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Residents & businesses strongly dispute BVIEC claims of 95% plus restoration

- Many accused the corporation of misleading the public, as the ‘actual re connections’ are more like 80%
Many have accused the BVI Electricity Corporation of misleading the public on the percentage of electricity restoration to the Territory. Photo: VINO/File
BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) had stated this week that 95% of its work on Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke has been completed while Tortola is about 98% completed. Photo: GIS
BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) had stated this week that 95% of its work on Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke has been completed while Tortola is about 98% completed. Photo: GIS
General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham has said the information previously circulated about restoration of electricity on Tortola being about 98% was inaccurate. He said it is currently about 90%. Photo: VINO/File
General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham has said the information previously circulated about restoration of electricity on Tortola being about 98% was inaccurate. He said it is currently about 90%. Photo: VINO/File
BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) linesmen working to restore power in Baughers Bay, Tortola back in October 2017. Photo: VINO
BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) linesmen working to restore power in Baughers Bay, Tortola back in October 2017. Photo: VINO
LONG BUSH, Tortola, VI- Earlier this week the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) claimed in public statements that it had restored some 98% of electricity on Tortola and 95% on Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke.

It had also said that March is earmarked for full restoration of electricity to the Territory.

However, some critics have disagreed and told our newsroom that is “far from the truth,” as it appears that the BVIEC’s leadership has taken a page from the book of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), the Government of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), who is well established for misleading the public, telling outright lies in the House of Assembly and in public statements and publishing false propaganda.

Residents and businesses from Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke called to say that they are still out of power even after having their homes and businesses inspected, but they have been told “we will get to you soon” or “You have to call Leroy or Henry” and “we are out of materials.”

The reality on the ground!

Many communities on Tortola, including small pockets of areas in Carrot Bay, West End, Romney Park, Sea Cows Bay, Tredfall, Doty Estate, Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay, George’s North Side and Hodge’s Creek are still without electricity, since September 6, 2017.

While all will agree that the Corporation has done a marvelous job following two hurricanes that saw their entire electrical grid and other infrastructure destroyed, residents feel the agency should tell the “truth” and not mislead on the number of reconnections, as the people understand the challenges following the two killer storms.

A resident, who has a small business operating from her home in George’s North Side, told our newsroom, “I am without power from September 6, last year and I am tired calling…”

More like 80% to 85% not 95% or 98%!

Many residents who spoke to our newsroom believe the restoration efforts is more “like 80 to 85 percent throughout the islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke but certainly not 95% or 98% percent… oh no that’s a lie and they know it.”

There are also pockets of areas on Virgin Gorda, especially, North Sound and on Jost van Dyke still without power and a resident said “I am not talking here about houses that still have no roof, I am speaking about houses that have been inspected, but they still have not come.”

The BVI Electricity Corporation has come in for high praises, well deserving we might add, for their hard work and commitment to restoring power to the ravaged Territory following two Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria.

Revenue will be down

In addition, the corporation has lost up to 20% of their customers as businesses and homes are totally destroyed and power could not be reconnected.

Following last year’s catastrophic hurricanes, there were also linesmen from, Jamaican, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Canada, Belize, Aruba and Grenada, who came to the Virgin Islands to support the Corporation’s efforts.

It was a mistake- Leroy A. E. Abraham

Meanwhile, BVIEC General Manager Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham told our newsroom the information previously circulated about restoration of electricity on Tortola being about 98% was inaccurate.

Restoration on Tortola, he said, should be approximately 98% around March 31, 2018.

“That’s an error, Tortola should depict 90 percent,” Mr Abraham said, adding that he has asked for the information to be corrected and re-circulated.

His Deputy, Mr Henry O. Creque, was also reached and he too said the information previous circulated in the public domain was innacurate. "Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke are accurate,” Mr Creque stated.

