BVI a beautiful country with terrible roads — Rymer
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has publicly acknowledged the poor condition of the roads in the BVI and assured residents that efforts are underway to address the issue.
In a recent GIS interview, Rymer emphasised the government’s commitment to road repairs through a dedicated resurfacing programme.
“We are a beautiful country with some terrible roads, and it’s unfortunate that I am the minister responsible, but we’ll continue to do our best with what we have,” Rymer said.
The minister revealed that the road repair programme is already in motion and said residents can expect to see the resurfacing initiative starting this weekend.
“I signed a total of contracts totalling $1.8 million, and of course, the road paving, asphalt paving aspect of the contracts is actually due to start this coming weekend,” Rymer shared.
The contract, signed with Tortola Paving, covers a variety of works, including asphalt paving, aggregates, and sand for construction.
Rymer assured the public that the government has taken tangible steps to fix the road problem. “I just want the public to know that we are just not sitting and accepting the way the roads are being done,” Rymer explained. “We are constantly behind the scenes, pushing persons, trying to get these documents together.”
He stressed that the initiative would target some of the territory’s most problematic areas, including Sea Cows Bay, Gene Hill, and Fish Bay, where some work was done but not completed. He said sections of East End will also see improvements.
Although work is now underway, Rymer pointed out that the process was prolonged and tedious.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley explained that the Cabinet’s decision on the expenditure was made in April. “It’s been a total of five months to get to the time when we can actually sign a contract,” he disclosed.
Rymer explained that these delays compounded the frustration of both the public and government officials. “I know it’s quite frustrating to the motorists. That includes me as well, because I drive on the same road,” Rymer said.
One of the critical elements of the roadworks includes the installation of new high-density polyethene (HDPE) pipes, which are more durable than the older, more brittle PVC pipes currently in the ground. These upgrades are expected to reduce the need for continuous digging and patching, which have contributed to the degradation of the roads.
With the ongoing works, Rymer asked for the public’s patience, noting that the repairs would take time. He also assured residents that while there will be some inconveniences, the work will be worth it in the long run. “The good thing about asphalt is that once you put it down, it’s basically ready to be motorable,” Rymer explained. “So, while there’ll be an inconvenience, I think there’ll be a smile on everybody’s face for that type of inconvenience, knowing that the roads are being repaired.”
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We are waiting patiently on your government to include Anegada in your road work program. Road work has not taken place here in the last 10 years.
The BVI was ONCE a beautiful Country that has now turned into TRASH since we allowed anyone and everything into the Country. Stop fooling yourselves about the BVI is a beautiful Country. It use to be, but no longer is.
why are you refusing to order new pumps for the Road Town sewage pumping station? This is a scandal.
“but we’ll continue to do our best with what we have,”
Mr Rhymer i appreciate that you acknowledge that your’re doing a piss poor job.
but continuing do your best with what we have?
we had money for party after party.
money to travel first class after first class
you sit there in each hoa and dont even bring these issues up to premier and fight for it. you just sit there as a yes man and say that natalio is doing amazing!
amazing job for himself and not the people.
now residents tried to fix the roads them self and all of sudden there’s projects planned.
we’ve heard early in the year that roads would be address with that small budget but we half way through the year and absolutely nothing robust has been done. it is utterly shameful
yall went braggin that we got new asphalt plant n things would easier and faster to fix roads…
up to nowwww
nothing!!! smhhhh
It’s all wasted money unless road repairs are properly designed, and unless someone makes sure they are built to spec. Road repairs are not just hand a well connected local a pile of money and telling them to patch holes. That’s what we’ve been doing for decades.
Putting asphalt on certain areas of the road will not fix the problems, such as the area in shavers when you are approaching Ashley’s landfill, the base needs to be fixed and proper drainage designed and implemented otherwise after the first shower the same problems will resurface, we need to start working smarter.
… and Asley’s landfill is an apalling destruction of OUR marine environment. You’d never get away with this crap in a civilzed country.
With what money? How are you paying the engineers?
Stop the stupid f**king noise! It doesn’t take long to find a reputable, international engineering and building firm that specializes in road works and get them in to do the work. For the last 20 years we have been hearing the same dumb f**k over and over. Nobody in Government or PWD understand anything about constructing road networks. Bring in professionals and get the jobs done properly once and for all. I really hope whichever bank giving them loans stipulate that they bring in a real company to fix the issues properly.
the fact that BVI contractors can build simple roads in the BVI but the government cannot maintain those roads.
The USVI, French and Dutch islands have beautiful paved roads for their citizens. Why can’t we???
BVI a beautiful country with terrible roads — and inordinately wealthy politicians.
Where did the money for infrastructure go?
WE ONCE WERE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY, WE HAVE SINCE GRADUATED TO A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. How can a Country be beautiful with garbage all over the place, open burning dump, no proper health care, crime, no proper water system, everyone doing what the hell they please and not following the laws of the land, a dog can come into the Country Laden down with fleas. THIRD WORLD COUNTRY IT IS INDEED.
Please step down and call a general election. You are not fit for office and you are destroying this country with your ego.
You know the sad part about this? if you have to replace a vehicle part due to these terrible roads and you can’t find it here, you have to pay duty to bring in said part. Imagine having to pay govt to bring in a part that they inadvertently helped damage. There’s no relief for vehicle owners. we just have to deal with the incompetency.
I feel you. lol, I swear I heard my vehicle said ohhhhh S not again when it hit a pothole.
“We are a beautiful country with some terrible roads, and it’s unfortunate that I am the minister responsible… ”
Hon. Minister, the roads were bad 5 plus years ago when you took over!
Instead on running in your safe district next time, run as an at-large candidate!
Please don’t run again.
The roads are never going to get fixed because too many people are benefiting from the problem. Have you ever noticed how fast they are to tear up the road, yet it takes forever to actually repair it? It’s frustrating how obvious the pattern is.
How come we are not seeing Willock and Aaron doing photo ops i.e. standing next to the hymac?
Who the hell y’all think you fooling? Y’all jumping on the F bandwagon because private citizens were using their personal money to fix the damn pot holes. You private citizens that were using your personal money should be reimbursed your monies back.Start a uproar and demand your monies back.
So they didnt notice the roads throughout the territory needed fixing??? Especially after the Bragadam Song. This is utterly unacceaptable, tax payers money could have been spent else where on another road that well need fixing. Mr. Hodge u lost points on this one. U too Kai!!!!
We should be taking this opportunity to bury pipes while fixing the roads. This way we can have a more resilient electrical network. No point on fixing the roads and then digging again to do this later. Let’s save money and work wisely!
The honourable minister’s egotistic change of the traffic patterns in Road Town has been a catastraphy. Change it back!
To stop mixing black dye, dirt and gorilla glue to patch the pot holes.
I see Larry the lobster is on his way out of town to an attend a meeting. Wonder if he is going to fly first class in his lobster tank.
build good roads that can hold up and last
J* a waste of time and the White hair man Pwd road crew by big brother gas station drinking rum all day
I wonder if you or any of the ministers or government officials ever take time out to look at the Brewers Bay Roads, they are death traps and a terrible eye sore to our residents and visitors. Shame on all of you
How Pwd going get road fix when cruiser up and down taxi with Pwd uniform on and the road crew by big drinking rum all day J you and the white hair man please step down ayo running Pwd in the ground