FRUSTRATION GROWS AS SOME STILL WITHOUT POWER

The British Virgin Islands’ recovery from Tropical Storm Ernesto continues, with the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) expanding its efforts to restore power across the territory.

As of Friday, BVIEC reported ongoing work in several additional areas on Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Crews are actively working to restore connections in Leverick Bay, Red Bay, Long Trench, Windy Hill, and Carrot Bay. Efforts have also extended to Jost Van Dyke where 2 areas were still awaiting reconnection. 

This expanded effort follows earlier successes in restoring power to key areas across Tortola and Virgin Gorda, including Road Town, Sea Cows Bay, and the stretch from Pockwood Pond to West End.

Despite the progress, frustration persists among some community members who remain without power days after the storm. The ongoing outages highlight the extensive damage caused by Ernesto’s unexpected intensity, which left a trail of fallen trees, damaged infrastructure, and flooded areas.

Emergency response teams continue their work clearing debris and assessing damage. Authorities maintain their call for caution, warning of potential hazards as clean-up efforts proceed.

While the territory has made significant strides in its recovery, the expanding restoration efforts underscore the ongoing challenges in fully restoring services and repairing damage across all affected islands.