Eyesore! Taxi driver says BVI landscape not ready for tourists
A local taxi driver said although he agrees with the implementation of safety protocols for a likely resumption of cruise tourism in the territory, his concern was about the condition of the territory’s landscape.
“I want to know if we’re going to [allow] all of these cruise passengers [to] come back here to the BVI and meet it in this condition?” the resident questioned.
“If you’re not going to clean up from East [End] to West [End] so that when they come, they will see something a little different, [what’s the point?] I drive from East to West today and it’s not a pretty sight!”
But Works Minister Kye Rymer quickly reassured the concerned resident that the issue was currently being resolved currently.
“That is a project that we have started. We’re doing the bush cutting. We are working on the road as well. So, yes, we will be prepared for when the passengers return whenever that will but that will be,” Minister Rymer stated.
Recently, Third District Representative Julian Fraser scolded Social Development Minister Carvin Malone in the House of Assembly for the derelict state of sidewalks in his community. The sidewalks were overrun by bushes.
Fraser bemoaned the fact that it prevented persons from using the sidewalk for exercise as they had been accustomed to in years prior.
At the time, Malone said the government had not abandoned the grass-cutting programme it normally undertakes but had encountered significant challenges due to staffing issues.
He said these staffing issues had significantly affected several areas of the Solid Waste Department.
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Where are these road works being held? Cause I surely haven’t seen any! Mr Rhymer we need to have several teams that go around cutting and cleaning clearing drains etc. ALL the time!! This place is a mess!!
Agreed!
I just visited last week. While there have been great strides to bring the bvi back from the storm of 2017, covid didn’t help in the recovery.
I toured Tortola and places I had seen before the storm were closed, boarded up, or gone. It was sad to see that. I was happy to see others open and the employees greeted me with warmth and smiles. But the numbers just aren’t there these days. I worry what is next for the bvi and I fear the corner has yet to be turned.
And add to that a landfill that is continuously on fire. We can’t hide that.
I am sorry to say that the BVI has become a dump long before Irma. We have been going there for over 30 years and are shocked to see what a mess the place is. We can look past the unfortunate storm damage but most of what we see is just abandoned junk….boats, cars, machinery etc. How has such a beautiful place become such a dump ?
Garbage, car wrecks, littering, bad roads, overgrown bush, damaged boats in sea cows bay (3rd district). Who is going to clean this up before arrival of tourists?
They had so much time to do this. I thought the BVI was dirty because of Irma but then I visited St. Marteen and St. Thomas and realized it was just neglect. This place is too dirty! A national clean up campaign should be done. And the authorities should hold land owners accountable for overgrown bush. Clean this place up and create jobs in the process.
Who’s gonna pay for all that clean up?
The prisoners are already being paid, Just schedule their hours.
I completely agree! Also, let’s not forget to work on the smell!! We need to find a way to deal with the sea weed infestation and other factors that are contributing to the various smells in the island.
Long gone are the days where we could just rely on our natural beauty. These tourists are going to many different Caribbean countries that are just as beautiful (some even more beautiful). The other Caribbean countries have many more things to do with better customer service. If we are going to keep tourism as our major pillar we need to step up our game. We have great potential here!
The BVI looks much better from the distant deck of a ship than the close up seat in a taxi. Perhaps the solution is just let the cruise ships motor around the BVI for the picturesque views. The guests just stay aboard so no virus testing is necessary. The cruise ship would only need to pay for a single day cruising permit.
It’s me, wondering why we need to clean up for visitors when we should want it cleaned up for ourselves first and foremost?
Do we want a clean BVI or just give the appearance of a clean BVI when visitors come?
If visitors don’t come, should we just carry on as we are, in littered streets? Derelict vehicles? Over grown bush? Excess garbage next to bins? Graffiti on walls? Guts filled with garbage? Sargassum stinking up the place? Have a look next to the lookouts on VG … trash. just dumped. Have you seen district 2, Cane Garden Bay? That alone is a crime the way it has been lost, people living in derelict homes, next to Quitos? Across from Distillery? (I aint knockin the people living there) they need assistance. ZERO waste bins on the beach for beachgoers to dump in.
I can go on, but you all go on and only tidy up when company commin.
My momma kept our house clean all the time for us and if company stopped in unexpectedly, there was no worry, she would just have to set the table when company was coming.
