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TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Jan 04 2016 – The government of the British Virgin Islands has apologised to the husband of one of the tourists killed in a bus crash here.
Permanent Secretary in the office of the Premier, Broderick Penn, sent an email to Richard Kettner.
Penn said he was sorry for the ‘protracted’ lack of responses from local authorities.
He further told Kettner, who lost his wife Mary in the crash, that the difficulty encountered in getting information is by no means ‘reflective’ of the standards of people in the territory.
“I have been made aware of the concerns that you have expressed recently in relation to matters here in the BVI arising from your tragic loss. Firstly, please allow me to reiterate our sincere condolences on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands for your loss.”
“Please also accept my sincere apologies for the concerns and frustrations that may have arisen as a result of your unanswered questions, and an obvious protracted lack of communication in relation to those concerns. Please be assured that none of this is reflective of who we are as a people, or who we strive to be as an organisation.” said Penn.
He added that the police and other officials in the Tourism Ministry would be contacting him soon to clear up his concerns.
In December two female tourists were killed and 16 people were injured when a tour bus carrying passengers from the cruise ship Celebrity Summit, crashed.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force reported that the driver lost control along the steep and wet road.
