Government funnelling road funds into VIP districts — Penn
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn (left) and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has accused the government of directing road expenditure towards districts represented by Virgin Islands Party members while neglecting heavily travelled routes elsewhere in the territory.
Penn pointed to the condition of the Ridge Road, which he described as one of the busiest thoroughfares in the BVI, during an appearance on the Talking Points radio programme.
“I’m happy to see that the West End is getting some attention and the entire territory needs attention. But the Ridge Road is one of the busiest roads in this entire territory. It’s in a deplorable condition,” Penn stated.
He said a section of the road remained hazardous because of work near a Water and Sewerage Department manhole. According to Penn, a traffic cone had been placed there months ago to help motorists avoid the affected area.
“You have 100 million dollars that was borrowed, and that money should be borrowed for the entire territory, not just the districts where the Virgin Islands Party has representatives. [It’s] for the entire territory,” Penn stated. “Spend the money where the people of the territory can get benefit from the resources,” he added.
Penn also criticised the management of infrastructure projects, saying the government had not presented a territory-wide plan for repairing roads.
“There seems to be no method to the madness. It’s a haphazard approach,” Penn stated.
He said road crews appeared to move between districts and projects without a clear programme governing which roads should receive priority. He called for a comprehensive infrastructure plan and said the government should transfer responsibility for executing road projects to the Recovery and Development Agency.
“The RDA should be the one used to deploy these road projects. Use the RDA. Let them get the expertise that they need. Take the politics out of it. And just fix the roads in the territory. Fix the infrastructure in the territory,” Penn stated.
The government has previously said its $100 million loan facility covers several capital projects and not roadworks alone. Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said $38 million had been allocated for major road repairs, although he explained in June 2025 that the projects were still undergoing design and procurement.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley later said the loan’s project list included water-network improvements and primary road upgrades across all districts, along with work on schools, health facilities, sewerage, and the airport.
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Fift district horse path new but pipes nuh workin
but are they only working on VIP district though? isn’t fort hill getting/got work done? I know they were working on ridge road in manchester. Be honest Hon. Penn you just complaining for complaining sake.
Penn is Mr complain and no answer or solution for any problem. The most spent oh road rehabilitation project for the year was a 900k contract in the 8 th district and two other big ones at balsum ghut and also another big one at little dix hill. All of those in his district.
He just like he father set a cry baby that wa happen when u got lil man syndrome.
Just watch the day he get in he ain’t gonna do no better he mite do worst
Where is the Deputy Premier? Where is the Premier? where is the minister of WORKS. The Palestina dust is killing us, What is happening with the Palestina to Havers road? Work is going on all other segment of the riad except for this segment. The dust is killing us. There need to be a drainage set up to take the water from Heavers hill and get the road paved as quickly as possible, There is no work on this segment for the past month. Who is the contractor? WE need relief from this dust Who can we vote for in this condition. It is obvious there is no supervision of this of the project. Come on Mr. Minister how long you expect us to be eating dust.
“Palestina Dust”
Complete nonsense going on , before finishing what has been torn up they go ahead and tear up a new stretch of road. Raised concrete slabs which you have to drive around in the middle of the newly paved road . Uneven joints where pieces of road meet making you slow down to ride over. Shameful.There could not be a better example of how not to repave a road.
YOU ALL PUT THEM THERE SO WHATS NEW ? HOW MANY GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS CANNOT BE FINISHED REPAIRING FOR YEARS NOW ? WHILE FAMILY AND FRIENDS RENTAL PROPERTIES CONTINUES AS USUAL ?MEANWHILE THESE PLAYERS JUST CONTINUE TO ABUSE TAXPAYERS AS A LUXURY TRAVELING ALL OVER WORLD LIKE KINGS & QUEENS , THEM AIN’T GOT TIME TO STUDY AR-YO / WHO DEAD – DEAD / DAVIS FUNERAL HOME WILL BE HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE WHOEVER BITES DAH DUST (CALLING KYE & FRAZAH IS A WASTE OF TIME – THOSE ARE TWO DEAD BOYS WALKING .
Where was the opposition leader for the motion/vote of no confidence against the premier? Let him answer that BEFORE he says another word.
Smurf , is saying)> boi ah looking at all dah dus dung dae / nattie , is saying )> yeah boi ah had ah look at it muhself fron up hae / we gine gah to tell them it’s the Sahara dus ,and they must put on a mask .
Please Minister HORSE PATH IS A DISGUSTING MESS.
Since the storms of 2017 nothing whatsoever has been done to the roads. Please, Please Please do something… Also the derelict vehicles on both sides of the road in John’s Hole. OMG!why the BVI have to look like this? Come on mehn where’s our national pride?
Every government home and abroad does it, including his NDO, they get big Loan close to election for something sell it to the people as needed, then use part of that loan money to help fund their campaign…It’s the corrupt norm.
If this Government is voted back in we will all live in squalaor, sad and dying, but it’s an individual decision. We can’t tell these people who are brainwashed that a couple hundred dollars for a vote can’t pay their electricity bill or get them water in their pipes. It will however continue the travelling, partying and carousing and some people like that.
Until we, as a people, want more and is fully aware that we deserve more, we will all suffer together. You get what you vote for. Praying for a turn around. Honourable Skelton for Minister of Finance! That’s what we should be voting for. Our beautiful country is going to hell in a hand basket.