BVIEC Earns Five Awards at Regional Lineworkers Rodeo Hosted in British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) took home five awards during the 2025 CARILEC Lineworkers Rodeo, which was hosted for the first time in the Virgin Islands on April 27.

The event, held at the Festival Grounds in Road Town, brought together 14 utility teams from across the Caribbean and eight private exhibitors. The competition tested lineworkers in a range of technical events under the oversight of CARILEC’s technical judges and U.S.-based equipment specialists.

In the Apprentice Division, Jio Vonni Croal of BVIEC earned third place overall, scoring 467 points in a competitive field. Lionel Smith placed first in the “Mystery Event – Disconnect and Reconnect Transformer,” achieving a perfect score of 100.

In the Experienced Division, veteran lineworker Edward Pollock secured third place in the “Pole Speed Climb,” completing the event in 45.38 seconds.

Team BVIEC also placed second in the “Mystery Event – HT Fuse Crossarm.” Despite posting the fastest time, they finished with 96 points following minor infractions. The team earned an additional third-place finish in the “Three-Phase Earth Installation” event, clocking the fastest time of 4 minutes and 54.91 seconds, also with 96 points.

“We are immensely proud of our lineworkers who not only competed at the highest level but did so on home soil with the full support of our community,” said Dr. Neil Smith, General Manager of BVIEC. “Their performance demonstrated the world-class talent within BVIEC and the Virgin Islands.”

Leading up to the competition, participants took part in technical workshops at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and engaged in field safety drills. The event marked a milestone for both CARILEC and the Territory, with record participation and extensive regional engagement.

The successful hosting of the rodeo was made possible through the leadership of the BVIEC Board of Directors, chaired by Sheldon Scatliffe, and the efforts of the planning committee, staff volunteers, and event partners.

In a statement to the media, BVIEC expressed appreciation for CARILEC’s technical team, the visiting utility teams, and local residents who supported the event. “BVIEC also extends its heartfelt appreciation to CARILEC’s technical team, all participating utilities, and many residents who braved early morning showers to cheer on their teams—especially their hometown heroes, Team BVIEC.”

The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) dominated the competition overall, earning gold in both the Apprentice and Experienced divisions. BVIEC congratulated Team Antigua for their achievements and extended best wishes for their continued success.

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