Gov’t playing politics with sewerage — Penn
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has criticised the government for what he claims is political manoeuvring regarding the territory’s ongoing sewerage issues.
Speaking during a recent debate in the House of Assembly, Penn expressed frustration over the lack of action to address the worsening sewerage crisis, accusing the government of playing politics instead of solving the problem.
Penn argued that the government has had several years to address the issue, but little progress has been made. “To this day, this government has been in place since 2019. We’re now in 2024. Six years… and not a penny has been spent in District 8,” Penn said.
He expressed particular concern about the sewerage systems in Cane Garden Bay and East End, noting that despite government claims, nothing substantial has been done.
Penn also pointed out the health risks associated with the unresolved sewerage crisis, noting that residents are suffering due to the government’s inaction. “We continue to play politics with the sewerage issue, and people are becoming ill. The problem is extended throughout the entire community now,” he said. Penn cited places like Valley in Virgin Gorda, where the stench of untreated sewerage has become a regular nuisance.
One of Penn’s main concerns is the government’s approach to securing funding without a clear execution plan. He revealed that despite borrowing large sums of money for infrastructure improvements, there has been no indication of how the funds will address the sewerage problems.
“We’re borrowing more money… and we don’t have a clue on where we’re going with that project,” Penn emphasised. “The pump station, the transport station is in place. It started. The work started. It seems to be stalled for some reason. I don’t see any, if much activity, there at all.”
Penn urged the government to take decisive action and suggested that the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) should be responsible for handling the sewage project. Penn suggested that the RDA can independently assess the project’s cost and develop a plan free from political interference. “Let the RDA focus on it,” he said, calling for transparency and accountability in managing the territory’s finances.
Sewerage is a long-standing concern in the BVI, particularly in East End and Cane Garden Bay. Residents have voiced their frustrations over the lack of progress, which remains a bone of contention between the government and the Opposition.
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working up east in 2015 while they was doing the sewerage…years later……. STILL INCOMPLETE
since you find out that bro ❓️ the people have been hollering out that SH*T FOR YEARS NOW
has better sewerage than most of Tortola and the Valley in VG.
What ever happen to the Bi-Water contract that was signed? That contract also included fixing the sewage woes of the BVI. Why are we still here today talking about and trying to find money for sewage after all these years. SMH.
@Tell Me, BiWater was a tribal , divisive issue for two election cycles. Nevertheless, as soon as 7 -Seas buy out BiWate and portions of contract adjusted, everything seemed cured. No more ills. Really? Why? Who, if any one, has interest in the company? There are still shortcomings with Biwater. It was initially a Build -Operate-Turnover(BOT) agreement for 16 years . Has the 16 years gone by? Has the operational period been extended? Is the BVI ready assume operation of the plant?? Can the BVI accept, store and distribute the 2.5 million gallons per day that BiWatet/7-Seas is contracted to deliver daily?
You should if said both bvi government(S) NDP has
played & VIP is now playing with TAXPAYERS MONEY , when it coMes to SeWeRaGe for years/ just like AGRIGCULTURE / maybe yhe wind change so his honor getting the lovely fragrance of raw SH*T in the EAST & those in the west getting their daily fragrance of smoke in the WEST and in the meantime DRUGS – GUNS and CORRUPTION is slowly taking over / war up NORTH and war down SOUTH ●¿● not being able to UNITE and form A REAL GOVERNMENT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR COUNTRY , SAYS IT ALL , ABOUT THESE SET OF HYPOCRITES AND THE GAMES THEY ARE PLAYING ON THE OWN PEOPLE, WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACES
Sewage is a major issue that has been poorly handled in the BVIs now for decades. There seems to be no meaningful plan in evidence that deals with this issue. No plan means no funding, and no action. The govt indicated going on two years ago that there more and better testing (paid for by a grant from the EU). Where is that data? Why has it not been made public? Decades ago, there was a high school science project that tested waters around the BVIs and found elevated levels of coliform bacteria. What reason is there to think that it’s any better now (besides requirements that charter boats empty their septic tanks 3 miles off shore). But the real issue is what happens on land.
