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RDA seeks consultants for road designs

The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) is inviting consultancy firms to assist in enhancing the BVI’s road infrastructure.

The request comes weeks after the government acquired a $100 million loan aimed at bolstering the territory’s infrastructure and economic growth.

The RDA’s primary goal is to develop roads that can better withstand the effects of climate change and support the BVI’s expanding economy and population. The agency identified nine key road sections for improvement and plans to engage four consulting firms, each responsible for the design and construction management of two or three roads.

These consultants will be responsible for engaging stakeholders through all phases of the project and overseeing the entire project lifecycle, from planning and development to producing preliminary and final designs.

The consultants will also assist during the tendering and awarding of construction contracts and supervise the implementation of the works. The expected duration for each assignment ranges from 12 to 24 months.

In October 2024, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley signed an agreement for a $100 million loan facilitated by CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank. The Premier emphasised that, while this new loan will increase the central government’s overall debt, rigorous due diligence and analysis have been conducted to ensure that debt servicing remains manageable and sustainable.

According to the government, the loan will finance essential infrastructural projects, including recurrent and capital expenditures, totalling $91.65 million. It will also refinance balloon payments due in 2026 on existing loans, totalling $7.91 million, and cover transaction costs associated with arranging the loan facility, amounting to $440,000.

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6 Comments

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  1. Roger Burnett says:

    Your ancestors knew how to build roads, and so too did the Romans. They didn’t need a team of consultants to tell them that alignment, a firm foundation and drainage are fundamental.

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  2. Hmmm says:

    This have to be Engineers from Guyana, Trinidad etc.

  3. wellsah says:

    dig up the main roads and lay the layers for porous asphalt

  4. BuzzBvi says:

    They need to be friends of the family. Knowledge, skills and previous experience will NOT be necessary. Must be able to hide and launder money from public funds.

  5. Hmmm says:

    Before a few locals go and Educate themselves on how things are done properly they prefer stay as they are…but let a foreigner get a contract or 2 with qualification, just listen for them

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