$2M from TRC’s revenue collection earmarked for East End/Long Look sewerage project

Revenue collected through the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) is being used to fund the long-awaited sewerage project in East End/Long Look on Tortola.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, Premier Andrew Fahie said this is a first for the TRC.

“In these trying times the TRC has stepped up to the plate and pulled its weight in a way that has never been done since the inception of the Telecommunications Act 2006,” Fahie said.

“Two million dollars has been raised for the government’s coffers, which will be allocated for the commencement of the long overdue East End/ Long Look Sewerage Project,” he added.

The Premier said he believes the move to be the first time in the history of the Commission that it has had a budget that has been laid before the legislature.

He further said since the Act which came into effect, it made provisions for the TRC to source revenue through levies and royalties.

The levies, he said, have never been collected and has caused the TRC to operate solely on royalty revenues. However, he has since advised the TRC to obtain these sums, which is roughly $4 million.

“I can confirm that this sum has been collected from each of the four licensed operators for the 2019/2020 year,” the Premier said.

These funds, upon receipt by the TRC, will be deposited in the Consolidated Fund, the Premier said.

People will be happy

Meanwhile, Premier Fahie said the project will make residents of the twin communities elated.

“The people of East End/Long Look will be happy and relieved to see the start of the project in the very near future now that some funding is coming into place. The people of East End/ Long Look has endured convenience and exposure for far too long. They endured heartbreak in seeing the $8 million allocated under the previous administration being re-directed under that said administration to the Tortola Pier Park Project,” he stated.

The Premier also said the undertaking would be done despite political alliances.

“Your government does not discriminate. We are not vindictive. We do not punish people for not voting for us. We are the government for all the districts and for all of the people, and we are fair in how we operate,” he stated.