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Frequented VI beaches to have lifeguards for 2025/26 tourist season- Hon Rymer

- 6-month training for new lifeguards to commence in April
The Baths in Virgin Gorda is among beaches in the Territory to have lifeguards by the start of the 2025/2026 Tourism Season. Photo: Internet Source
Opposition Member Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) asked Minister for Communications and Works to give an update on the requested lifeguards for a number of beaaches across the Territory on February 13, 2025. Photo: YouTube
Opposition Member Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) asked Minister for Communications and Works to give an update on the requested lifeguards for a number of beaaches across the Territory on February 13, 2025. Photo: YouTube
Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) has said all lifeguard positions in the Territory will be filled to ensure beach safety. Photo: YouTube
Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) has said all lifeguard positions in the Territory will be filled to ensure beach safety. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A six-month training programme for successful lifeguard applicants will begin in April 2025, as the Virgin Islands (VI) is experiencing a busy 2024/2025 tourist season.

According to Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) during the question and answer segment at the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, February 13, 2025, all lifeguard positions will be filled ahead of the 2025/2026 season later this year. 

Vacancies being advertised & funding approved- Hon Rymer

Hon Rymer was responding to Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), who asked: “Could the Minister for Communications and Works please provide this Honourable House with an update on the lifeguards for Long Bay Beach, Beef Island, Cane Garden Bay and The Baths, Virgin Gorda that were fought for by the representatives for those districts and budgeted for in the 2025 budget?”

The Minister informed that the advertising process for the vacant lifeguard positions began in January 2025 and is ongoing. 

“I am pleased to announce that funding for the two additional lifeguard positions has been approved in the 2025 budget, further strengthening our commitment to beach safety across the Territory,” he added. 

Vacancy notices for additional positions, Hon Rymer stated, will be issued shortly, and the recruitment process will follow. 

“[To] ensure a thorough and inclusive approach fire officer, current lifeguards have been actively engaged in identifying qualified candidates from all islands with a particular focus on Virgin Gorda and Tortola as both current lifeguards remain fully engaged at their assigned beaches,” Hon Rymer explained. 

Lifeguard training to begin in April 2025 

Lifeguard training will commence in April 2025 for successful applicants. 

Hon Rymer referred to the 2024/2025 tourism season as “exceptionally active”. The Territory has been experiencing an increase in visitor numbers. 

The six-month training will provide prospective lifeguards with comprehensive preparation to maintain the highest safety standards. 

All positions, Hon Rymer assured, will be finalised and beaches fully staffed for the 2025/2026 season. 

This, the minister said, will ensure “consistent and effective coverage across the Territory’s beaches”. 

11 Responses to “Frequented VI beaches to have lifeguards for 2025/26 tourist season- Hon Rymer”

  • Arrion (17/02/2025, 11:01) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    About time you all woke up! Yes, Lifeguards are very much needed for our active beaches. I am really surprised that there have not been Lifeguards on the beaches for years, except for one that I see always at Josiah's Bay Beach. He alone cannot save the entire Tortola. 6 months of training and tourist season will be over. Why haven't you implemented the training during our summer months?
    • Linda (19/02/2025, 20:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Arrion, Not only that, the Lifeguards need a jet ski to get to the people in trouble because a drowning person will drown the Lifeguard climbing on them to keep their own head out of the water. There is only so much a Lifeguard can do physically with a panicked drowning person on their own body trying to get them back to shore safely. With a jetski, the panicked person will calm down riding back to shore and not putting both of their livers in peril.
  • jack (17/02/2025, 11:54) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Better late than never
  • Lifeguard need help (17/02/2025, 13:04) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Anyone can drown but no one have to. Safety to our guest should be number 1# let's run the number long 6 lifeguards 7 day a week should off set for days off 4 would be on same thing with cane garden total you need 12 lifeguards. Virgin Goard 6 total of staff 18 and the beach they are working 3 smugglers Cove 3 josiah bay to run those beach lifeguards total 24 Lifeguards. To run all the beaches mentioned let do this
  • BVIslander (17/02/2025, 15:39) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Excellent initiative. So how does one apply for the life guard position as I am a BVIslander? I am interested as I a licenced lifeguard and certified in CPR and AED. .
  • Wellsah (17/02/2025, 16:04) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    we'll see how committed they are by how much the pay,who responsible for saving anybody for $8.50 hr
    • reality (18/02/2025, 10:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      lifeguards all over the world earn minimum wage its the reality of sitting at the beach all day watching the water...
  • Concerned (17/02/2025, 16:17) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is long overdue. The lifeguard person in charge has been fighting for this for the longest while and falls on deaf ears. They had a jet ski purchased by government 10 years ago and then the government oh your not allowed to use this as they are illegal but we have seen many new Jet skies being rented in the BVI. This is the sort of nonesense the government works under. Give the lifeguards the equipment they need to save lives.
  • WOW (17/02/2025, 17:40) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lifesaving! A bout time. late or early it is here finally.
  • Career (18/02/2025, 10:06) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Life guards at swimming locations is a lifetime career for many persons in the developed nations and should be same for here. Low wages will discourage that type of career here. In the BVI the job of a life guard is a year round job NOT just during the tourist seasons,
  • BVI? (18/02/2025, 10:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    You said that you will have lifeguards tourist season, what about the people who lives in the BVI and pay taxes?


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