Proper planning needed to fix public infrastructure
Host of the Talking Points radio show Damion Grange has posited that proper planning is needed to address the numerous infrastructural problems in the community.
Grange said public infrastructure has deteriorated to the point where everything needs urgent attention.
“Because everything is a priority, it requires proper planning and I’m just not seeing a great effort going into the planning of how we develop going forward,” explained Grange who said careful planning is needed so the government does not damage one piece of infrastructure while fixing another. “They could throw money [to fix] water, for example, when the road network is not part of that, but they go hand-in-hand. This means when you go to do the road infrastructure, they’ll burst the pipes again. This is where planning comes into play,” Grange explained.
Leaders slow to act on election promises?
His co-host Elvin Grant also bemoaned the state of public infrastructure, stating that nothing has been fixed since the April 24 elections, when leaders made a number of promises to fix public infrastructure.
“How is it that you ran a campaign saying you’re going to fix this and that and although it’s only a month since the elections, I look around and I haven’t seen a lot,” Smith stated.
While agreeing that the state of public infrastructure needs to be urgently addressed, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock said the public needs to understand that the BVI doesn’t have the same access to funding as other small island states.
“One must also understand that in these small island developing states, the issue of resources is a major challenge. There’s no one that gives the BVI anything. We don’t get aid and we’re not an independent country where we can get aid like Grenada or Dominica and other independent countries. We are not that lucky,” Willock explained.
He added: “We’re not an independent country, so if we are to seek grants, we have to get permission from the UK. So one has to understand our unique situation and also that the only way we can get money to pour into anything is through loans. If we were in a situation like the US Virgin Islands — during COVID, their governor, [Albert] Bryan, boasted about the millions he got and continued to get. We got nothing, we have to depend on our consolidated fund, our taxes. So we’re in an unfair position and the needs are great. But the public has to understand our unique situation,” Willock stated.
The public has been calling for the government to turn their attention to failing infrastructure such as roads and water resources. Recently, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley admitted that the BVI will have to borrow to address many of these needs but vowed to take loans in a responsible way.
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THE LIL POCKET CHANGE THAT WE HAVE, WE PREFER TO THROW A FREE NONSTOP PARTY AT BRANDYWINE BAY INSTEAD
The government who has been in power now for OVER FOUR YEARS has failed and is still FAILING to fix the infrastructure, which DETERIORATED UNDER THEIR WATCH. Was there a change in the minister for communications and works? NO! So howww?? Do they even know what they are doing? To think that free cruise giveaways, envelopes and a snake caused this. The Government cannot be blamed entirely. Thanks to the lack of integrity voters and the snaky power seekers, this entire country in a FRIG for another generation to come.
sadly you are right. I am soo shame that voters allowed themselves to get bought and caught up in the political hype.
DEPUTY WARNED THE MASSES NOT TO MAKE THE MISTAKE LIKE THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND GUESS WHAT, THE SAME PERSON WHO WARNED TURNED AROUND AND DID THE SAME THING THEY WARNED AGAINST. DO YOU FEEL THE HUSH, THE LULL OVER THE BVI? THERE IS ALWAYS A CALM BEFORE A STORM. A STORM CAN BE ANYTHING UNFAVOURABLE. I AM NOT CALLING ANYTHING NEGATIVE ON THE BVI AS ME AND MY FAMILY WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED BUT SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE. WHY ARE PEOPLE CRYING OUT SO SOON AFTER ELECTIONS? THERE IS SOMETHING NOT FEELING RIGHT IN OUR LITTLE NATION. BUT WHAT SURPRISES ME IS THAT THE CHRISTIAN COUNCIL IS ALWAYS SO QUIET. COULD IT BE THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO SCARE US OR COULD IT BE THAT THEY TOO ARE BLINDED BY THE FACT THAT THE BVI CONTINUES TO HEAD DOWN A PATH OF NO RETURN? PEOPLE OF THE BVI NEED TO RISE UP!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! IT CANNOT BE BUSINESS AS USUAL. THE GOVERNMENT NEED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE ON A WAY FORWARD. NOT TO CALL PRESS CONFERENCES TELLING US HOW MUCH MONEY THEY SPENDING ON NON-STOP PARTY. WHERE IS THE CHURCH IN ALL THIS? WE ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THEN HAITI. WE HAVE DRUGS WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE THIRD PILLAR. WE HAVE HIGH SCIENCE. WE HAVE GUNS. WE HAVE MOLESTATION OF YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS. WHAT ELSE ARE WE WAITING ON? THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SILENCED. IS IT BECAUSE OF PAY-OFF? HUSH MONEY? ARE WE REALLY SATISFIED WITH THE STATE OF THIS TERRITORY? PEOPLE OF THE BVI, BE HONEST. ALL WE ARE HEARING FROM SOME IS COMPLAINTS ABOUT XYZ AND YET THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE THE CHANGE AND IT IS JUST NOT HAPPENING. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? ANOTHER UK THREAT? PEOPLE THE PLACE IS TOO QUIET AND IT IS NOT A POSITIVE FEELING. BVI WAKE UP! BVI WAKE UP!! BVI WAKE UP!!! EVERYWHERE YOU TURN NO MONEY FOR THIS NO MONEY FOR THAT AND STILL THE TERRITORY IS NOT BROKE. MR. PREMIER TELL US HOW MUCH MONEY THE TERRITORY HAS!!!! BUT I AM NOT SURPRISED AS THIS PREMIER IS NOT ONE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE UNTIL ELECTIONS – VIP LET’S TALK!!! PEOPLE LET’S TALK!!! IT IS HIGH TIME TO STOP THE FRIG!!!
