Premier touts infrastructure upgrades from $100M loan
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced extensive roadworks across the Virgin Islands, describing them as part of an “unprecedented” infrastructure push funded by the government’s $100 million loan.
Speaking during his second annual Territorial Address, Dr Wheatley said six miles of road on Tortola had been resurfaced with asphalt in critical areas such as Beef Island, East End, the Ridge Road, Joe’s Hill, and Prospect Reef to Duffs Bottom.
On Virgin Gorda, works are progressing in phases, particularly in the North Sound area, with a complete section already done near the Robinson O’Neal Primary School.
“We did not receive substantial financial assistance comparable to our counterparts who benefited from significant capital grants,” Dr Wheatley stated. “Despite these obstacles, the government made the unprecedented decision to borrow $100 million, resulting in notable improvements in infrastructure services throughout the territory.”
On Jost Van Dyke, the Premier pointed to the Back Road project near the primary school and the second phase of repairs on the undermined Eastern Road.
The Premier also highlighted efforts by the Public Works Department, which carried out drainage and road rehabilitation across the islands. Projects included repairs in Fahie Hill, Sabbath Hill, and Brewers Bay, as well as sidewalk upgrades near the Cedar School and Attorney General’s Chambers.
Drainage work was completed between the R T O’Neal Administration Complex and Maria’s by the Sea, while a two-lane roadway and retaining wall were constructed in East End, Jost Van Dyke.
In Cane Garden Bay, reinforced concrete was used to restore a section of roadway, with additional improvements in front of Ebenezer Thomas Primary School.
On the water and sewerage front, pipeline upgrades to resilient HDP materials were completed, and the Baughers Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant has been recommissioned. Meanwhile, tenders have been issued for reservoir repairs at Minton Hill in Virgin Gorda and Fort Hill, Sabbath Hill, Hannah Hill, and Balsam Gut in Tortola.
Dr Wheatley confirmed that the Long Swamp Pump Station and main lines will be completed by September. “Household interconnections in Long Look, Greenland, and Fat Hogs Bay will start in Q3 2025,” he stated.
He added that the pumping of sewage from the pump station to the treatment plant is expected to begin in the final quarter of 2025, marking “the first time households will have full service.”
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and not a thing on Anegada, oh wait its not Lobsterfest yet we will get something a week before thats due…
What is going on with the road at hodges creek government last year said six months now its almost a year this government needs to go the engineers dont know what they doing and the minister dont have a clue as to what is happening up there, three now no work but we still have to repair our front end on our vehicle. Have the money to do repairs and don’t know how to use it effectively is a next thing. Next election hurry come.
Where are these improvements that S!0wW@nde is talking about? You would never guess they got the money, if you drove around Tortola. The money likely got spent on other things, like their salaries pensions and travel expenses. We need an audit. When last this place was audited? Oh yeah, back in 2019.
I was Beef Island this week and haven’t seen or felt the resurface he speaks of. These men need to be hands on, go and see for yourself, do not just go off the words people pass to you.
These people are fully aware of this situation. They just don’t give a fig
Around old international motors down to the police station coming up ten days after going down potholes exactly where they were previously why no proper preparation of foundation & weird unnecessary road markings no one is likely to abide by. Why not get the basics right .
just more patches and repairs. The Premier is exaggerating the normal system maintenance that each island requires. All these alleged upgrades are very false advertising.
NO VALUE FOR MONEY
What do you mean no value for money? The young people are travelling all over the world and coming back brighter than they left. They see the wonderful roads all over, in the Caribbean as well as further afield. They are collecting lots of bright ideas to implement in our beautiful Virgin Islands. But no, wait, they will do them next election once you vote them back in.
If the people of this country don’t get their minds right and vote for the cancellation of this foolishness we are living in, then we deserve the cess pool of a country that we will become by 2030 if the world lasts.
Oh, and I was just telling someone the last time we got anything done, the two lane highway, the Pier Park, the Hospital completed, the Mini Hospital on VG, the $10,000 free from taxes and the list goes on and on was when NDP was in power. For sure the DDM building, The Admin Complex, the Library and Seniors Home would have been completed. Everyone has eyes to see and ears to hear.
– Pot hole patching
– Delayed maintenance
– Deferred repairs
– Gas lighting
– Delayed repairs
– Structurally dangerous repairs
– No common sense repairs
– Doing things half a$$ and then wait another few years to complete
Well done Slowanda!
Premier justs needs to go out in his car and drive around.
