Health
Anegada Airport Closes – Sole Fire Truck Dispatched To Virgin Gorda
The Auguste George Airport in Anegada was abruptly closed on December 2, 2023, due to the absence of a required fire truck, as mandated by the Aviation Safety Inspection (ASI). The closure has sparked deep concerns among the island’s residents, who view it as a serious threat to their well-being.
A resident voiced the shared frustration, stating, “We are always made to feel the Cinderella effects in these situations.” The absence of essential safety measures has already taken a toll on critical services, with a resident recounting a distressing incident involving a medical emergency. “There was a medical emergency, and imagine a seriously ill person needed to be medevaced. It took ten times longer than the already lengthy wait for a medevac,” the resident explained.
Expressing discontent, the resident emphasised, “Nothing about this can be right.” Others on Anegada echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the authorities are compelling them to take drastic measures for better treatment. “It seems we have to shut down this island, petition the UK and the Government for us to get treated right on Anegada,” one resident declared.
As of today, December 3, a distressed resident lamented, “The saga continues. We are still without a fire truck, the airport remains closed, the District Representative is out of the country, no politicians are responding, and we are just in a predicament. Please help. We need all the publicity we can get.”
Efforts were made to obtain comments from the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the closure and to address the urgent need for safety measures at Anegada Airport.