The Government of the Virgin Islands has set aside seven million dollars to reopen the Ralph T. O'Neal Administration Complex, Premier Natalio Wheatley announced in his Budget Address on October 27.
The complex, located in Paraquita Bay on Tortola, suffered severe damage during the 2017 hurricanes. Since August 2017, the Government has spent approximately $18.4 million renting office spaces to house displaced staff and operations.
Wheatley did not provide a timeline for when the complex would reopen. The allocation marks a fresh commitment to the long-delayed project, which has stalled for years as the Government worked through planning and procurement.
Tenders for the reconstruction work have now been received from shortlisted companies and were returned to the Ministry of Finance on October 20 for evaluation, according to Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer. The tenders are awaiting Cabinet approval.
Rymer acknowledged that the tender process, which began in March 2026, took longer than expected. Tenderers had requested extra time to address questions about the designs. "Proper procedure is not an obstacle to delivery; it is a foundation of sound public procurement," Rymer told the House of Assembly on October 21.
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