Road Town Tortola - The Government of the Virgin Islands officially completed the transaction for a $950,000 purchase of approximately 2.4 acres of land for the Recreation Grounds on Virgin Gorda at a brief ceremony on April 9.
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE thanked the property owner Mrs. Maria Natividad Santos O’Neil and her family for their perseverance and patience in the completion of this transaction. “It has to be that you love Virgin Gorda that you wanted the Government to be able to have the recreation grounds,” he stated.
“I am sure that the Chairman and members of the Recreation Trust will ensure that within our limited resources the facility will be properly fitted for a public recreation ground. The people of Virgin Gorda, visitors and athletes will find it a nice place to relax and play their games,” the Premier added.
The Premier also said that work has started on the grounds, “The old pavilion that was there has been demolished and better washroom facilities are being constructed”.
He added that the Government has an offer to purchase some land to the east of the recreation ground “I will put that suggestion through to Cabinet and see if we get that portion of land to make the grounds bigger to accommodate cricket, football, softball and other games,” he explained.
Speaking through an interpreter, Press Secretary Devon Osborne, Mrs. Santos O’Neil thanked the Government and said that her husband, the late Adna O’Neil, wished
for the property to remain in the community for the “well being of the youth so that they could have a bright and enjoyable future. He wanted the youth to have it for their sports and parties. This makes me very happy because the property is staying within the community,” she said.
“My husband was always in support of the future of the youth and now the youth will forever have where to play their games,” she expounded.
Chairman of the Recreation Trust Mr. Ishmael Scatliffe said that the purchase of the facility will allow for further development of the same. “This will provide us with the opportunity to further develop in a meaningful way that facility for the use of the people of Virgin Gorda and its visitors,” he said.
He further thanked the O’Neil family for affording the Territory with this opportunity which “the people of Virgin Gorda will cherish”.
One of the responsibilities of the Recreation Trust is to secure by purchase, lease or otherwise public recreation grounds and other recreational facilities to meet the continuing need of the community.
British Virgin Islands News