Local News
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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Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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