Premier announces $500K beautification grant for BVITB
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has unveiled a $500,000 grant for the BVI Tourist Board to fund a territory-wide beautification project aimed at enhancing the territory’s appeal for the upcoming tourism high season.
During a press conference on Tuesday, November 26, Wheatley revealed that the Ministry of Tourism would collaborate with the Tourist Board to carry out the beautification drive.
“I directed the Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with the BVI Tourist Board on a beautification drive as we get ready to welcome visitors during our tourism high-season and as we ourselves get ready for our own festive season. The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, is pleased to announce a $500,000 grant to the BVI Tourist Board for a territory-wide beautification project,” Wheatley said.
He explained that a private contractor would be hired to carry out the project in order to reduce the administrative burden on the Tourist Board.
The Premier emphasized that the beautification project was a direct response to concerns about the territory’s appearance and the need to ensure both residents and tourists can enjoy a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment.
This announcement follows recent statements by Former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith, who has repeatedly called for action to improve the state of the territory.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Smith highlighted the need for immediate action to clean up areas frequented by visitors, particularly Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. She noted that while Virgin Gorda maintains a clean and tidy appearance, islands like Jost Van Dyke and Anegada “leave a lot to be desired.”
Smith described the presence of derelict vehicles and general neglect in these areas as “unacceptable,” particularly with an expected influx of tourists.
“The BVI is one of the most beautiful countries on earth by everybody’s admission, but we have to keep the BVI beautiful by cleaning it up,” Smith stated.
She also expressed concern that visitors to the territory were encountering “a dirty, unkempt, untidy country,” and stressed that recent heavy rains should not be used as an excuse for the current state of affairs.
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This guy have no brains, spending 500K when the country looks like a s**t. fix what needs to be fixed….
I have no problem with the Premier spending to beautify the country. what is lacking however, is proper education to go along with the beautification also some real fines for littering.
$100 million was barrowed to improve the infrastructure and it is going to finish and next year the country looks the same because it is just friend and connections getting the contracts and no professional with the necessary skills and expertise to fix the road problems are being engaged. Look at Prospect reef, they are laying down concrete with no improvement in the drainage. I see they make two tiny 6inch tracks into the same old one-foot drain that cannot drain the amount of water coming from Skelton hill. This is crazy. Prospect needs at least two additional drainage outlets to handle the amount of water on the road.
Wait a minute. How much did this i**ot spend on a failed music concert and more on a Gangster to come and we have $500,000 to what has turned into a dump site nice again. Think $50,000,000 of money actually spent on the island and not syphoned straight into peoples pockets and we might just get started.
I remember what the beauty the BVI used to be famed for but it is not the same now in the VI of today.
We making the USVI and other islands look smart and tidy.
Thanks Lorna!
yeah i’ll dole out thanks when we see who gets the money and what happens… just another lump sum to a croney. Why cant public works be funded to conduct regulat cleaning and maintenance?
by a very foolish sl**anda
Fix all the light poles that are about to fall and put street lights all over, fix the drainage where there are constant flowing of water. Clean the parapets and plant beautifying plants.
Thanks Lorna in our Corner.
Road Town needs regular cleaning of streets. We bought a machine and never used it. We dont need beautification we need maintenance, repair and cleaning schedules.
Reduce the number of ships. Capacity yesterday was over 12,000. No one on cane garden enjoyed their trip to the beach. Absolutely disgusting what BVI tourism has become. Maybe we see some change when Marks big investment in Cane falls flat on its face due to the overcrowding of the bay.
Does this fall within the BVITB’s mandate or is this is it being funneled over to them b/c Public Works is not doing their job?
the Minister and his Ministry team are doing PWD job.
$500K can finish in a whisper,so let’s be realistic and penny and dollar wise, or it will be all gone before January 2025. A begging R U do not tiff D money! All key beaches must be properly cleaned for residents and tourists alike.Rake and bury seaweed and plant material. Clear beach of bottles and all forms of garbage. Provide portable bathrooms for now. Charge a modest fee of $1 to use same. Insist that no boat operate in within these zones. In general Keep our streets garbage free, clear out trails and have the police frequent these areas daily.