Premier Honourable Ralph T. O

Both the Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, who is also the Minister of Finance and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Dr. D. Orlando Smith have made their first statements to the people of the Virgin Islands following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s flooding which have caused serious damage to both the private and public sectors causing millions of dollars of damage and left some people with property damages and others homeless.

In a statement aired on a local radio station on Thursday October 8, 2010, the Premier in expressing sympathy to those who were severely affected, said persons who would have lost beds and other furniture and businesses that lost goods and other items will receive the necessary assistance from his Government.

The Premier said the first priority for his Government was to ensure persons have shelters and clearing the roadways of debris.

Premier O´Neal noted that one of the first steps is to plan and organise how the assessment will be conducted and then how to get help to the people.  He also urged residents to stay off the streets when and where necessary.

The Premier who did his own tour of damaged areas thanked the Water and Sewerage Department, Public Works and Disaster Management Departments and the BVI Electricity Corporation for their efforts during this time.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Dr. Smith has expressed sadness over the suffering faced by residents due to this week´s flooding, and pledged his support to help the Government in whatever way he can.

In a statement released to the media, Smith told Virgin Islanders that, “Over the last three days, the BVI has been struck by excessive rainfall that has caused widespread suffering and devastation throughout the Territory. This level of rainfall and the flooding is something that most of us have not experienced in our lifetime”.

The Virgin Islands has been struck by heavy rain falls this week resulting in millions of dollars in damages both in the private and public sectors from Tortola to Jost Van Dyke that turned guths into gushing streams and roads and hill side collapsed throughout the Territory from winds and heavy rain fall leaving many residents homeless from flooding, associated with a weather system centered north of the Territory, now Subtropical Storm Otto.