Rda Transitions Into Permanent Development Agency
Governor Daniel Pruce has assented to legislation transforming the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency from a temporary post-disaster entity into a permanent institution. Renamed the Virgin Islands Development Agency, the organisation will spearhead the Territory's long-term infrastructure and sustainable growth.
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency is entering a transformative new chapter following the Governor's official assent to legislation establishing the agency as a permanent statutory body dedicated to the Territory's long-term development. His Excellency the Governor, Daniel Pruce, assented to the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Act, 2026 on September 22, 2026.
The legislation marks a major institutional evolution for an entity created in the wake of the catastrophic 2017 hurricane season. Originally established in 2018 with a five-year mandate following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the RDA was tasked with implementing critical projects under the Government's Recovery to Development Plan.
While its original mandate was temporary and later extended by Cabinet through December 2026, the agency's role gradually broadened beyond disaster repair into wider capital infrastructure delivery. Over its tenure, the RDA has managed approximately $69.2 million in project funding, awarding more than 90 percent of its contracts to local Virgin Islands contractors.
Its portfolio includes the reconstruction of six public schools serving over 1,900 students, refurbishments of police stations, road improvements, water infrastructure upgrades, and renewable energy installations. Ongoing works include the resurfacing of the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground track, sidewalk upgrades on DeCastro Street, and project delivery on major civic facilities such as the Halls of Justice.
Under the new amendment, the agency is formally renamed the Virgin Islands Development Agency (VIDA). The legislation permanently removes the previous dissolution clauses and expands the organisation's remit to focus on climate resilience, economic diversification, and national infrastructure planning linked directly to the National Sustainable Development Plan.
The law also refines governance, accountability, and procurement frameworks to ensure strong oversight. The Amendment Act will officially come into force on a date appointed by the Minister through a notice published in the Gazette, formally closing the initial recovery era and inaugurating a permanent framework for national development across the British Virgin Islands.
Primary source: Guavaberry