The main post office is located in Baughers Bay on the second floor of the Qwomar building. Premier Orlando Smith told the Standing Finance Committee that it is the intention of his Government to construct a new Post Office building.

Appearing before the 2012 Standing Finance Committee was the Post Office Acting Post Master General Ms. Pascha Stoutt.

The member for the third district Julian Fraser RA, enquired whether the Qwomar Building now housed the main post office. The Acting Post Master General (APG) confirmed that was correct. The member queried whether the floor was on street level to which Ms. Stoutt responded that it was not and informed that it was on the second floor of the building.

Honourable Fraser enquired whether there were any plans to build a post office since the Virgin Islands did not appear to currently have one. He also added that while he was not speaking from an informed perspective, it appeared that the relocation to the Qwomar building was an interim measure and he did not believe that the building was intended to serve as a Post Office. The third district representative requested the Premier to respond regarding the future plans for a building.

The Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith responded that he also believed the move was a temporary measure and affirmed that it was important for a building to be constructed. The Premier noted that it was a matter of when the building would be constructed, but “it was the intent of Government to have one built.”

Former Minister for Communications and Works Fraser clarified that it would not be a similar situation as North Sound, to which Premier Smith responded that he had to be realistic and was unable to provide a definitive deadline.

The Member of the second district J. Alvin Christopher referred to previous discussions to have a joint building between the Ports Authority and the Post Office in the present general site. Hon. Christopher queried whether the discussions were ongoing, or whether the idea had been changed.

Premier Smith recalled the discussions from a long time ago and informed that since the Government had changed, they had not had that discussion and he could not speak to whether the discussion was held with the previous administration. The Member from the third Fraser informed the SFC that there had been no similar discussions. Hon. Fraser advised that the proposed site had since been identified for use by the Financial Services Commission, based on the last discussions held by the previous administration.

Premier Smith affirmed that the discussions on the new Post Office and the site would be a priority for the new Government. Hon. Smith further noted that there had been many discussions on the location and whether it should have been built in the Eastern area and informed that the discussions would resume again.

New Post office for Carrot Bay with new services

The Member of the first district Andrew A. Fahie invited Ms. Stoutt to provide the members with a list of the services that the new Post Office located in Carrot Bay would offer, as compared to its former location in Carrot Bay.

The Acting Post Master General informed the select committee that the new location in Carrot Bay would become a Post Office instead of a sub Post office and all of the services offered at the Road Town branch would be offered at the Carrot Bay branch. Additionally, the Ag. PG stated that along with the regular mail services, Inland Revenue and Land Taxes could be paid there, access to Ezone would also be offered, as well as the sale of stamps and fax services, scanning services and internet access for those who needed it. Ms. Stoutt further stated that while the new Carrot Bay Post Office would offer the same services as the Road Town branch, it would offer more facilities since the Road Town branch did not provide copying and fax services.