The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture (VIDA) informs the public that it is optimistic about the ongoing maintenance efforts regarding the St. Croix Abattoir and are hopeful that it will soon be able to announce a reopening date.
On April 29, the department announced that after a routine inspection of the St. Croix Abattoir during which major maintenance concerns were discovered, the building would need to be closed immediately to address those concerns. The Department of Agriculture understands that the closure has been a challenge for V.I. livestock farmers, and it thanks everyone, especially the farmers, for their patience.
To promote transparency and accountability between VIDA and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Department of Agriculture shares with the public several of its completed projects that are essential to the abattoir’s reopening. The following structural updates have been completed:
- Repaired holding pen gate, which holds livestock upon arrival.
- Repaired knock box swing gate which allows 360-degree operation and easy handling of carcass.
- Repaired gutting station overhead holding rail which allows for easy transportation of carcass
- Installed a new air blower curtain and repaired existing air blowers, which keeps indoor environments stable and sanitary while allowing personnel to enter and exit
- Installed an elevating platform for our rumping station
- Ordered and received new steam boiler for installation
- Completed the installation of new steam pipes which are now awaiting insulation
Curleen Rogers, director of the Abattoir, remains hopeful that it will be reopening soon, stating, “My team and I have been working diligently with the resources that we have to ensure that our employees are confident about their safety and the successful operation of the abattoir. Our focus is to serve our community and provide the best possible service that we can to our valued livestock farmers.”
For more information, call Director Rogers at 778-0997 or email curleen.rogers@doa.vi.gov
