Premier Wheatley Marks Hurricane Irma Anniversary
Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has reflected on the resilience of the Virgin Islands on the ninth anniversary of Hurricane Irma. He highlighted the territory's remarkable recovery journey and expressed optimism for the future of the islands.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley has paid tribute to the strength and resilience of the Virgin Islands community, reflecting on the enduring memories and recovery journey since Hurricane Irma devastated the territory on September 6, 2017. Reflecting on the milestone, Premier Wheatley noted that the minds and hearts of residents remain filled with stories of triumph that emerged from the tragedy.
He expressed gratitude for the immense progress the islands have achieved through collective determination and community solidarity. On that fateful day in 2017, the eye of the Category 5 storm tracked directly across the major islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke. The unprecedented disaster resulted in losses exceeding the territory's entire Gross Domestic Product, crippling critical infrastructure, communications, power networks, ports, roads, and residential communities throughout the archipelago.
Despite severe financial constraints, the Virgin Islands largely self-funded its rebuilding process. Successive administrations navigated borrowing restrictions outlined in the United Kingdom's Protocol for Effective Financial Management, opting to rely primarily on local resources and phased rebuilding plans rather than accepting a proposed £300 million UK loan guarantee that did not adjust existing borrowing limits.
Looking back at nearly a decade of rebuilding, Premier Wheatley emphasized that the Virgin Islands community has proven its ability to overcome extraordinary adversity. He noted that while the territory continues to remember the impact of the storm, residents can remain confident that the islands' greatest days lie ahead.
Primary source: VINO