Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley said the Government has signed a contract with ENS Excavation and Trucking Services to remove 500 derelict vehicles from the temporary holding site in Havers on Tortola.

Honourable Wheatley in a statement during the Fifth Sitting of the House of Assembly shared an update on the status of the Derelict Vehicle Programme and the ongoing efforts to manage derelict vehicles locally.

He stated that a total of 642 vehicles has been collected since March this year and are prepared for export, including those abandoned in public areas and confiscated by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. He minister added that the barge is expected in this month to facilitate export, with loading scheduled for completion by June 19.

Honourable Wheatley said “As the Havers site is being cleared, the ministry is actively working with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change to secure a new long-term location for derelict vehicle storage. In the meantime, collections will be paused, but notices and fines will still be issued for vehicles considered a public nuisance.”

The Minister for Health also announced that a Derelict Vehicle Disposal Fee will be reintroduced on September 1 this year at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The one-time fee will support the cost of removal, processing, and disposal. The categories are as follows:

• Category A (1,500–3,000 lbs): $60
• Category B (3,000–6,000 lbs): $85
• Category C (Over 6,000 lbs): $125

A public information campaign will begin in the coming weeks to educate residents on the fee structure and payment process.

The ministry is also reviewing and updating the Derelict Vehicles (Disposal) Act, 2000 to ensure that it aligns with current environmental, operational, and enforcement needs. Proposed policy reforms include moving the disposal fee collection to the port of entry, adjusting fee rates to reflect today’s costs, and improving inter-agency coordination among Customs, the DMV, the Police, and Waste Management for better tracking of vehicles across their lifecycle.

Honourable Wheatley reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to public health, environmental integrity, and community aesthetics, and thanked the public for its continued cooperation as improvements to the programme continue.

The minister’s full statement can be viewed on the Government of the Virgin Islands website at www.bvi.gov.vg.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development remains committed to protecting and promoting the health and social well-being of the people of the Virgin Islands through effective policies, sustainable programmes, and strategic partnerships that support a safe, healthy, and resilient society