Poor planning blamed for BVI’s infrastructure woes

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has argued that poor planning and lack of investment have left the BVI grappling with deteriorating infrastructure.

Speaking at a press conference recently, Walwyn pointed to failing roads, inadequate water supply, and government mismanagement, contending that these issues stem from ineffective governance and a lack of strategic planning.

Walwyn criticised the government for failing to develop a clear infrastructure plan.

“If the government has a plan to fix the road infrastructure, they are doing a very good job at hiding it,” he remarked. “The state of our infrastructure is not just an inconvenience—it is a failure of leadership.”

He blamed the government÷’s failure to plan for the continued decline in infrastructure. “Everything now has become urgent, so how do you decide which is more important?” he questioned. “You are outing fires… it has to start with planning, making sure that the adequate resources are put in the right places.”

Walwyn suggested that the government increase its engagement with the recovery and development agency. “The government structure and the way it’s set up right now, with ministries handling very heavy projects, I think doesn’t do the best for us,” Walwyn said. “I think that agency is a very good model. I would like to see them use more in terms of delivery of projects, because we have seen the outcome of projects.”

Urgent action needed

Walwyn called for immediate action to improve the territory’s infrastructure and provide relief to residents suffering from poor roads and inconsistent water supply. He urged the government to prioritise planning and allocate sufficient funds for essential services. He also suggested that the government cut down on unnecessary travel and other areas and put additional funding in areas that can generate more revenue for the country.

The government recently allocated $1.4 million for road repairs, an amount which Walwyn said is inadequate to address the extent of road damage across the territory, “One point four million dollars is not enough to address the needs of our crumbling roads,” he asserted. “Every time I drive around, I see how we wasted an opportunity with the $400 million loan facility we had from the British government. Now, here we are with a $1.4 million allocation for roads—it’s simply not enough.”

He noted that other Caribbean nations, including the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, have taken proactive steps to secure funding and improve their infrastructure. “You look at Cayman, you look at the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas—every minute you see new hotel developments coming on stream. But here in the BVI, nothing is happening,” Walwyn lamented.