Gov’t needs help sourcing derelict dumpsite on Tortola
The government is seeking public assistance in locating a suitable site for a derelict dumpsite on Tortola, according to Health Minister Vincent Wheatley.
The appeal comes as the territory grapples with environmental and community concerns over the improper disposal and storage of abandoned vehicles.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Wheatley explained that derelict vehicles have become a significant environmental and public health concern.
“We are ensuring that the Virgin Islands remains a place we can all take pride in,” he stated while highlighting the government’s commitment to maintaining a clean and safe environment.
The Department of Waste Management has been actively working on removing derelict vehicles to reduce negative environmental impacts. However, the challenge of finding a long-term storage and processing site has persisted. According to Wheatley, a recent site designated in the Havers area has raised community concerns, prompting the government to explore alternative locations.
“We will consult with stakeholders and the wider community once viable options for long-term solutions are identified,” Wheatley explained while stressing the importance of public input in the decision-making process. He urged residents to participate in identifying potential sites on Tortola, saying, “Community involvement is essential to achieving sustainable and effective outcomes.”
The Department of Waste Management recently issued a tender for the maintenance of a derelict vehicle site, including the processing and export of up to 600 abandoned cars. Three bids were received and are currently under review. In the meantime, the department is taking steps to clean the existing site while exploring long-term alternatives.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to improve waste management practices and safeguard the territory’s natural beauty. Wheatley called for public cooperation in reporting abandoned vehicles on private and public property, urging residents to provide location details and, if possible, photographs to expedite the removal process.
“Through our collective effort and cooperation, we can ensure a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Virgin Islands for generations to come,” Wheatley stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to enhancing environmental stewardship.
No timeline was provided for identifying a new site, but the government has pledged to keep the public informed throughout the process.
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“ We are ensuring that the Virgin Islands remains a place we can all take pride in,”……? The evidence on hand shows otherwise. For starters, a crusher would reduce the amount of storage needed.
Cars on islands have always been an issue. More so in modern times that makes it easy to buy cars overseas. Again, we have an issue of failing to plan. You could even say negligence, because if for example you went to Trinidad, you would see gridlock, just like we see in town. It does not take a scientist to figure out the problem is too many cars. Why? Because people need to get to work. Solution? Cheap, reliable public transport that runs on schedule on routes where people live, work and shop (Check Bermuda out) but the taximen here don’t want that because the tourists would also use it. So there is no plan for that, forcing people to resort to buying cars, many towards the end of their service life.
We all know cars eventually decay. So anyone buying a new car or importing a vehicle should have to pay a set disposal fee to fund the vehicle’s eventual disposal. Anyone shipping a vehicle out of the Territory gets reimbursed a portion of the original disposal fee collected. The disposal fee could be set high, resulting in fewer vehicles and forcing an efficient transportation system, and vice versa. But either way, there’d be funds to address the issue.
Leaving things the way they are will perpetuate the issue. There needs to be a vehicle disposal plan that addresses this issue (not to mention other waste management problems in the Territory) instead of reactionary stuff like begging for a place to put all this junk. Perhaps the dilemma is that just getting rid of that pile and starting with a new plan is that those to whom the job will be given want an amount so high that the public would not tolerate it.
Check with them Chalwell boys – I understand they have a nice piece of fenced land out by Drakes Highway.
the streets already hear that you goin put them where the failed green houses were stop playing games with the public
This is f**king UNACCEPTABLE and I’m really surprised (should I be?) that more noise isn’t made about this. We pick and choose which battles we fight hard on, and this is so sad. 7 years after Hurricane Irma and we are here wondering what to do with these twisted pieces of metal? Why are we looking for places to hold them? Get an interested entity to barge the pieces of s**t off our island and stop looking for somewhere else to dispose of this unsightly mess. We have no f**king shame at all man.