Remove water mandate from Works Ministry, give it to RDA
Opposition legislator Myron Walwyn has urged the government to hand responsibility for fixing the Virgin Islands’ troubled water infrastructure to the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), arguing that the agency is better equipped than government ministries to tackle the territory’s long-term development projects.
Speaking during the House of Assembly’s debate on the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Sixth District Representative said the RDA should no longer be viewed as an agency that only receives projects ministries “don’t want to do.”
Instead, he argued that ministries should focus on developing policy while the RDA manages major infrastructure projects from procurement through to completion.
“Why is Health carrying on projects? You got people with cancer, all kinds of sickness going on. Your ministry is supposed to be concentrating on its primary responsibility,” Walwyn said. He made similar arguments about the Ministry of Education, saying it should be focused on education policy and social issues affecting students rather than overseeing construction projects.
Walwyn said the territory’s ongoing water crisis is the clearest example of a project that should fall under the RDA’s mandate.
“I wake up every single day getting complaints in my district about water,” he said, noting that he had been raising concerns about the issue for years before it became a territory-wide talking point.
Calling reliable water access a long-term national development priority, Walwyn said that description falls in line with the RDA’s legislative mandate, which is to support such priorities. He also argued that the government should have dedicated about $20 million from its $100 million loan facility to the RDA for water infrastructure, saying the currently allocated $8 million would not be enough to solve the problem.
Walwyn defends Rymer
In the meantime, Walwyn defended Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer, saying the ministry carries an overwhelming workload that includes roads, electricity and water. He said this is part of the reason the water mandate should be removed from his remit.
“No matter how competent you are, if you have too much work, you’re gonna become incompetent,” Walwyn argued.
Ending on a lighter note, Walwyn said residents should be able to enjoy this year’s Emancipation Festival without returning home to dry taps.
“After I done jump up and see Patrice Roberts and Destra, I want to go home, soap up, and turn on the tap,” he said.
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M.W. i aint a fan of you ill be honest with that but what i read on what you said make alot of sense, i aint watching friends and i aint watching politics im watching for betterment of the whole country so that everyone can live better and the rest politicians trying to quiet this man well some of them for the things he say at times that involves the country, so that shows me those that trying to quiet him down love their self over country because M. W. talks about things that will better the country so why fight him down, PEOPLE OPEN YOUR EYES
Kudos to the wisdom and political insight of the the Honorable Myron Walwyn. I wholeheartedly support his recommendation that the RDA should be entrusted with managing the territory’s developmental needs, while the respective ministries focus on establishing, enforcing, and overseeing sound policies rather than creating unnecessary constraints. Such an approach can promote greater efficiency, accountability, and sustainable national development.
I agree. Ministries should be focused on creating sound policies and addressing the needs of the people they serve, while the RDA takes the lead on managing major development projects. These are different functions that require different expertise. When everyone is focused on their core responsibilities, the Territory stands a much better chance of delivering projects efficiently and achieving meaningful, long-term development.
This is the person that should be leading the BVI. He is by far the most sensible one in the Assembly. This is why they do every and anything to keep this man down but the stone that the builder refuse will be the head corner stone.
Walwyn is the best to ever do it. Period
I have said it from day one: Myron is the most capable, proven, and qualified person to lead this country in the right direction; that is why they are trying to shut him up and keep him down, but little do they know, we the voters have sense
I really would like to see Myron given a chance to lead the BVI. I believe this is the person who could turn things around. I also believe that those against him the most also know this that’s why they are trying their best to marginalize him.
Only Myron have sense and it is obvious yet the party refuse to vote him into leadership position. They leave the people with the likes of Penn and Turnbull. That’s why the country WILL continue to suffer. Stupidness been going on for years.
Penn and Turnbull, what a joke. I have nothing against Penn and Turnbull but they are unfit to run the Country. All we are doing in this Country is suffering and no help in sight just talk, talk, talk and no action.
Yep…completely agree with you @ @Duhhhhh
Exactly, this is nothing personal towards Mitch or Marlon. They are not simply ready to run the Territory. I simply don’t have the energy to deal with another Wheatley or Fraser.
See how smart this man is?be it you like him or not or how ever you feel about him, he is 1,000% correct. Myron is a forward thinking person and a realist, we need him. He will be a good Premier and leader, he is what the BVI needs to get back on track. MYRON AND MARK, please team up and get the job done.
