Malone asks gov’t to rethink CGB sewerage treatment project
Territorial At-Large Representative Carvin Malone has pleaded with the government about the prospect of reconsidering its approach to the Cane Garden Bay (CGB) Sewerage Treatment project.
Malone recently asked Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer a series of questions in the House of Assembly (HOA) about the cost and roll out of the CGB project.
The sewerage project in that community is a part of the government’s national sewerage programme for the territory.
Among other things, Malone questioned what factors were taken into consideration when the decision was made not to replace or repair grinder pumps as recommended, after 20 years of service.
According to Malone, it has now been eight years since a staff engineer of the Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) recommended the abandonment of the Low-Pressure Collection System installed in 1997 in favour of a hybrid gravity system.
Expensive maintenance and repairs
Rymer noted in his response that Malone’s company, Caribbean Basin Enterprises, was previously contracted in 1996 to execute works on the project under a former administration.
However, the minister explained that, over the years, WSD personnel found the maintenance and upkeep more and more challenging. “The system required a high level of technical expertise that resulted in the system being inoperable for long periods of time while being repaired,” Rymer told the HOA.
He said it was expensive to provide for the electricity and replacement parts for the 36 pump stations. In addition to the maintenance costs, he said a number of civil issues arose when repairs were required on the pumps located on private property.
Major environmental hazard
Rymer further explained that the pump stations were constructed of fibreglass and placed in areas that were susceptible to high saline conditions, resulting in the pump stations collapsing overtime as the fibreglass was unable to withstand the environmental conditions.
The minister said this created a major environmental hazard to the CGB area.
As a result of this, Rymer said the government embarked on a $4 million project to improve the entire sewerage system in CGB to include the sewerage collection system and the CGB treatment plant, the first phase of which was completed in May 2022.
Rymer said this project will address all of the challenges mentioned with sewerage treatment and collection in the area.
But Malone, after being given answers on the cost estimates and timelines for the project, asked whether it was too late to sit with the District Representative to “rethink this project”.
Second District Representative Melvin Turnbull said he would be willing to meet with Malone at anytime.
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This man’s company was responsible for millions of sewage works in the BVI and look at where we are now. Do you have any shame?
So much self interest.
Trying to paint Malone black for speaking the truth makes no sense. The man is correct in what he is saying but like everything else time will tell.
Mitch know why he wanted the project go this way.
you got that right , he just sorry that he get the contact again over CGB he got away with murder with the one he did before ( .he couldn’t neven fix the incinerator , or PeebLes , waste ah time
All govt is the same 6 months or less they come with all kind of excuses to borrow money for this and for that and we know its all about their campaign. Malone knows this because he was part of the con and the scam.
Its an all out war for
and if you cannot see how we are treating eachother for power , then as an eXpat you should not be surprised ? the outside world don’t know the whole truth about what’s really going on here , but the yellow site boy who is using his racism rethoric as a distraction ~ will) hopefully they won’t think that everyone here is living in the dark ages like him
Even if what Mr. Malone is saying is true, it does not change the fact that his company got the bulk of sewage contracts over the past 20 years and did we get value for money and quality equipment? Maybe since he is the truth teller these days he can let us know these details. These types of jobs should be bonded and include a ‘hold back’ amount for a certain period to ensure proper value.
He just wants to get his paws into it again.
Poor design and construction and now he wants to give advise.
No value for money and now no scruples either.
This is how they consistently underdeveloped the BVI.
The information being allowed in these comments about Malone company are not factual but that is the accepted norm with this site when it comes to the BVI and its people.
the information on his buddy in Miami wasn’t factual either , yet bragged about his amount of rodeos
“fibreglass and placed in areas that were susceptible to high saline conditions.”
Like all the boats that are made of same that float every day in saline solution (the sea) and seem to be OK.
Can you run that by us again. All boats survive but our fibreglass can’t. Sounds like BS. Or you need to seek advice from boat builders.
All these politicians are greedy and irresponsible, Malone company made millions to solve the Sewage Issue under VIP. We got ripped off as usual. I could never understand why BVI people kept defending these co**upt politicians..The best way forward is a short Britain take over, like it or not, that the only way the corruption, oppression and greed will ceased