During a press conference on October 29, Hon. Rymer said that the BVI is still on its recovery journey following the events of 2017, and that the emergency shelter project is an important component in strengthening the Territory’s resilience.

In noting how the funding came about, Hon. Rymer explained, “The Premier’s Office on behalf of your Government of the Virgin Islands, reached out to our longstanding development partner the European Union for assistance with our recovery. The European Union responded favourably in record time, agreeing to give us a grant of two million Euros to assist with us the rehabilitation of emergency shelters across the Territory which have been damaged by the hurricanes, for which we are extremely grateful and we want to say a heartfelt thank you.”

The Acting Premier said that the project, which is valued at the same amount of the funding, will focus on the rehabilitation of the following selected emergency shelters: West End Community Centre, Cane Garden Bay Community Centre, Sea Cow’s Bay Community Centre, Anglican Church Hall, Purcell Community Centre, East End/Long Look Community Centre, North Sound Community Centre, Brewer’s Bay Community Centre and the Long Trench Community Centre.

Further, Hon. Rymer said that this funding from the European is an illustration that the Territory’s recovery is not at a standstill, it is not on pause, but rather recovery is on the move.