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The territory’s recovery from the effects of Hurricane Earl continued Wednesday with ongoing work by the Water and Power Authority to restore electrical power across the two islands, efforts by Public Works to clear debris and roadways of the Virgin Islands and final assessments by the Department of Education of school campuses in anticipation of the reopening of public schools.
“Based on information presented by Education Commissioner Dr. La Verne Terry and her leadership team, we are prepared to open all public schools on Thursday, marking the beginning of the new school year,” said Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. following an afternoon conference call in which he received an update on Education’s efforts as well as the overall recovery effort in the territory.
De Jongh said a concerted effort was staged by Education, WAPA, Public Works and private clean-up crews to ready the campuses as quickly as possible in the aftermath of this week’s encounter with Hurricane Earl. All public schools will reopen on Thursday.
The governor also said today that as a result of the progress being made by WAPA to restore electrical power, there was no need to continue a nightly curfew in the St. Thomas-St. John district.
In addition, de Jongh said the Water and Power Authority is continuing its recovery efforts and will be energizing all feeders in both districts today. WAPA is providing regular updates to the public on its efforts in the two island districts. The governor also indicated that Public Works has continued its road clearing and debris removal operations in the two island districts. “The effort will continue and once the major arteries are cleared, DPW will focus on reopening secondary routes and later, the beginning of debris removal operations.
Director of Internal Revenue Claudette Watson-Anderson advises the business community that the gross receipts tax deadline for the month of July has been extended from Monday, August 30 to Friday, September 3, 2010. “Due to the inclement weather caused by the passage of Hurricane Earl, the bureau’s offices on all three islands were closed for business on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, the bureau’s St. Croix and St. John offices were open for business. However, the St. Thomas offices at Mandela Circle and the former Cinema One building were faced with challenges due to the lack of power.” She said taxpayers will be given until Friday, September 3 to file and pay the gross receipts taxes without any additional interest and penalties accruing.
Watson-Anderson said questions concerning the extended gross receipts tax deadline should be directed to the bureau’s Office of Chief Counsel, 714-9301.
Both BIR locations in Long Bay and Sugar Estate are fully functional.
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