Government Urged To Build Food Reserves
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has called on the Virgin Islands government to establish strategic emergency food reserves and a clear disaster distribution system. He also urged local residents, churches, and civic groups to proactively build their own household pantries to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
Local commentator Claude Skelton Cline has called on the government to establish emergency food reserves and a territory-wide distribution framework to safeguard residents against natural disasters and global supply disruptions. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline urged authorities to construct specialised warehouses and silos in elevated, secure areas to stockpile non-perishable food and water supplies.
He emphasised that preparing strategic reserves is critical for the territory's long-term resilience. As part of the proposed strategy, Skelton Cline recommended that the Department of Disaster Management develop a comprehensive logistics plan. Under this approach, the Virgin Islands would be divided into specific quadrants, establishing designated collection centres and assigned distribution schedules so that residents know exactly where and when to access emergency provisions during a crisis.
The proposal comes amid ongoing discussions regarding food security across the territory. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley previously noted that because the Virgin Islands imports the vast majority of its food supply, achieving absolute self-sufficiency remains a significant challenge.
To address these vulnerabilities, the government has moved forward with bilateral negotiations with the Dominican Republic covering trade and food security, while also pursuing plans for a central agricultural complex and collection facility at Paraquita Bay to better support local farmers.
Beyond government initiatives, Skelton Cline advised individual households, faith-based organisations, and community groups not to wait for state action before taking precautions. He encouraged families to systematically stock up on non-perishable goods with long shelf lives and urged individuals requiring continuous medication to work with healthcare providers to maintain adequate personal supplies.
Highlighting that food and clean drinking water are the most fundamental human necessities, he stressed that individual household preparedness combined with national logistics planning remains vital to protecting the territory in times of emergency.
Primary source: BVI News