TRUTH!!!
Its unfortunately Natures little dirty secret.
There is no push for making it better and pretty.
We dont educate kids to not throw trash, the adults do it all the time.
there is a constant noise from trucks scooters and and loud music in cars. Not what tourists are looking for in the BVI. if they want that they go to Cancun for 30% of the price.
Lets get real and make an effort…….
i guess government aint making money keeping the country clean so that last on the agenda. i would gladly adopt a lenght of road and maintain it weekly if the gov. would pay for that service.
Not just how it look! How it smell too!! So called tourist hot spots stinking of garbage sewage, pig and fowl farms
Not just how it look! How it smell too!! So called tourist hot spots stinking of garbage sewage, pig and fowl farms
Just recently i was driving through and said the same thing, why dont they have a team here just to take care of cleaning and clearing bushes on the roadside, every caribbean country i been to have this service,You all can really do better here all kinds of litter and garbage needs to be cleabed up not only for visitors but for the people living here.
BVI has one too, but they do nothing all day but sit around a yard. Its called public works. Long time, you would see the men cutting and trimming along the road side, but not any more. They get paid to do nothing, so why bother.
they have a set of guests up balo who should of beenn doing HARD labor , instead they are given the
luxury of showing off themselves on (facebook) and how proud they are to be entitled , so we are just sending a message to rest of the world what privilege to in our so called JAIL ?
I agree! Used them in Balo, other islands in the Caribbean uses their prisoners’ for this. Bright and early guys in jumpsuits landscaping the highways.
The BVI is one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean…I want to believe the taxi man words were taken out of context…
Crazy because I talk about this everyday. Bushes , garbage and old derelict vehicles alongside the roads. My friends from the States want to come and visit but I’m too ashamed to bring them..
So you think the United States don’t have garbage strewn all on the highways etc.. I guess you haven’t travelled anywhere.
Just came off SK tourism site and they are going all out to load up on cruise shop arrival…The BVI is still a Beautiful place, with the most nicest beaches in the Caribbean We need the Cruise ships, our leaders have to find ways to make it happen, Our people have to protect themselves..
Have reached the conclusion that this entire party cares not about most people, only about making the assets and bank accounts larger, but when citizens are in need of critical help, there is always the we don’t intend o help words, there is no money.
Well, at this rate, there will be no votes either.
WHY IS IT THAT THESE TAXI FOLKS GET TOGATHER AND GO OUT ON THE WEEKEND TO HELP CLEAN UP THE ROAD SIDE, CUTING THE BUSH’S.
Why do you pay taxes? Not saying we can’t have clean up campaigns occasionally but it’s the government responsibility to fix roads, clean streets and sidewalks etc.
@@??? Some of the problem is that people in BVI don’t pay any income tax (NHI and social security arent income taxes). Financial services largely funds the BVI government. It’s human nature that people don’t respect things which are free, if they were paying more in to the system from their pay checks, people would object more to the rampant corruption which abounds, as well as the inefficient and bloated public services.
Maybe everyone needs a bit of reality check, that you get what you put into life and if you dont put much in, you dont get much out. There are plenty of big earners here who can afford a bigger pay cut. Why should folks earning $100,000 or more not contribute a bit more? We need to wean BVI off the teat of financial services anyway.
It is not ready for LOCAL and RESIDENT either
The cosmetic condition of the VI reflects its occupants.
The now majority demographic of the VI is reflected in its
unsightly condition. Their demeanor their dress a whole different unfortunate look.
All done by power hungry elected for votes.
All non violent criminals sentenced to crimes for no more than 5years should be put to work. They can receive a possible reduced sentence for their service no greater than 3 months. Some of them would actually love to get out of behind the bars. Some of them have certain skills put them to work. We cant be feeding and housing them for free.
Yes when driving bushes touching your vehicle on the highway road by hodges creek up to yep area.
Unfortunately, the mess in the BVI is not limited to physical attributes. The word is out on the general hatred, the abuse of animals, the BVI “legal system”, neighbors suing each other, etc. The BVI might want to get used to the fact that tourism will become a thing of the past.
Yes! I was home a few months ago and the place looked like one big ghetto, a third world country to be exact. I wanted to invite friends to visit but it’s so embarrassing. The place is just nasty!!