You hear what a leader should sound like? Myron walwyn is the man , people like Myron and vanterpool and Cyndi and I believe willock could have made the cut if he hadn’t join the prejudice entitlement indeginous elites club that cloud his intellect, also bishop cline would now jump up and say Myron is pressuring the premier for expounding on such brilliant idea of the RDA taking control of the water infrastructure and other pressing project, I see Ronnie, vanterpool,Myron,Cyndi, Mr igwe, willock , lorna,bishop cline and a few more as people with the ability, natalio Wheatley is a default accident because of fahie and then mounted on us by Lorna smith, natalio gangster approach to governance constituted by parties and paying Vybz Kartel quarter million USD and all these monies paid out to Asia bank and Jamaican company the he natalio claim to know nothing about but can name someone on retirement out of the country to take the fall along with traveling the world and fighting for more power from the British not for the people but his ego and ability to be the dan in the BVI is clear to see, and shows he knew what mission fahie went on while he acted premiere. A new set of people need to be assembled, and a motion of no confidence should be tried again, but oops with Marlon penn as leader he lack the leadership and ability to inspire the people so no attempt would ever come, I believe Fraser and Lorna will strike that pivotal blow in the VIP party along with Stacy Mather to bring down this government if the governor don’t push hard enough.
The growing habit of attempting to shove every major project into the Recovery and Development Agency is not a development strategy, it is an admission of failure. The RDA was created as a specialised, time bound mechanism for post disaster reconstruction. It was never meant to become a shadow government, absorbing responsibilities simply because ministries have been allowed to stagnate.
This reflex to “give it to the RDA” is dangerous. It drains ministries of expertise, strips them of relevance, and guarantees they will never develop the competence the territory desperately needs. You cannot build a modern state by hollowing out its core institutions and outsourcing their functions to a single agency. That is not efficiency, it is institutional abandonment.
If ministries are struggling, the solution is not to sideline them. The solution is to invest in them. Strengthen their project management units. Modernise their procurement systems. Recruit the engineers, planners and technical staff they have lacked for years. The same energy, structure and resources being poured into the RDA should be directed toward rebuilding the ministries that will remain long after the RDA’s mandate ends.
The RDA should be a strategic tool for exceptional projects and not a dumping ground for everything government finds difficult. A government that keeps bypassing its own institutions will eventually discover it has none left.
When last you had a proper bath? Maybe you have constant water so that’s why you are here talking nonsense. Myron is right with what he is proposing. What is more strategic than getting water to wash yuh skin? Some of us are so intelligent until we turn moo
Moo.
I completely agree, when was the last time you enjoyed a proper bath or shower? I guess you are immune to walking around and going to bed smelling like funk and frussy. The man give a excellent proposal.
I know exactly who you are and you are trying to sway people’s mind and plant negative thoughts into their heads. Don’t even go there with that.you know damn good and well Myron is telling facts. The works Minister needs to be relieved from that duty. Obviously it it to much for the works Minister and his department can’t handle the problem
For sure, you are a VIP MEMBER OR THE PREMIER, ONE OF HIS ADVISORS OR SOME OF HIS MINIONS TRYING TO THROW PEOPLE OFF TRACK.
IN ALL HINDSIGHT ITS A TOTOLITARIAN GOVERNMENT THEY TRYING TO IMPOSE ON THE WORLD HENCE ALL THE CAMERAS ALL OVER TALKING ABOUT SECURITY. UN NATIONS ALL APART OF IT NEW WORLD ORDER BUT WAIT FOR IT I GUARANTEE SOME LEADERS GOING TO FOLD THATS WHEN THE REVOLUTION HAPPENS GET READY PEOPLE
I agree with what he proposed.
Right? Wonderful proposal. Then and again, it does not surprise me one bit. Myron is a very smart highly educated man.
@guest: your argument is a pro VIP polemics to counter Myron, you may even be willock or natalio blogging under this pseudonym, why strengthen a minister that is only elected every 4 years to leave with all the institutional knowledge, the RDA are professional engineers that would be used time after time, politicians are not engineers, and walwyn realized that a accede to the permutations that would better the country. Let test your conscience, wouldn’t you back me if I say that Lorna smith would make a real finance minister over natalio Wheatley who only have a PhD by a degree in English literature? The finances of this country would be better off if a competent person with the qualifications does it, the RDA has the engineering capacity.
