Repairs being made to a section of a roof of the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, which was damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Photo: VINO

The repair works taking place at the back of the elderly home while the residents are currently placed to the front of the building, according to officials of the home. Photo: VINO

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Petrona N. Davies, the repair project for the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly is being funded and managed by Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Photo: VINO/File

Repairs will also be made to some of the windows damaged by the hurricanes of September 2017. Photo: VINO

The government building that houses seniors in the territory who, for the most part, had lived alone or their families are away or could no longer afford to care for them, was damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

The repair project funded by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the international public health agency working to improve health and living standards for people of the Americas, did not receive any local government funding for this project.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Petrona N. Davies confirmed today, January 10, 2018 that the project is funded by PAHO.

"The contract sum is $292,607.78 and the project is being fully funded and managed by PAHO under its emergency allocation of $1M to the BVI," Davies added.

Local firm Quality Construction to the rescue

The Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly repair project is being undertaken by local firm Quality Construction Ltd, and the Managing Director, Mr Roy A. Garraway, told our newsroom today December 10, 2018 that the project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2018.

Mr Garraway said the repair works include the replacement of portions of the roof damaged by the hurricanes, replacements of windows, doors and some work inside the building.

It is our newsroom’s understanding that many of the residents had to be rescued during hurricane Irma and took shelter next door at Peebles Hospital.

Residents still in home despite construction going on

A visit by our newsroom this morning January 10, 2018 to inquire if the residents of the home were still there while the construction is going on, we were told “yes.”

Officials at the home deny that the noise, dust and construction site environment are affecting the elderly at the home, as it is said the work is going on in the "back" and the residents are in the "front of the building."

The National Democratic Party (NDP) regime had proposed after the 2011 elections a new senior citizen’s home at Spooner’s Estate on the north side of Tortola; however, due to lack of funds by the Administration, the project was shelved, notwithstanding huge amount of monies were spent on preparation works.

The status of the elderly home on the sister island of Virgin Gorda following Hurricanes Irma and Maria is unclear at this time.