Governor Kenneth Mapp has signed an order renewing the Virgin Islands state of emergency declaration through August 1, 2018, Government House announced Friday. The current order expires July 2.
According to Government House, the order was renewed as the territory remains under a Presidential Disaster Declaration and is in a state of recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria with significant damage to its infrastructure, to include its hospitals, schools, government offices, ports and roadways.
The provision regarding price freezes has been removed from the most recent state of emergency declaration as market conditions have now stabilized in the territory, Government House said, allowing for competitive pricing and economic growth, which will benefit both the business community and residents.
A state of emergency empowers a government to perform actions that it would normally not be allowed to. A government can declare a state of emergency during a disaster, civil unrest, or armed conflict. In September 2016, Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter, then-acting governor, declared a state of emergency following a surge in gun violence that was rocking St. Croix in particular.
“As the territory of the Virgin Islands of the United States has suffered an emergency and a major disaster due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the need for a state of emergency continues to exist in the territory,” the governor wrote in the order.
Feature Image: Governor Mapp and others deboard a helicopter to visit the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center in St. John, where emergency operations were being staged after Hurricane Irma devastated the island. (Ernice Gilbert, VIC)
Tags: state of emergency, us virgin islands
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