@WHO TO BLAME???I give you a million likes; we need to stop the BS in the BVI
I second the motion. It is time for the people who were bribed and influenced to speak up. The charlatan delilah needs to be removed and her actions need to be marked as a fraud and therefore invalid. The incompetent leader needs to be given the ultimatum that either he resigns or the UK take over, point blank. I cannot see another 4 years of this.
Has anybody seen or heard from the deputy lately?
Stay Woke! Wish I can love your comment 1000 times!
The voters that came out spoke and the dust has now settled and the hype has worn off now leaving the less than glossy administrators (ministers) we have now. The MCW has been an abject failure in their stewardship of the territories Infrastructure which is crumbling faster than the Titanic was sinking that faithful night.
Cost of living has skyrocketed post Cov-19 with no easing in sight! Water woes, roads and guard rails collapsing and not fit for purpose. No National Library, schools not maintained as well as they should, elderly home needs to be relocated to suitable location. Central Admin building internally incomplete, HLSCC infrastructure crumbling and can go on and on. Inadequate funding for maintenance and unfinished projects (ESHS) ha sis where we are today.
Actually, Lorna is busy working, gathering information, meeting business and government leaders, pushing all sides for quick wins, looking to cut bureaucracy and improve efficiency. She is working hard rather than mouthing off giving speeches that fix nothing. Kudos to her. Lots of butts are already feeling the momentum she is generating!
But the inactivity and lack of effective planning has been a feature for the last 30 years.
The BVI has had huge income to develop the fabric of the country, but it has wasted it on employing people doing nothing, corruption, useless consultancies, etc., etc. It will take a consolidated national plan to fix the water, roads, electricity, schools, etc. Government turned aside money after Irma that could have kick-started the infrastructure fix. It’s possibly too late now for the country to turn itself around.
What lender would choose to give the BVI money given the corruption at the highest levels (thank you Head Coach), the lack of audited statements from Government and general weakness of future income streams? Nobody with any sense!
All I can say is the people had a choice between Ronnie W. Skelton for Premier and our present Premier. They still voted for the VIP. Even though they did still send a clear message as the winner of five Districts they got only one at large winner. But the Deputy and her family loves these young people. They are not going to fix anything, especially NHI, so they’re good. I say we all clear land and start planting. Our money is not enough now when we go into the supermarkets and things will get worse. Electricity went up, house tax went up, grocery went up. Salaries stayed the same. So prepare, prepare, prepare. We know who the ruler of this world is and he got us by the throat. We continue to rebuke him in the mighty name of Jesus.
Sewage bad, stinky areas and unhealthy,direct into the ocean. A disgrace.
Roads, shocking.
Water intermittent and unreliable as is electricity.
Schools poor
Library where is it. Vanished years ago.
Let have a party.
Proper planning to prevent poor performance is a well-known concept that has yet to reach the Territory. That, and not being willing to learn from past mistakes, or to being willing to bring people to account for their misdeeds is why the BVIs has not progressed at all. We still have the same old problems from 40 years ago: underinvestment in education and infrastructure. No meaningful policy regarding providing reliable potable water and electricity, or dealing with solid waste and sewage. Countless of publically funded unfinished projects, all over budget, lots of missing public monies. No vision for the future, and a UK report that concludes there is evidence of “substantial malfeasance” . Both parties party to all this. GDP in mid 90s was $38-39k/ per capita, now it’s around $ 12k/capita. BVIs never lost the plot. There simply has never been one.