Tortola is currently an absolutley tragic dump drom east end to West End, from the Coast Road to the Ridge Road.
No part of these islands look like they have money spent on them in the last 5 years.
Where has that money gone. Take a look at photos from 5 years ago. Bush is cut back. Yellow paint on road edges (that are not broken down) paint on speed bumps, guard rails attadhed and not destroyed.
Why are the people not protesting. Why are the rich that live in beautiful gated places not embarassed every time they leave home to travel their nation?
Infrastructure push by Hodges has not seen a worker on it for 3 weeks. That road is worse to drive now than after Irma. It will not get finished without workers. Where have the mysterious Northam gone with our REAL money.
Why is the Works Minister or the Premier not here in the news saying how disappointed they are and not saying how great they are doing.
Seacows bay remains almost impassable.
Ridge Rodge remains almost impassable in multiple sections.
Think of all the other roads that are one way roads, blocked by bush, fallen rocks, massive holes, lifting and diesappeared tarmac and concrete and we are told the $100,000,000 already being spent.
On who’s driveway and into who’s pockets is this $100,000,000 gone.
More land pushed into the sea daily to make new car dumps. derelict cars and trucks all over. The Admin complex a container trailer park, the sides of all our roads dumps sites for cars trucks, trailers boats. The bush is full of roof tops, boats, cars, and the gargbage or years and years.
We have no incinerator. No agriculture or fisheries support, no West End Ferry terminal, no library in our Capital, broken lights all over, half done roads by the Governors, public parks not maintained, safety devices left to rot by our beaches,
BUT, the Premier announces substantial roadworks that are no where to be seen. Just more holes every day. Deeper holes everyday. Not a worker to be seen where supposed substantial work is being done. IS he just lying? What is happening to our $100,000,000.
What will happen to the $1,000,000,000 that will be needed for the airport bu never used on an airport and we don’t get the airport we don’t need and have nothing to show for the $1,000,000,000 either.
When can we get the audited accounts for the last 8 years?
When do we get the information about how you split the concert funds between you and Steve.
When do we see the airport KPMG studies so we can decide if the country goes ahead with any of the proposals and if so agrees on which on?
When do we get an apology for the WElcome centre at Trellis Bay?
When will P487 stop flying, gambling on horses and paryting and start working for the people of the VI towards making this a Territory of the UK that the UK can be proud of.
When can we be free of all of these questions, of corrupt politicians and finally be able to contemplate the possibility of Independence. It is not even close to being a topic of discusssion at the moment. The time for the referendum will come and we would like it to be soon but not until some of the questions are answered, monies accounted for and these corrupt elites and politicians stop trying to find away to get to Independence without the will of the people.
When are the leaders of he oppostion going to start asking these questions that matter and start behaving like an opposition and not like a corrupt team working in concert to cheat the people of he VI.
Currently no one is working for the people of the VI, most certainly not C.O.S-C, or the yellow bellied wigged one, or P487.
The people need to start doing it for themselves or these cheats and corrupts leaders and politicians will find a way around us like Troy Christopher is now trying and we will be enslaved to them for ever, in their colonially free new order.
Where is the Spooners Estate Old Peoples Home.
Ten more Blacked out cars loaded with gun toting criminals passed me with in 5 minutes again this morning. Set up the road blocks. Search these cars and strip the tint or remove the glass.
If ACOP Vanterpool has put her applicatioin in she should be backing it up with some real policing and getting these criminals tools off the roads along with the illegal scooters and their ridersa and P487 could show his backing by removing picture of his poster child from the HOA the Premier Criminal Coach in Chief – the now not, and never particularly honorable Mr A Fahie (Con.) who used his education not to go from Good to Great but to go from Good to Bad.
We need to turn this Territory around and make the UK and ourselves proud again.
Everytime you go out in your car you do not feel proud of the VI. But you do feel it has gone to pot without even having to assent to the Cannabis Licensing bill. Which of course, remember, the Premier has already told us does not need the assent of the UK.
So what are we waiting for?
More questions!
THAT WAS NEATLY PUT ) and we love the way you described j / the ” YELOW BELLIED WIGGED ONE ” he is really in a world of his own
You all need to give credit where credit is it due .All the roads he mentioned was fully resurfaced and yes the road works continues but all cannot be done at the same time. Wow can’t please you people.
Mr.Premier
You mentioned alot but some residents (Macnamara) cant get water for days
Water is a basic necesssity. When the population cant get basic stuff the progress yoy mentioned is null and void
D4 REP need to SPEAK OUT