Everybody poops but no one wants to deal with the issue. Just flush it without thought as to where it goes. Many rely on septic tanks. These work fine for about 5-7 years but then need to be pumped out. Of course, the question is what to do with the contents. Normally they’re sent to sewage treatment plants. On VG, it’s just drained onto the landfill. Can we get more medieval? I suspect similar practices on smaller islands if septic tanks are pumped at all.
Instead, we should map all septic tanks in the territory after inspecting each for structural soundness. No structure lasts for ever, and leach fields can become saturated, leading to surface run off that ends up in the sea, especially after heavy rains. Yeah, it would suck to have to rebuild deficient septic systems, but it sucks 10x more when sewage is not handled properly, and 100x more when it’s the source of cholera, typhoid, etc. This has been known for more than 150 years…
New structures should be required to have more modern septic systems (e.g, Chromaglass), and should separate grey water out to reduce the load on septic systems.
There is a wealth of information available from this subject from the World Health Organization. Check it out.
How much of the $ 100 mil just borrowed is going to this issue?
Hon Marlon Penn, R-8, aka Smurf,, can you tell why under the NDP government, which you were a member of, $8M allocated for a sewerage system in the East was transferred to the Tortola Pier Park(TPP)). I noticed you skirted around this issue..Keep things real and on the up. We have the receipts so don’t try to give us a 6 for a 9.
$6M was already paid back to the Government; your question should be where was the $6M spent.
@Manjack, so the $8M was paid back what (a) the opportunity cost of transferring that money the sewage project a
(b) where was the returned money spent?? The sewage project is still needed and where is it? The money may have been return but there is still a huge opportunity cost,, ie, raw sewage is running in the street, posing a health risk. How many people got sick from the exposure?
That’s what your next task is; ask the relevant authorities. You should be able to get an answer to your initial question and the returned $6M as well.
The Virgin. Islands(British), though small (~59square miles), boasts of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life,,etc in the region. Its physical infrastructure, ie, roads, water, power, telecommunications, sewage , etc, must support the boast. Consequently, the VI needs a comprehensives, strategic sewage master plan for Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, etc, with primary, secondary and tertiary treatment. Borrowing may make some uncomfortable but it is needed for investing in the infrastructure, etc,ie, wastewater, etc. The VI debt to GDP is relatively low so it may be able prudently borrow(long-term) to meet its needs. Its competitors are borrowing to meet their needs, ie, Bermuda,etc.
@E. Leonard, agree that at this point after the roll out of Ministerial Governance in 1967, we should have had a First World sewer system in place across the territory. But successive governments have failed to deliver and we are still far off from having a First World system.
It is lessness, poor planning and governance. Furthermore, the electorate has failed to demand it is delivered. The electorate go to pols every four years , having listened to a lot of promises which are not delivered and the electorate do not demand elected members deliver on their promises. Instead politicians continue to overpromise and underdeliver; that will not change unless the electorate demands it does. When 2027 rolls around or sooner , it will be the same song and dance like a hamster going round and round, round. Pretty soon we may get the maze or suffer from whiplash.
At this juncture, all I want for Christmas is the stoppage of sewage flowing in the streets, presenting a health hazard. The current gang of politicians are inexperienced and seemed unable to plan their way out of phone booth. Sad, sad, sad.. The prior warriors failed to effectively passed the political baton. We trying to substitute a degree , education, for experience. It does work that way; experience is earned and comes with time.
@Professor real talk, for proper collection, conveyance, treatment, and safe discharge is a quality of life and standards of living issues. Indeed, successive governments, ie, VIP, NDP, have failed miserably to deliver. You are asking for reasonable Christmas gift and I’m sure Father Christmas will fulfill your wise. You are not asking for much. Do not hold your breath though, for it is nice to dream.
To E. Leonard, all yu does use all the slick , nice sounding language like prudently. Keep it simple stupid for the lil mon like me. I don’t trust the government with all the borrowing you are suggesting because the money may not be used for the intended purpose. Who is going to ensure borrowed money is going to be used for the intended purpose? The HoA? Useless as a tit on a boar hog.
For example, the $100M which was just passed by the HoA seemed to be being used for everything. Furthermore, more borrowing means higher taxes and fees to pay back the loan.The more money needed to pay back loans means less for services; services are already in a deplorable state.