CINDY, MYRON AND MARK WILL MAKE A POWERHOUSE TEAM. AND Y’ALL KNOW THAT. SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY/DISAGREE WITH ME, THOSE THREE TOGETHER, ONE HELL OF A TEAM.
Nope does not make sense. RDA is a delivery vehicle and does not have the technical capacity for in-house design and engineering! Everything is out-sourced. VIDA/RDA is a management company that hires consultants.
The client (ministries) still need to clearly define their scope of works to avoid creep and budgetary issues. RDA/VIDA is just the middle man and the costs go up per project. It is very interesting MW point of view as he was a sitting member of government when the RDA was implemented and just like his colleagues, they were not receptive to the RDA at that time. Why? Because the UK were funding it and the staff were from the UK. What’s changed now bruh?!?! It is always the ‘right’ answers and solutions when you are not a minister of government and when you get in; the same solutions you all bellowed out now become impossible to come to fruition! Miss me wid that B$ pal!
Farmer Biggs I think your criticism here seems to confusing project delivery with project design. Walwyn isn’t saying the RDA should suddenly become an engineering firm. He’s saying ministries should focus on policy and public services while a dedicated agency manages the delivery of major capital projects. Those are two different functions.
You can disagree with the model, but saying “the RDA outsources work” doesn’t invalidate the argument. Most successful infrastructure agencies around the world outsource design and engineering while retaining responsibility for procurement, contract management, timelines, and budgets. The real debate is whether the RDA can perform those functions better than ministries that are already stretched thin.
A better combination should have been Marlon head and Myron Deputy
Bad decision on the NDP delegates
Do not allow your personal bias to hinder competence
Myron messed up
When he went with Alliance but so did Ronnie and Mitch and Mark
Our born here thing is destroying us Marlon remained as the sole solider. He is deserving but Mitch is not a great supporter in yerms of knowledge, intelligence and professionalism.That is why you have a team
I totally disagree with you that Myron should ever be subordinate to Marlon who lacks the intellectual capacity.
Marlon remained because he was the problem. People left the NDP because of poor leadership and this started since 2019- A lot of people left and a lot did not come into the NDP because they have no faith in Marlon’s leadership. NDP up to this minute cannot field a full slate of proper candidates and Marlon has been the head since 2019. People who know Marlon would not work under him.
Make the construction of adequate cisterns the law for all buildings. Sad to say, this the only way to avoid the inadequacies of a government run central system.
Water is an integral part of the water utility system, viz, Water, Wastewater, and Drainage (Stormwater). The water utility currently falls under the Ministry of Communications and Work(MCW). Its assignment under MCW is technically and structurally appropriate. Did not the HoA voted to move water from MCW to BVIEC? That was an interesting move. RDA or VIDA ( Virgin Islands Development Agency) is in essence a construction agency.. It provides construction services to government agencies and statutory bodies. It is the supplier of construction services, meeting the construction demand of government entities. Its primary role is construction services, not developing departments policies, plans, programmes, operations and maintenance, etc. Departments request construction project services from RDA/VIDA, providing funding, timelines, etc. Projects completed, they are turn over to customers with any warranty documents, points of contact, maintenance and operations manuals, red lined prints, etc. The customers are responsible for contacting contractors directly on any warranty issues, etc.
@ Raw, Unfiltered and Unvarnished, a sensible, practical,,” functional post, showing a clear understanding of the core function of RDA,, ie, delivering construction services. RDA is the supplier of design, construction , Inspection, etc., to public sector agencies, meeting their capital projects construction demand. Its role is not maintenance and repair, managing work orders, finding money to fund projects,,etc. Customers demand services and RDA supplies it. Public works, contractors, etc., provide maintenance and repair services, minor construction, etc. RDA is a specialty unit,,ie, providing construction services.
@ RealPol, Raw, Unfiltered, and Unvarnished, real talk, case closed. To deliver topnotched construction services at an economical rate,,in a timely manner, etc, RDA should be staffed with experienced engineers, construction inspectors, etc.. It should not be a province for poor performers, a habit of last report. Cockroaches got no call in fowl house. Similarly, the untrained, inexperienced, etc, have no call managing construction projects?
Myron and his people could blog all day, the bvi voters have decided one thing, we don’t want no island man as premier and we stand firm on that!!!
Who is we? I am a BVIslander and I prefer Myron over all of them for leader so get your “we” straight please.
You have to turn o the tap with water running before you soap up Walwyn. Chuckle
Another reason for direct rule. The infrastructure is shocking here.