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USVI to receive $384m from FEMA for school rebuilding

April 26th, 2024 | Tags: FEMA funding rebuilding Schools USVI
Portion of the Eulalie Rivera K-8 School. The US Virgin Islands (USVI) is set to receive a substantial $384.8 million investment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to demolish and rebuild hurricane-damaged schools, marking a significant advancement in the territory's recovery efforts from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Photo: VI Consortium
VI CONSORTIUM

FREDERIKSTED, St Croix, USVI- The US Virgin Islands (USVI) is set to receive a substantial $384.8 million investment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to demolish and rebuild hurricane-damaged schools, marking a significant advancement in the territory's recovery efforts from hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

The funding initiative includes the complete replacement of three elementary schools on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas, as well as repairs to a school lunch warehouse on St. Thomas. This effort is part of FEMA's ongoing collaboration with the Virgin Islands government and its Department of Education to ensure safe and modern educational facilities for the community.

Kristen A. Hodge, the director for FEMA’s Recovery Office in the U.S. Virgin Islands, emphasised the agency's commitment, stating, “I am pleased to approve these latest obligations that help bring the Virgin Islands closer to post-hurricane recovery. Our commitment to help the future leaders of the Virgin Islands by providing them safe facilities in which to receive their education remains strong.”

Key Projects and Funding Details:

Lew Muckle Elementary School, located on a 3.94-acre parcel in Sion Farm, St. Croix, will undergo prudent replacement of seven out of its 11 buildings.

  1. Eulalie Rivera Elementary School in Grove Place, St. Croix, will see the replacement of 12 structures, including classrooms and an athletic field bathroom.
  2. Juanita Gardine Elementary School in Estate Richmond, St. Croix, is slated for the replacement of ten buildings including the auditorium and auxiliary buildings.
  3. On St. Thomas, the Leonard Dober Elementary School, severely affected by the 2017 hurricanes, will have three of its buildings replaced.
  4. Repairs to a 7,000 square foot lunch warehouse on St. Thomas will restore it to its pre-disaster design and functionality.

Pivotal moment for education in USVI

The funding, facilitated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, enables the [US] VI Department of Education to not only rebuild but also modernise school facilities. This includes merging several schools into modernised campuses like Alfredo Andrews and Alexander Henderson Schools, and closing Leonard Dober Elementary School, which is not currently used for instructional purposes.

The Dept. of Education expressed gratitude for the federal support. “These grant awards signify a pivotal moment for education in the Virgin Islands, allowing for the development of much-needed new schools and the modernization of existing facilities with a focus on equity for all students," the department stated.

The department commented further on the breadth of the grant awards. "It is essential to recognize that these grants cover more than construction. They extend to land acquisition, project management, demolition, and design," the VIDE stated. The all-encompassing approach ensures meticulous planning and execution to meet the highest standards of educational facility development.

7 Responses to “USVI to receive $384m from FEMA for school rebuilding”

  • ann (26/04/2024, 18:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    What is the bvi receiving from the UK ??? zero and a coi we must pay for
  • Stealth (26/04/2024, 18:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The USVi is an unincorporated territory of the US and can get $384M from FEMA, a US agency, to rebuild a school. The US bought the USVI from Denmark in 1917 for approx $50M. Residents of the USVI have some anti-democratic issues, is one of the 17 remaining non-self governing territories., and still has some self-determination challenges.. The UK, on the other hand, has been in control of the VI since 1672. The VI is also one tge 17 remaining non-self governing territories; the UK is the Administering Power to help it (VI) move towards a full measure of self-governing. However, the VI cannot get a £ from the UK to invest in infrastructure, social facilities, etc, even after a national m, destructive disaster, ie, Hurricane Irma. I looked through the length and breadth of the VI and I have not find an even a classroom funded by the UK much less a school. The UK as the Administering Power has anti self-determination road blocks in place instead of helping and guiding the VI towards greater self-determination . It’s effort so far have anti-democratic. No Virgin Islander can become governor of the VI; our USVi neighbors can though. Moreover, the UK as white on rice will jump to fund a HMP..They will pay to lock up the beast but not a £ to educate them. Take a peek at the history.
    • The UK are Oppressors (28/04/2024, 14:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      "Truer" words have not been spoken.

      The UK is just about oppression and modern day slavery. They replaced the whips and shackles and chains with Commission of Inquires and the non ascension of laws that the elected people of the BVI have put forward.

      UK is to this day still a colonizing oppressor they just changed the ways they are oppressing with modern they tactics!
  • Cheap (26/04/2024, 19:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The English are cheap and could not even undertake to remind the high school for our children. The only government high school on island. The Queen could have done that out of interest earned. This clearly shows they have no interest in our well being.
  • rock city (27/04/2024, 12:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bvi residents don’t expect anything from the uk but oppression
  • smh (27/04/2024, 16:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    7yrs after...
  • Stay Wake BVI (28/04/2024, 15:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The United States to United States Virgin Islands, take this $348 million real money to improve the territory.

    The The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom Virgin island (BVI), well we know the territory just went through one of the greatest disasters in modern day history from hurricanes Irma and Maria, and we know we the UK have over 58 billion pounds to help the UK and its territories, which you are a part of to recover from disasters. But, sorry, we cant donate none of that to you.

    But here is what we can do for you instead we can back a up to 300 million dollar loan for you, to help you essentially put your people of your territory in debt, if you are some how able to convince the Banks to lend you the money.

    Please see the difference between an Country that wants to see you strive and progress and one that does not?? Look how the USA try's to push the USVI forward compared to how the UK tries to oppress the UK Virgin Islands (BVI)

    Please stay woke people don't let anybody fool you. The UK is and will forever be a colonizer they just adjusted to using modern day oppressive and slavery tactics.


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