'I am proud of the progress we have made' since Hurricane Irma- Deputy Governor
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The VI was struck by the monster hurricane on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, which resulted in widespread destruction and the loss of four lives.
The eye of the hurricane travelled over the three major islands in the group: Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost van Dyke.
The VI’s recovery has been mainly due to its own efforts since it was not able to take any major loans for recovery, due to the reported “trappings” of the Protocol for Effective Financial Management (PFEFM) designed by the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK offered the VI a £300m loan guarantee instead of a loan; however, this was rejected by successive governments since the UK refused to adjust borrowing guidelines in the PFEFM to allow the VI to take out a significant amount of loans without violating the protocols.
'We faced an unimaginable challenge'- David D. Archer Jr
In a message on September 6, 2025, the 8th anniversary of the Category 5 storm, Mr Archer Jr said Hurricane Irma forever changed us all.
"From the battering rain to the disastrous winds and incomprehensible destruction to the struggle of our people in the aftermath, we faced an unimaginable challenge. But the strength of the Virgin Islands, supported by our faith, brought us through.
"Today, as we look back over the past 8 years of our ongoing recovery, I am proud of the progress we have made. I am proud of the way we have adapted, united and grown as a people," Mr Archer Jr stated.
The Deputy Governor said the Public Service faced difficult decisions and days; however, "we learned many lessons and continue to work every day to implement strategies that ensure the protection of our people."
Mr Archer Jr said that as the VI does its reflection that the people also remember the families who endured great losses as a result of Hurricane Irma, and that the individuals who are no longer with us must forever live in our hearts and memories.
"Lastly, please remain in a state of preparedness. We have entered the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and we must not become complacent. Continue to remain ever vigilant," Mr Archer Jr stated.
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11 Responses to “'I am proud of the progress we have made' since Hurricane Irma- Deputy Governor”
I'll keep watching the government complex near the pier park as a historical sight from Irma
The place keeps looking worse.
Nothing improved since 2017. Nothing.
Admin building alone is something not to be proud of.
No proper West End Ferry Dock.
Road Town Dock in disrepair
Docks at the Pier Park gone.
Boats still upside down and littered everywhere from Irma and before.
Prospect Reef stolen from investors and left to die.
Botanical Gardens with no structures.
Lamps still bent over or missing.
Derelicts everywhere.
Roads. No roads to speak of.
All the debris from the storm still in the bush just waiting for a drought or another storm to show up again.
Mangrove wastelands that have been bulldozered over along with the coral.
Government Offices paying rent to family and friends of VIP all over town.
Archives in a mess and unavaiilable.
No Road Town Library.
The list just goes on an on and on and on. So much more to add.
But we are proud I guess that life can still can on in spite of $8Billion spent and another loan of $100,000,000 that we have yet to pay for that we have seen no benefit from in the infrastructure but I am sure the family and friends are happy.
We can be proud of that, and that we have one Premier in Jail as a Criminal that we are so proud of we post his pictures on the walls of our House of Assembly and give him pride of place in our Emancipation Parades. Proud. Yes we should be proud.
Proud that $20Million went from our grasp and neither the Financial Minister nor the Premier know where it went and that $5Million was taken from the VI peoples taxes and put into an already bankrupt bank and the Financial Minister nor the Premier nor the Minister with FSC specialities, nor seemingly the person that srote the check or handed the check to the bank knows who it was that did that or asked that it was done. We should be proud.
Proud that we hide the money for people that make it from illegal trades, drugs or to use to fund terrorism. We should be proud and make sure we hold on to that. It makes us proud.
Proud that we have reports for an airport we do not need, do not want, there is no case for and that we can hide those reports from the public so they cannot see there is no case in any regard for the airport other than to serve as a mechanism to serve familiy and friends who know how to get there hands on the money.
Proud that we can have a COI make it look like we are complying without changing anything to our Governmental or business culture.
Yes. Proud.
420 Feet of Roadworks completed in a month.
Proud.
Now about Northam ......