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VIRGIN GORDA TO HAVE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Friday, April 24-
In keeping with Government’s Legislative Agenda to develop and promote recreational and national sports programmes in the Territory in order to foster national pride the BVI Government has partnered with the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Limited (VGCCL) for the construction of a sports and recreational facility on Virgin Gorda.Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Lloyd Black told the Department of Information and Public Relations that he welcomes this type of partnership. “This initiative is an avenue which will help to keep the youth occupied and help them make the right choices in life. It is important for everyone to work together in order to continue youth development in the Virgin Gorda Community,” he said.Member of the VGCCL Mr. Verne Wheatley said the mission of this company is to develop recreational facilities for the young people of Virgin Gorda so that they can grow and develop into productive citizens.The facility, which will be constructed on the grounds of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre, will house a 25-metre swimming pool, basketball/volleyball courts and a resource center. The proposed development is intended to benefit the youth population including the students of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre primary and secondary divisions as well as the wider community.There will be a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 27 on Virgin Gorda at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre grounds at 10:00 a.m. Chief Minister Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Lloyd Black and Ninth District Representative Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal will deliver remarks. Mr. Wheatley will chair the proceedings.The VGCCL will construct the sports and recreational facility as a donation to the Virgin Gorda community. Upon completion, title to the facility will be gifted to the Government of the BVI. The Ministry of Education and Culture will assume full responsibility for its operational management.The Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Limited was formed in 1998. It was created to help to supply a source of fund for the pressing community needs, which includes educational opportunities not offered by local schools.
Contact: Vicki Samuel Lettsome, Information Officer II
Vicki Samuel Lettsome, Information Officer IITelephone: 468-3701 ext. 2043, Email: vsamuel-lettsome@gov.vg
VIRGIN GORDA BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW SPORTS FACILITY
Monday, April 30 – Members of the Virgin Gorda community gathered at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre grounds on Friday to mark the commencement of works on the Virgin Gorda Sports and Recreational Facility.
The facility is being funded by the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Limited (VGCCL) on crown land provided by the Government. It will house the first Olympic-sized swimming pool in the Territory, a toddler pool, dive platform, basketball/volleyball court, covered bleachers, changing rooms and resource centre.
Chief Minister Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith said that it was a privilege and pleasure for Government to approve the use of 3.2 acres of crown land to build the facility. “The same commitment that has driven our Government to vastly expand support for our young people has also inspired the private members of our community,” he said.
The Chief Minister added, “We believe that our young people are our most precious resources and when we put money behind programmes that allow them to thrive, we are making an investment that will pay off for years and decades to come.”
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Lloyd Black said that there have been limited opportunities for the young people of Virgin Gorda for too long. “As a Government we have to redouble our efforts here on Virgin Gorda to ensure that our young people can definitely get the same experience as other young people in the BVI and this here today in a perfect example,” the Education Minister said.
“You are not only getting the same opportunity, but you are getting the first public swimming pool in the BVI thanks to the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company and the Government of the British Virgin Islands,” he added.
Ninth District Representative and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal expressed his appreciation to the persons who contributed to this project, especially those who have made Virgin Gorda their home. “It is the Virgin Gorda community who has started this project and I am very glad that the Government has become a part of it,” he said.
The proposed development is intended to benefit young people, including the students of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Primary and Secondary Divisions, as well as the wider community.
The VGCCL will construct the sports and recreational facility as a donation to the Virgin Gorda community. Upon completion, title to the facility will be gifted to the Government of the BVI. The Ministry of Education and Culture will assume full responsibility for its operational management.
The Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Limited, which is the brainchild of Christina Yates, was formed in 1998 but it was officially established in 2001. The company manages and redistributes funds contributed by owners of vacation rental properties on the island, who donate the value of one week’s rental to the company.
Note to Editors:
Founding members of the VGCCL were Christina Yates, Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, Mr. Reeial George, Ms. Grace Flax-Waters, Ms. Shereen Flax-Charles, Ms. Marion Levons, Verne Wheatley and Vincent Wheatley. Membership has increased to include owners of vacation rental properties who participate in the promotion and administration of the company.
Monday, April 30th, 2007
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Virgin Gorda has given us a life time in paradise, lets all give it one week per year..