30 Responses to “Residents & businesses strongly dispute BVIEC claims of 95% plus restoration”

  • hear lie that is lie (22/02/2018, 15:29) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow caught red handed
  • one eye (22/02/2018, 15:32) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark told them to say that!
  • tretretrete (22/02/2018, 15:47) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    And thats just teh residences that are habitable
    • dennis (23/02/2018, 11:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      We just got power this week at Hodges Creek and we live right on the road, but still happy it is back on. I know the workers are doing their best, I see them daily climbing poles and this place was really torn up, so I am grateful.
  • wize up (22/02/2018, 16:15) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    give thanks with a great full heart: following the devastation I anticipated power mid 2018-the electricity department did a great job; I guess we all look at life from different perspectives and nothing wrong with that....
    • @ wize up (23/02/2018, 05:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did anyone say they did not do a good job? All the article that I read say "be truthful " seems like they starting to lie just like Mr zzzzzzzz
      • wize up (23/02/2018, 18:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@wize up: I understand but remember we talking about reconnecting high voltage and especially in those areas that suffered severe damage.....who is Zzzzz!!!
  • i from here (22/02/2018, 16:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Glover park trained
  • ccc (22/02/2018, 16:27) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank God for a free press
  • Romney Park (22/02/2018, 17:10) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about the government telling the truth for a change! People's livelihood is affected~ Show Smith the door!
  • ... (22/02/2018, 17:46) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Untruths is our new cultural dress
  • Me (22/02/2018, 19:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing yet at Admiralty (George's Hollow) side
  • See (22/02/2018, 19:37) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply

    Absolute +×#$&÷% joke to say the power is 95 per cent up . STOP ALL THE LIES .... EVERYBODY . WE ARE STILL MASH UP
    ....FACE FACTS

  • church (22/02/2018, 20:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    A liar is also a thief
  • biker (22/02/2018, 20:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVIEC - Please provide the public with the actual number of re-connections completed on Tortola and the number of customers in August 2017. These percentage numbers are too vague.
  • wow (22/02/2018, 21:52) Like (10) Dislike (9) Reply

    What a set of u grateful @##&r. Some of these BVIEC workers havent even been able to see their families or fix their damaged homes and we are here arguing about percentages??? Majority of the Territory is back up in a very short time and we should be grateful.

    • @ SMH (23/02/2018, 05:47) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      Keep their feet to the fire vino someone must be held accountable .

      In some other countries top management would have been ask to resign
  • ... (22/02/2018, 22:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI Electricity need to sort out those ridiculous bill calculations.
  • Markus (23/02/2018, 02:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The bible says there will be lying in the land. Take heed.
  • How Many (23/02/2018, 05:59) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    How many of you critics know percentages??? How many of you have tried to actually do the math before blabbing your mouths? The BVI society only knows how to criticize and sit back waiting for hand outs. How many of you have tried going out and volunteering for your country to get the grid back? Instead you criticize and try to discredit. Sick of you all.
  • oh boy (23/02/2018, 06:09) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I pass up Sage Mountain and not even zoolls they erect up there as yet but they are telling the people to get their home tested.
    I have to pass through chalwell and Windy Hill every day and they playing games with the people, especially up Sage Mountain. It is not no mistakeabout 98% restored. That information was broad cast time and time again on ZBVI. If it was they would have corrected it. Why wait until the people challenge them.
  • tretretrete (23/02/2018, 10:55) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    All you people on her blabbing show us your calculations then you may have some credibility.
  • cay (23/02/2018, 12:56) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look how the bviec was caught in a big fat lie, now they undermining all the hard work they have done
  • BS (23/02/2018, 14:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Chatting BS all the time . They don't even have materials
  • watcher (23/02/2018, 20:27) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poor corporation what a scandal
  • Help (24/02/2018, 06:59) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hope they can get their shipments cleared and out of the port faster than anyone else can
  • no more lies Leroy (25/02/2018, 01:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    He said 90% even that is inaccurate
  • bat cave (25/02/2018, 09:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tobo dam lie


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