$4M contract signed for Cane Garden Bay sewer network

Connect Enterprise Ltd has been awarded  a four-million-dollar contract for the procurement and installation of a new sewer network system in Cane Garden Bay.

The contract, valued at just under four million dollars, was officially awarded after a four-year delay, according to Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull. Speaking at the signing ceremony on Monday, February 5, Turnbull emphasised the importance of the project.

“For many years, the people of Cane Garden Bay have endured the inconvenience, health hazards, and constant overflow of sewage from the thirty-six pump stations installed years ago from bridge to bridge,” Turnbull stated.

He described the project as a major priority since he was first elected in 2015 and reaffirmed his commitment to seeing it through.

“I congratulate the winning contractor, Connect Enterprise Ltd., and their partner, Cube Root, whose professionalism and expertise span over twenty years,” he added.

Long-standing sewerage concerns

During an Opposition forum in October 2023, Turnbull voiced deep concerns about the unused Cane Garden Bay sewerage treatment plant, describing it as a missed opportunity that has cost the British Virgin Islands dearly.

“Cane Garden Bay has a sewerage treatment plant… that is down there whistling,” Turnbull said, highlighting that while the physical plant is in place, the necessary pipeline connections (laterals) have yet to be installed to channel sewage into the facility for treatment.

He stressed that despite multiple contracts being awarded since 2020, no meaningful progress had been made to activate the system.

As one of the territory’s primary tourist destinations, Cane Garden Bay has long struggled with persistent sewerage issues. This new contract marks a significant step in addressing the problem and ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment for residents and visitors alike.