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
Virgin Gorda Charitable Company, Ltd & BVI Government to Partner
25 Meter Pool to be Built In Virgin Gorda
Facility to be the Focal Point of New Initiative Focused on Youth
Virgin Gorda, BVI April 27, 2007. Chief Minister, Honorable D Orlando Smith, OBE, today officially broke ground on a new 25-meter swimming pool that will be built at the Bregado Flax School in the Valley in Virgin Gorda. The pool is the first endeavor of the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company, Ltd. (“VGCC”), whose focus will be enriching the lives of the young people on this island. The official groundbreaking was held today at 1100 at the site.
It is anticipated this pool will be used to start a competitive swim program in the British Virgin Islands, as well as inter-Caribbean youth competition. The pool will also be used by the community of Virgin Gorda for recreational swimming and Water Safety Training.
The pool will measure 25 meters in length with nine lanes with a depth of 8’6”. Adjacent to the primary pool, there will be a smaller pool designed for handicap access and instruction for younger children. The facility will also have locker rooms, a grand stand and a state of the art timing system and scoreboard.
Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Lloyd Black said, “This initiative is an avenue which will help keep youth interested in sports and potentially offer them professional opportunities such as life-guard and Scuba Diving.”
Commenting on the youth initiative, the Chairman of the VGCC, The Honorable Minister Ralph T. O’Neal said, “This is an excellent example of a multi-partnership effort among the British Virgin Island Government, private enterprise, Belongers and expatriates to enrich the lives of our youth. I am proud to be part of this effort and look forward to seeing the results of our work and the positive impact it will have on our young people.”
Verne Wheatley, Government Agent for Virgin Gorda, and a founder of VGCC said, “This project and others to follow will enhance the lives of our young people, while getting everyone involved in supporting our community.”
Major funding for the VGCC will come from donations by expatriates homeowners, hoteliers, business owners and vacationers as a way of their giving back to the Virgin Gorda Community. The goal of the VGCC is to raise $500,000 annually to support youth programs for Virgin Gorda.
The VGCC is a BVI charitable company, whose purpose is to use donations from expatriate homeowners, hoteliers, businesses, vacationers and Belongers to fund programs and facilities for the young people of Virgin Gorda.
Facility to be the Focal Point of New Initiative Focused on Youth
Virgin Gorda breaks ground for new Sports Facility
Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Update Fall 2007
Construction has resumed after it was discovered that pipes for the bottom were wrongly scheduled. They were returned and are now on Virgin Gorda along with all other supplies and equipments for completion.
Excavation is fully completed with all the levels for the bottom ready for plumbing. This part was very tedious as any inaccuracy will have a negative impact on the water level and dept in general.
We have expanded the pool from nine to ten lanes on the recommendation of some experts. It could have become technical problematic for swimmers with an odd number of lanes.
Over the summer we had a visit to the pool site by Ms. Chelsea Andrews who is a swimming student in Philadelphia under the guidance of fame swim coach Jim Ellis from the movie “Pride” Chelsea was accompanied by her mother who is from Road Town, Tortola. Both Chelsea and her Mom were very excited just to know there is going to be a pool of this type in the BVI. She will be meeting with her coach and is expected to encourage him to visit during the development.
I had discussion with Mr. Ray O’Neal chairman BVI Olympic Committee regarding Chelsea, and was very impressed with her standing in her swim meets. She also expressed interest in swimming for the BVI at national levels. Ray confirms that a national swim club has to be established first and would like to have its headquarters on Virgin Gorda.
We also had discussions with Governor David Peary at the Queens Birthday Reception at Olde Yard Village in June.
We now have a new Minister of Education & Culture Hon. Andrew Fahie, whom I have worked with previously. I will be meeting with him in the very near future. A joint meeting with him and VGCC will also be in the near future as well.
Regular meeting will resume in November when all recess is over and we get back to normal. We do have informal meeting on matters as they become necessary. Research and development continues as we speak. Announcements will be posted on next schedule meeting.
Several community groups are waiting to assist with the pool, but we can only accommodate them as we see necessary during the phases. How ever we expect to be at that point shortly.
Continue to visit the site as we will have updates more frequently on what is happening.
During the summer Virgin Gorda Mutual Society of New York Inc made their regular reunion visit to Virgin Gorda. This organization is sixty years old and the is social group of Virgin Gordians residing in New York I have written to them previously regarding 501C the tax exempt status which we were seeking to provide for our contributors. They reply gracefully and would do anything to help, but was unable at this time as they are awaiting their application status. How ever they will be in touch with us as soon as can once they meet all requirements.
I had further discussion with their finance committee while visiting and will continuously looking into how they can assist us.
Continue to visit our website for regular updates. Please send suggestions etc.
