Government is not responsible for all roads
Third District Representative Julian Fraser has sought to set the records straight by reminding residents that roads on private estates are not the responsibility of the government.
Fraser said the government has no responsibility to maintain these thoroughfares, which he referred to as “estate roads”.
But he said some of his constituents have criticised him for not maintaining these estate roads that are sometimes dangerous for persons who use them.
“What is happening is: some of the landowners undermine the roads and the roads cave in. When that happens they need a retaining wall. Like I said, the road doesn’t belong to the people who own the plot, it belongs to the people that sub-divided the estate — it’s a private road. But again, it’s a danger to the motorists when the road caves in,” Fraser explained.
He said he used to maintain estate roads in his constituency in the past just to ensure the safety and comfort of the people who have to use them. But he said this has led many to believe these roads are the responsibility of the government.
“But the truth of the matter is, it’s an estate road. It’s not the government road — it belongs to the estate. The government has no obligation other than the fact that as a good representative, who loves his constituents, I go in there and pave the roads,” Fraser clarified.
Gov’t should intervene
While setting the record straight for residents, Fraser expressed that although these roads are not the responsibility of the government, lawmakers have to get involved and construct retaining walls as the problem will persist if the state doesn’t intervene. But he bemoaned the fact that he isn’t able to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to get the roads fixed like he was able to do in the past. He said this is because of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations have caused changes to the way taxpayer dollars are spent and are, therefore, making it difficult for the government to help people.
“There was a time – 10 years ago maybe – a district representative could find a way between the Ministry of Finance to get the finances to erect that (retaining) wall. But now today things are so different. What are we supposed to do? I’m sure this is happening in more than one district,” Fraser said.
He continued: “We cannot allow our citizens to live their lives in danger. If we allow that, we might as well go home because what we are saying is that the government is helpless. We have to find a way collectively. It’s not a Third District problem, it’s a territory problem. And it comes right back to the Minister of Finance,” Fraser said.
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Fraser stop talking about the COI and UK issues now because he fraid they arrest and charge him for the Sea Cow’s Bay Harbour project. They seem to be using law enforcement instead of the whip like during slavery. The SCB Harbour project has far more issues than the ESHS wall but they are interested only in that project to keep one man in line.
1. The project was done was on private property owned by him with government funds
2. His brothers got the contracts to do the work.
3. People on the project got money and the work was not completed.
And a lot more things. How can this be justified? Selective scapegoating.
So 10 years ago he wasted Govt money on roads that don’t belong to the Goverment.
Just because you are ‘nice’doesn’t mean you can spend govt money.
It would have been smarter to A) ensure the legislation is in place that ths people subdividing the land put the roads in and b) educate the homeowners on their rights and help them set up the legal process so they could ensure all put funds into fix the road in the future.
This is what happens when people buy votes by doing things for people with money that isnt theirs.
This is such an ignorant statement . I hate everything about these “leaders” . We give them platforms to make excuses and I’m quite sick of it lol
Based on the current state of roads, the government appears to have no responsibility at all
We need to know where the money allocated for road building goes.
Because clearly it is not spent on roads
We demand transparency and accountability to stop these people stealing our money.
Are we to assume thus that the majority of roads including highways are “estate” roads? Cause government ain’t fixing none!! (Dialect deliberate)
FRASER FOR PREMIER
I’m tired of you blaming the COI for everything. If you didn’t start bad practices of paving private roads with public funds, this would not be an issue now. And as for retaining walls, they are falling down and then who is responsible? Stop It Fraser! Stop it!
When reality starts to soak in, all who are bawling for the COI and UK to take over will live to regret it
Oh God No.
Hey how much does our government and their family cost the tax payer in travel fees?
If a next devastating hurricane hit us, who is gonna help us? The politicians hand are tied so we wont get any help…It wont be long before the BVI start to look like Haiti…INDEPENDENCE is the only way forward.
I CAN SEE WHERE FRASER IS COMING FROM BECAUSE THE COUNTRY ALREADY STARTING TO GO BACKWARDS……DEPLORABLE ROADS, WATER LEAKS, SEWAGE PROBLEMS, OVERGROWN BUSH ETC ETC ETC. GOVERNMENT CAN NO LONGER ASSIST….THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING LAND WILL NEVER PAVE THE ACCESS ROADS…THE ROAD TO THOSE HOUSES BEING BUILT UP IN THE HILLS IN PARIQUITA BAY {above biwater} WILL NEVER GET PAVED, PERFECT EXAMPLE…..PEOPLE WILL NOW HAVE TO DRIVE ON DIRT ROADS.
they just trying for Walwyn not to run. That is all that move is. Last election they send all kind of thing out bout his wife not from here and so on. Now we elected Andrew because we thought he was best and look what that got us. Now we still had to turn around and end up with a local whose wife is not from here.
So when we dig a hole for one, dig one for ourselves aye.
We are where we are because of our selfish ways.
Andrew knocked him over just to lead. DO not knock Fraser, he is a wise politician still.