On Monday, this week, May 28, Lord Tariq Ahmad, the Minister of State for the British Overseas Territories, spent half the day touring various areas of Anguilla to acquaint himself with the progress of the recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma.
Accompanied by Governor Tim Foy, Anguilla Government Ministers and officials and media representatives, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister began his tour at the badly-damaged Morris Vanterpool Primary School at East End. There, he saw tremendous evidence not only of the damage done by the hurricane, but the demolition work in progress towards the rebuilding of the school. He also visited the nearby basketball court, a facility for the school and the community – and heard plans for its restoration.
As part of that tour, he visited the rented apartment buildings now being used to temporarily accommodate the students of the Morris Vanterpool School. He was delighted to have met the students, in particular, and admired their resilience in adapting to the new location.
Lord Ahmad commented to media representatives:
“As you know, education is the fundamental means for any progressive society. I speak not just as a Minister, but as a parent when you look to get the best for your children. When you look at the devastation of the school, I am amazed at how quickly the temporary facilities were up and running. The primary focus of the administration in Anguilla was to ensure that the children’s education should not suffer. That is something we not only acknowledge, but celebrate. The important thing now is to look at the reconstruction. We have already committed 60 million pounds funding in the first phase for a number of projects underway. Where we are standing, at the basketball court, I think we need to look at innovative ways of how we can provide the recreation and services which are very much part of learning.”
At the temporary location of the school, he said:
“First of all, I commend the resilience of the children. It shows how quickly they can adapt. Some of them initially perceive this, very much, as a kind of adventure, and a new place, but what is very clear to me is that this is, of course, accommodation which was built for residential living, but the team has done an incredible job in adapting a residential site for a school and education. It underlines the importance and the need to ensure that we focus on rebuilding the new site so that the children can get back to their normal surroundings where they can enjoy not just education in the classroom, but recreation outside and that is an area of my focus.”
Meanwhile, the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School and The Valley Primary School, both considerably damaged by the hurricane, are among six priority projects to be funded under the 60 million pounds.
Lord Ahmad’s next visit was to the Princess Alexandra Hospital which was also considerably damaged by the hurricane, but has since been extensively repaired – and is also being significantly expanded with additional maternity and other wards as well as new equipment.
He told the media representatives:
“Immediately after the hurricane, assistance was given of seven million pounds which was invested in various aspects of healthcare. More recently, in the 60 million pounds, four million has been allocated to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and we are already seeing much of that financing being utilised. As I have just told the staff, the main thing is not just putting back what was already there. It is about enhancing the facilities, ensuring technological advancements and accommodation.
“The maternity wing is part and parcel of the support we are providing to increase capacities so that where only four people could be served, that has been doubled to eight. Having the right conditions for expectant mothers and those who deliver them, it is part and parcel of defining the next generation of Anguilla. The UK has put very much priority on financing for this particular hospital. I think what is also important is that we are now looking at the whole healthcare offering throughout the island as part of the next stage.”
Lord Ahmad’s fourth visit was to the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School where some eight classroom buildings, extensively damaged by Hurricane Irma, have had to be demolished creating a shortage of space for students and a shift system in school hours. He also visited other supporting structures which were damaged as well. The school is one of the projects to be funded under the 60 million pounds humanitarian grant.
There was not an opportunity for the media representatives to request comments from Lord Ahmad as the time had come for the long journey to Belmond Cap Juluca.
Accompanied by Governor Tim Foy and members of his team, Lord Ahmad travelled to the resort where, at the main entrance, he met the General Manager, Mr. Tiago Sarmento, and other managerial colleagues – and proceeded to tour the hotel site where expansion and renovation work is in progress. The resort, now owned by the global British tourism company, Belmond Ltd., was closed before the hurricane for reconstruction and expansion. It is due to reopen in November this year.
Speaking to the media representatives after the tour, Lord Ahmad said:
“We are standing here at the Belmond Cap Juluca resort and it underlines the commitment and very positive signs of how the private sector is looking to re-engage. The opportunity now is to expand the facilities and to see this beautiful resort coming to life. I was talking to representatives of the company who told me that even though the resort is not complete, and is looking to reopen in November, they opened up the bookings last week and already have a 60 percent occupancy rate.
“I think that shows faith in Anguilla, faith in the company with its investment here, and also faith in the people of Anguilla. When you look around here, through the investments the company is making, that is providing great opportunities in terms of employment. That’s good news all around. The sun is shining. We look towards a positive future for Anguilla, and Belmond and the private sector are very much part of it.
“It is really for the business itself to judge how it diversifies its own business interest. What we are concerned about is that the company’s engagement here is really good for the economy – and good for the country through the tourists it is attracting.”
Belmond Cap Juluca’s General Manager in Anguilla, Mr. Tiago Sarmento, commented: “It is a great pleasure to have the Minister coming to see, with his own eyes, what the impact of Belmond is in terms of re-investment here in Anguilla. It is not only a pleasure but also an honour to be part of such an amazing country, and being part of such an amazing renovation.”
Later, Lord Ahmad and party, accompanied by a trade delegation, attended a meeting at the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss business opportunities. During that event, the Anguilla Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce. (See relevant article in this edition of The Anguillian.)
There was also a meeting at the Emergency Operations Centre at which Lord Ahmad congratulated members of the Disaster Management Committee for their work, last year, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The British Minister of State was also updated on plans and procedures for the 2018 hurricane season commencing on June 1, 2018.
