On Tuesday, Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula and other officials met with Governor Kenneth Mapp to discuss issues facing the territory, the Department of Interior announced Wednesday. \u00a0They discussed infrastructure challenges related to the hospitals and various initiatives that Mr. Mapp has implemented and is developing to bring greater fiscal stability to the Virgin Islands.<\/p>\n
The governor’s trip coincided with the release of $704,000 in technical and maintenance assistance funding from the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) which will support the governor and his administration in several important ways. Funds will be used to explore potential manufacturing and production in food and agricultural products and to save costs and improve the provision of public services in water distribution and maintenance and correctional safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor and I were able to have frank discussions on his priorities for the U.S. Virgin Islands,\u201d said Acting Assistant Secretary Pula. \u201cI am pleased OIA is able to provide some assistance to worthy projects that will directly impact and enhance the government\u2019s ability to deliver services and opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The projects funded from FY2017 OIA Technical and Maintenance Assistance Funds are as follow:<\/p>\n
Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority – $250,000 <\/strong>to fund a study analyzing the feasibility of processing and packing local fruits and other agricultural plants to increase food resiliency and food security and how favorite local foods and plants can be produced for local consumption, gifts and export.\u00a0 This year, St. Croix held its 46th<\/sup> annual Agriculture and Food Fair themed \u201cAgriculture: Our Heritage and Hope for the Future!\u201d and was the largest agricultural exposition in the territory and possibly the largest in the Caribbean. The grant will be used to help explore whether an existing cottage industry can be expanded to larger scale manufacturing and provide a much-needed economic boost to the territory.\u00a0 This is a first-time funded project.<\/p>\n USVI Bureau of Corrections – $100,000 <\/strong>to provide help the USVI meet requirements under a U.S. District Court mandated settlement agreements requiring the USVI to maintain the health and safety of the population under its control, to include comprehensive preventive maintenance for sanitation and environmental health and fire and life safety.\u00a0 Funds are also provided to training and materials and supplies necessary for efficient functioning of the prison system and meeting basic requirements under the law.\u00a0 Three facilities in the territory hold 600 inmates.\u00a0 Prior year shortcomings have prompted transfer of over 250 inmates to off-island facilities further distancing family members and costing approximately $7.6 million.\u00a0 This is a first-time funded project.<\/p>\n Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) \u2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n On Tuesday, Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula and other officials met with Governor Kenneth Mapp to discuss issues facing the territory, the Department of Interior announced Wednesday. \u00a0They discussed infrastructure challenges related to the hospitals and various initiatives that Mr. Mapp has implemented and is developing to bring greater fiscal stability […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":37108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,2474,147],"tags":[1048,121],"yoast_head":"\n\n