A glimpse of JVD. Photo Credit: www.zimbio.com.

This is according to Sister Islands Coordinator, Vincent Wheatley, who told VINO that a back-up generator was previously in place at the building but has since become irreparable.

The issue of the generator was brought to the attention of the public on Monday April 11, 2011 on Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) radio programme “Let’s Talk” by a caller, who also claimed that JVD was being neglected.

“When you look around at some of the different places like the administration building and the police station, in this building everything operates with computers and when the current go there is not a backup generator. You look at Anegada they have one in their police station, you look at Virgin Gorda they have one, all the rest and so and so.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Dancia Penn.

The caller said that whenever there is a power outage on the island, the policemen would have to use their car lights to  get their work done. Both Premier Ralph T. O’Neal and Deputy Premier Dancia Penn QC said they were not aware that there was not a back-up generator.

Mr. Wheatley said he did not feel the information of the generator was put to Government but said a new back-up generator would be installed in two weeks.

The Administration Building also houses the JVD police station.

Meanwhile, on the issue of neglect the Premier and his deputy said it was hardly a case of Jost Van Dyke being forgotten. Mr. Ralph said he was due to travel to the island Friday last but had to attend other engagements.

Furthermore, Ms. Penn said it was important that the Administration Building be served with a back-up generator and also noted that only Friday last she signed off on some papers for the Premier to take to Cabinet for approval for continuing works to be done on the Community Centre at JVD..

“I can assure you personally that Jost Van Dyke is not forgotten. The Ministry of Health is actively working for Jost Van Dyke and is the Government as a whole,” Ms. Penn said.