to the territory. Photo: VINO
A member of the CUC team from Cayman Islands working to restore power in Greenland, East End on Saturday October 21, 2017. Photo: VINO
A member of the CUC team from Cayman Islands working to restore power in Greenland, East End on Saturday October 21, 2017. Photo: VINO
A broken utility post following the passage of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
A broken utility post following the passage of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
Linemen working to restore power in Baughers Bay, Tortola. Photo: VINO
Linemen working to restore power in Baughers Bay, Tortola. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - While the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has been working tirelessly to restore power throughout the territory following Hurricane Irma, it is unclear when full power will be restored.

In an exclusive interview with General Manager of BVIEC, Leroy A. E. Abraham, he said he is not able to tell when full power will be restored because their are many factors that come into play that can affect the process.

"I cannot say when power will be restored. There are three variables that will determine when, which is money, man power and materials to reconstruct the entire grid and all three of them are changing," explained Mr Abraham.

He further told our newsroom that his department ordered materials but due to the fact that other Caribbean Islands and the US was impacted by Hurricanes, there will be a delay in receiving the materials.

Mr Abraham said, "A lot of us are struggling for the exact same resources. So, the when is a difficult thing to answer with all of those variables or give a definitive time frame."

"Underground network an expensive undertaking"

Meanwhile, the BVIEC General Manager, responding to whether or not the territory should strictly run its power underground, stated that "everything has its pros and cons."

According to Mr Abraham, "Some of the grid network is underground. The cables were underground but the switch gears were above ground," while noting that those sustained damages due to the severity of the hurricane.

The General Manager admitted that "it is very expensive to put the network underground" rather than above ground, adding that it would take a longer time to restore power if everything was underground.

He disclosed to our news reporter that the Wickham's Cay area has its grid network underground and it took a while before his department could get that area up and running, adding that the switch gears and cables were damaged.

"At the end of the day that's just how the system is designed. Some things you can plan for in terms of the resiliency of the system," expressed Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham.

Power restored in some areas

According to Mr Abraham, areas that power has been restored includes: Wickham's Cay 1, portion of Main Street; portion of Long Bush and Sugar Mill Road; portion of Lower Estate; portion of Pasea and Johnson Ghut; Wickham's Cay 2; portion of Port Purcell; Baugher's Bay; Gene Hill; Fish Bay; Kingstown; portion of Greenland; portion of Little Dix Hill; Pockwood Pond; portion of Hannah's and Sea Cows Bay; portion of East End and portion of Beef Island.

Upcoming in the next week and a half are: Frenchman's Cay, West End, Belmont Park, Freshwater Pond, Towers, Fort Recovery and Coxheath.

15 Responses to “'Money, manpower & materials will say when power is restored'- Leroy A. E. Abraham”

  • Windy (24/10/2017, 13:43) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    one day Mark Vanterpool saying one thing the next day Leroy Abraham saying another. What a dysfunctional government
  • Chance (24/10/2017, 15:41) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply

    Once his family have electricity he will talk sh*t.

  • barbie (24/10/2017, 16:49) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Apart from manpower and materials, how is money a problem in restoring electricity. As far as anyone knows, nobody in the BVI likes to be without current so everyone tries to pay their bills on time or in a reasonable time frame. The only entity that can owe large sum and still have power is government everyone else must pay their bills.

    If I am wrong, please correct me. Thanks
    • Failure. (25/10/2017, 06:39) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply

      Abraham just need to get the damxxn job done.. Done with these excuses. Gosh.. Give us power..Then talk about bills and money..

      • YOU ALL SICK (25/10/2017, 08:11) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        Abraham needs to get the job done really??? Can your ass get the job done. Go hook up youself to the current and do it yourself. These guys are doing a remarkable job and you talking about Abraham. You alll arexsuch lunatics. The Lord needs to need send something else so all you dobt have power forca much longer time. Going on like its the end of the world. You luve Tola to see the devastation??? Ungtatefulness is not good. BVIEC busting them backsider to do the best they can with the resources they have and Abraham is just being truthful. Unlike these piliticians that tell you alll what you all want to hear and has ni ctedibikity. You should get power LAST in the whole territory. Just so sick of you all. A bunch of imbicles.
  • Getting Fedup (24/10/2017, 17:04) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am grateful for what has been achieved thus far but in my opinion 7 weeks after the hurricane, the restoration should have been much further. Not even 5% has power back. By now atleast 40% should have been restored. I have no hope that things will be restored before christmas.
  • Street Reporter. Live (25/10/2017, 06:24) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    News from the Street... These businesses are using this disaster to in rich themselves.. From hard ware stores to express services to Supermarkets.. Raising their prices... Some of them making a killing off of Generator sales Still have a lot instock so getting current back is not their interest because those who have to make the decisions are living comfortable already have current to hell with the rest of us.. Why can't all these businesses that making so much disaster money donate to electricity.. Then again Electricity needs to do a better job of managing their Resources..Seems like only a few in this place the focus is on.. This recovery is slow and full of excuses.. Abraham needs to go... Coming to u from the streets...
  • excuses excuses excuses (25/10/2017, 06:43) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    That's all we get from bad managers.. Good managers find away to deliver.. Only in the BVI.
    • @ excuse excuses (25/10/2017, 08:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mr. Abraham is a speaker of truth...you can't handle the TRUTH
    • @ excuses excuses excuses (25/10/2017, 18:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      When they have the resources and support to deliver
  • Let there be lite (25/10/2017, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Leroy and his staff need a OBE
  • peace (25/10/2017, 15:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is very nice to here some get, that is progress. But what about Huntum's Ghut? We need a little too.
  • Fed Up (26/10/2017, 12:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wondering how they pass haver's Estate and reach hannah's Estate


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