Gov’t looking at February completion of market square
The government is hoping to finish all the work being conducted at the Road Town market square by the end of February 2023.
This is according to Chief of Infrastructure, Planning, Research and Development in the Ministry of Communication and Works, Duane Fraites.
However, that timeline hinges heavily on the ability of contractors who are tasked with completing walkways and landscaping areas in the ongoing project.
The market square has been torn down for over two years causing vendors to be relocated at the nearby Virgin Islands Fire & Rescue Headquarters as a temporary staging area since that time.
According to Fraites, the ministry is hopeful that its sixteen kiosks, which he said are in different stages of construction, will be completed by the end of the year.
“Once we are able to get in the landscaping contractor, we expect to see a marked difference within the next two months and we’re hopeful to have the entire market square commissioned — we’re targeting for the end of February 2023 to have the entire market square commissioned — all things completed walkways and everything done,” Fraites said.
In the meantime, Communication and Works Minister Kye Rymer said his ministry continues to process applications for persons who have applied to operate those kiosks once they are completed.
Apart from walkways and landscaping, Fraites explained that the area will also feature a bus shed which will allow taxi operators and others to collect passengers from the area.
While there will be an access road in the area for vendors to drop off goods, it will not feature any parking for vendors or nearby building owners. However, Fraites explained that parking is expected to be secured over at the festival grounds area for persons utilising that space.
He further noted that the ministry is working towards advancing the development of the festival grounds in order for it to be a suitable parking area.
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We needed a homeless shelter for a long time now. Thank you VIP.
Looks more like Vendor’s Square than a traditional market place. Whose idea was this? Why change the concept of the original market stalls? To me, these designs were built to facilitate those road side vendors right there in that area.
Those couple shacks could be any market. We got to be crazy. It took them 3 years to put up couple booths and they really expect us to accept this as a market in the middle of town? Have we no standards? Disgusting. Give it two months and it will become a Centre for all kind of ills in the middle of the capital.
Who got 1st preference?
lol its just some huts
I would like to know the cost for this debacle. How could big men and women in a government believe that what they have here for a market could be acceptable for the BVI. Right in the heart of town we have this foolishness.
LMAO!! You are absolutely right………..sadly!
Dis wha yo call wasting good land
Prime land in the middle of the city riddled with shacks. Elections needed Nooooow!
This idea was so dumb, they took up the parking lot that is shared by several buildings to be used by these useless vendors
Election timed, election gimmick,no substance, no future planning. Just the way things are done now.
These archetic city manager town& country people need going home
It doesn’t even have any where to put the good like a divided area for the different items lol.
Look at this mess! I cannot believe that 2022 gone and this is the outcome? Sl**ande you really allow this to happen? A wise person once said “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.” Sl**ande please give up your medals. This place is abominably atrocious! who built this? a down island person could never.
Gt
The first preference should be for the people who have been in the market passing all kinds of needs in the roundabout. The people who are next to the fire station should be the first to give preference to and leave favoritism aside.