Friday, April 27th, 2007 Virgin Gorda to have Sports
and recreational facilities
Excavation is fully completed with all the levels for the bottom ready for plumbing.
Mister Speaker, at the Second Sitting of the First Session of the First House of Assembly on Tuesday 6th November, I promised that I would up-date this Honourable House on the progress of the swimming pool project located on the Bregado Flax Educational Centre School grounds in Virgin Gorda.
In light of this Mister Speaker, on Friday 9th November, I met with three of the officers of the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Ltd. in the presence of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture and Mr. Xavier (Dag) Samuels, physical education teacher who was assigned to this project.
Mister Speaker, we were informed that the reason for the decision to commence the project was as a result of the desire of members of the Virgin Gorda community to get young boys in particular, off the streets and into some meaningful activities that would help to develop them into productive citizens. As a result the committee was set up in April 2006 and the concept of the swimming pool was born.
The committee, Mister Speaker, comprises of persons from Virgin Gorda as well as expatriate homeowners who have made commitments to contribute one week’s rental per annum of their units to this worthy cause. The committee has been able to raise one hundred and sixty thousand dollars
($160,000.00) to date.
Mister Speaker, the project is divided into two phases. Phase one is the construction of a half Olympic size pool. This pool will be a 25 meter 10 lane swimming pool. The dive end will be twelve and a half (12 ½) feet deep. There will also be a starter pool for beginners, which will be 2 feet to 3 feet 6 inches in depth. Mister Speaker, the committee plans to erect a building comprising of rest rooms, changing rooms, showers, administrative office, as well as a first aid and lifeguard office.
Mr. Speaker, the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company embarked upon construction of a sporting complex with emphasis on swimming in April 2007 and they are on schedule with phase one of this project. It is proposed; Mister Speaker that swimming will begin in summer of 2008, provided the works remain on schedule as stated. The bottom of the pool is scheduled for casting on Saturday 17th November 2007, and Mister Speaker, there is an invitation for the general public to come out on this date to assist with the casting of the bottom of the pool, seeing that it is a community
based project that will benefit all, especially our youth.
Mister Speaker, Phase two includes, covered bleachers and a combined basketball & volleyball court. The second floor of the changing room building would be used by Bregado Flax Educational Centre for educational purposes to be specified.
The entire facility will be secured with appropriate fencing and securitypersonnel.
Mister Speaker, this 25-meter pool is being constructed to U.S.A. swimming specifications for official training at Olympic standards. Other uses to which the pool will be engaged include water polo and synchronized swimming, among others.
Mister Speaker, in addition to keeping the children occupied in a constructive and productive environment, Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Ltd. sees the need and potential for professional swimming in the Virgin Islands and they have committed to constructing a smaller swimming facility at the Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School in the future.
Mister Speaker, from the inception of the project, the then Government’s involvement was:
1. Sought and received permission from Town and Country Planning Department to develop the site.
2. Granting permission to the Company to place the swimming pool on the grounds of the school.
3. They made an architect from the Public Works Department available to do the plans.
4. Mr. Xavier (Dag) Samuels was assigned to assist with the project
5. Permitting the company to bring in materials for the project duty free.
Mister Speaker, upon completion of the sports centre, it is the intention of the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Ltd. to hand over this facility to the Government of the day to manage and maintain.
Mister Speaker, the company is in contact with professional persons in the field of swimming, like Coach Jim Ellis from Philadelphia and Denzel Jackman a sports instructor from Barbados. Both individuals have expressed great interest in this project.
Please find attached copy of:
1. Proposed schedule of events and cost analysis.
2. Site plan of the ongoing project.
3. Layout of the facilities as it relates to the project
4. Four different photographs illustrating the progress of the project to date.
Mister Speaker, it is important to note that all operation cost pertaining to the running of the facilities, including the security, upon completion of the project, will be the sole responsibility of the Government of the Virgin Islands. As a result Mister Speaker, provisions must be made to ensure the smooth transition and operation of this facility upon completion in the 2008 budget estimates.
Mister Speaker, on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands, I would like to express my appreciation and admiration to the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Ltd. for the role that they have played and continue to play in this project and otherwise thereby ensuring a positive future and
a positive outlet for our youth in Virgin Gorda.
BVI News Online 14.NOV.07
Mister Speaker, on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands, I would like to express my appreciation and admiration to the Virgin Gorda Charitable Company Ltd. for the role that they have played and continue to play in this project and otherwise thereby ensuring a positive future and a positive outlet for our youth in Virgin Gorda.
