BVI to see smoother roads by the time American lands
Residents on the eastern end of Tortola are being assured that they will be seeing smoother roads in their districts in the very near future.
According to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and Works Minister Kye Rymer, the road project is expected to be completed in time for the inaugural American Airlines flight that is expected to happen in June 2023.
Premier Wheatley recently announced in his budget speech that roads between Paraquita Bay and Trellis Bay are expected to be put out for tender soon and reaffirmed recently that this is a priority on his government’s agenda. Dr Wheatley also noted that the project is expected to be done in a phased process.
“We’re gonna tender it. We’re gonna make the money available. We’re gonna borrow what we have to borrow to get it done, and we are gonna demand nothing less than that,” the Premier told reporters at a recent press conference.
Cumbersome process
Dr Wheatley described the process of getting projects done in the territory as cumbersome and suggested changes needed to be made to streamline things.
“It’s onerous, it’s time-consuming and we can’t function like that. So we have to streamline the process as much as possible while maintaining transparency, while, you know, seeking value for money, and having an accountable process,” Dr Wheatley said.
According to the Premier, the territory has suffered from a lack of investment in its infrastructure over the last 20 years. Even though many roads were paved, the Premier expressed that supporting infrastructure had not been put in place.
“You need drainage, you need properly engineered and constructed roads and it takes money. You need equipment for good roads. The minister came in, he had no equipment. The minister had to get an asphalt machine,” Premier Wheatley explained.
I feel bad
In the meantime, Rymer said roads have been an issue in the territory for years, and offered some level of empathy for residents who have had to constantly endure the poor state of infrastructure over the years.
“I feel bad. I feel bad knowing that the roads are in this state. I’m responsible for the roads. I think the Premier feels bad, too, because I go and I ask him for the money. He’s now committed to getting a loan,” Rymer said.
The road project for the eastern end of the island is slated to cost upwards of $10 million, said Rymer while reminding persons that a recent smaller project in the Fish Bay area cost more than $2 million.
But the minister compared this level of spending to other places in the Caribbean such as Dominica, where he said nearly $300 million has been set aside for road infrastructure.
“We have just been chipping away at our roads and we need to be serious about it,” Rymer stated. “I’m not just neglecting them (the roads) or thinking that is okay. I travel as well and I wanna make sure that we travel on nice roads.”
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Does this Premier think before he talks?
Hire the Philippinos, their road systems are about as perfect as it gets …. and stand the test of time we’ll too!
Lies.
Back your words with actions
Man I am so sick and tired of this Government it is depressing!
If the Government is already at its borrowing limit, and the proposed budget has a 30 million deficit, how are they going to “borrow” the funds? I hope they aren’t planning to use our money in Social Security again as the outcry will be huge. The reason the tendering process is cumbersome is because it has been so abused by this and previous governments that the UK is now requiring everything be transparent with published tenders. Roads finished by June? Of what year??
We will wait and see but by june it will be a different government reaping the sweet
I don’t we Will ever see smooth Road in the ví islanders until 2052
connection between new smooth roads and jets from Miami landing at Beef Island airport. Back in the 80’s when passenger jets from Miami arrived at Beef the primary beneficiary were some banks in Road Town.
Smooth BUT. WAVVYYY roads. And for how long ?
A week after the first heavy rain fall ???
We tired of this sub standard work and lack of getting “ value for money”
Am I hearing right that we have to wait until June when American Airlines start flying in to the BVI to get smooth roads? This is sheer madness. As taxpayers we have a right to smooth roads at all times except in disaster situations. Politicians stop playing with people’s lives for the potholes on the many main roads are dangerous to the motoring public.
They already saying it: “get ready to pay taxes that no sane person could ever in their most alcohol induced state ever dream to expect to pay in taxes”. The real work is getting the infrastructure and systems up to date and capable to dealing with the extra persons that MAY visit here…
This place is just too negative. The Premier was answering a question with respect to having a direct flight but still the roads from Beef Island are in bad shape. He said works are underway and should be completed by the time the jet flies here. He didn’t say they were paving the roads just because of the flight.
Wow!
I beg you Mr. Premier, please don’t just throw down roads. Build proper side walks for the entire length of the roads that you’re putting in. Thank you.
As ever that Taxi Union is pushing their weight for better roads for their routes from airport to hotels and beaches. The unelected premier is blaming it on lack of equipment: come next summer we will still see the guys breaking their backs with shovels and a dump truck full of cooling asphalt. “Create more jobs” they say.
The restructuring of the road is being based on the arrival of an american filght in june 2023. Hon. Pickering promised the same thng 25 years ago anf it has been worse ever since.
Its a daring shame its not being reconstructed for intercaribbean liat fedex dhl silver and cape air that are already in business
But I call high shenanigans.
What happen to the million dollar machine that was bought some time ago to do road repair?
WHERE U FRON ?/ PROMISE IS A COMFORT TO A ?
More BS by ignorant crooks in suits . So after all these years we will get roads because of one flight . How to disrespect the local population you pathetic politician.
I came here to say some stuff but I see yall have everything covered
Are we going to stop the concrete trucks from spilling concrete on the roads?
As soon as a road gets done, a concrete truck comes along and messes it up. Do they really have to overload the trucks like that? This must stop!!!
The title should say “Americans to see smoother roads by the time they arrive” because the roads aint being smooth for BVI people.
Are we going to clean the roadsides. They look awful with delipidated vehicles all over. The roads look very ugly.
So if AA wasn’t coming our roads won’t get fix?