Is the Road Town Market Square a ‘white elephant’?
Territorial At-Large Representative and Deputy Speaker Stacey Mather has raised concerns about the government’s investment in Road Town Market Square, questioning whether the $1.5 million project, intended to revitalise the area and provide opportunities for vendors, will ever generate returns.
In a recent House of Assembly debate about the government’s $100 million loan resolution, Mather addressed the delays and financial management issues surrounding the project. He noted that the project was initially budgeted at $1,432,500 and was supposed to be completed in May 2021.
However, the market was not officially opened until February 2023, with some work still pending. “The Road Town Market looks pretty, but what’s the rate of return on that?” Mather asked.
During last year’s dedication ceremony, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer expressed hope that the Market Square would encourage economic enrichment and recreational enjoyment.
“As tourism is everyone’s business, in these beautiful Virgin Islands, we felt that it was important to present festive kiosks that will attract both tourists and residents alike,” Rymer said. “From today, this market will be bustling with vendors selling local and imported produce and goods, the sound of music, and people shopping.”
But more than a year later, only six of the 16 kiosks have been rented out on long-term leases. The monthly rental fees have been temporarily reduced from $300 and $450 to $200 and $350, respectively, due to the absence of shutters on the kiosks. Day rentals are also available for $25, but vendors have raised concerns that the unfinished design discourages business.
A recent Auditor General’s report showed that the market remains underutilised. The report concluded that this was partly due to the unfinished kiosk design, which offers little protection from the elements, and also to the cost, which some vendors find prohibitive.
Along with the Market Square, a bandstand and a bus shed were developed to replace the market structure destroyed by the hurricanes in 2017.
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It’s just another one of Kye’s wastage to the tune of over a million dollars
Cover the Ghut for more parking and a bypass road to go east…..Move the bus stop and build it on top the Ghut by Supa Valu
In the past, markets had a way of happening of their own accord. They adapted surroundings. They were not designed on a drawing board to X ft and Y ins. As such they were attractive to the eye and fitting for their purpose.
The Road Town Market Square is neither attractive or functional.
We all know the market square was another project to get money from the government into the pockets of cronies:
Just like projects such as:
– Pier Park
– BVI airlines
– Barges
– security contracts during lockdown
– school wall
– the parties
(Each and all governments we had for as long as we can remember have done this)
It’s just a poorly designed project.
The old Market Square was repulsive to tourists due to its dilapidated condition. The current ‘new’ Market Square could be attractive to tourists IF there were lots more shade and rain protection. Until those improvements become reality it will remain a hot and wet white elephant.
Too much pollution around there. Heat like the bottom of a wok. Yall picked the best spot.
It was pork barrel for someone….$ 1.4 million for 16 kiosks. That’s almost $90,000 each….for four 6x6a, a gable roof with drain, and three foot high walls with a counter, sink and electricity. A crew of four competent carpenters should be able to knock one out in a week if they took their time. So, if you go with materials for each at $ 10K, that means you were paying each carpenter $ 500 an hour. Good work if you can get it….
Styles said it right. This is how things roll around here.