BVI News

Road Town should get gov’t-funded board — Harrigan-Underhill

Sandy Harrigan-Underhill

The BVI’s capital city should adopt a new approach that will transform the way it is being administered as part of the Fourth District, particularly in the manner that it promotes tourism and stimulates economic growth.

That was the vision expressed by the National Democratic Party’s (NDP’s) Fourth District candidate, Sandy Harrigan-Underhill, who contended that the BVI sits at a crossroad that will determine its destiny for some time to come.

Road Town is currently administered by the Office of the City Manager and Wickham’s Cay Development Authority — a body first established by a previous NDP administration nearly 20 years ago — and that body is run under the umbrella of the Ministry of Communications and Works.

But Harrigan-Underhill has proposed that the city should instead be run by a statutory board once she becomes elected as the district representative. The board will be governed by new laws which she argued will give it the power to develop sound policies to advance the city’s plans.

“The time has come for us to adopt an approach to the management of projects and works and even events in Road Town through an appointed board responsible for the city,” Harrigan-Underhill reasoned. “Like other boards, this board would receive a government subvention and be empowered by legislation.”

According to the Fourth District candidate, that board will be responsible for managing all the projects and works in the capital city, including garbage collection, beautification, revitalisation, sewerage management, infrastructure projects, and maintenance.

She further suggested that the city’s various parks and historical sites should be managed through this approach. This will see Road Town embarking on two key projects — a Main Street preservation project and a Prospect Reef all-inclusive resort and marina project.

The preservation project will include an access road or boardwalk that connects the Pier Park to Main Street as part of a tourist attraction — a bold approach that will highlight the stark contrast between old and new elements of the city.

Harrigan-Underhill added that she envisions Prospect Reef as a golden opportunity to build a public private-partnership which can be leveraged for hospitality training for youth and other interested persons.

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19 Comments

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  1. No nonsense says:

    These pie in the sky wannabee politicians. This woman was in charge of the high school, all that drugs that was being trafficked through the chain fence from the car wash outside the school fence. She never lobbied for the drug selling to be removed from the school jone or for a wall! SMH!!Send them along!!

    Like 8
    Dislike 10
  2. Capitol says:

    of the BVI is a mess but not as bad as other capital cities in the eastern Caribbean islands. Coastal capitol cities must solve the primary problem which is: What is the main asset of the capital? The harbour/coast OR the land development/buildings???

    Like Marigot and Philipsburg in St. Martin, Fort-de-France in Martinique, Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe, Bridgetown in Barbados, St. George’s in Grenada the asset of the capital is the HARBOUR and coastal development NOT the land development or buildings. Willemstad in Curacao is an example where the land development and buildings are the main asset NOT the coastal development.

    The answer for the capitol of the BVI is obvious so focus on developing the disintegrating coastline and the land structures will fall into their appropriate places as the years go by.

  3. Road Town Rebel says:

    Boardwalk ftom pire park to connect with mainstreet. Explain please.

  4. Blind man says:

    Miss Harrigan you missing the point with Prospect Reef that place needs to be sold at a discount price to a hotel developer where they have to build a resort within a time span that will create jobs for construction industry and when finished create employment for the people in the industry. The college can provide training and for this reason I and my family would not be voting for you and the party lack of direction to this country forward. So far the party has said nothing solid to improve the tourist industry.

    Like 5
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  5. Anonymous says:

    Wish the lady much luck. Goes to show, treat all people with respect, diginity and professionalsm. So pleased when she was my immediate boss, those were her common traits exhibited towards me. I appreciated that.

    Like 5
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  6. VOTE FOR SANDY.....PLEASE! says:

    THIS LADY HAS THE POTENTIAL….BACKED BY TWO GIANTS, GM BREWLEY AND MARK THE ACTION MAN

    Like 3
    Dislike 5
  7. My dear Friend. says:

    I have to disagree with you. We need to reduce the amt of boards. We have to many boards. Reduce boards, reduce expenditure. Ports can operate as one with one board instead of 3. as one example..

    Like 13
    Dislike 1
  8. ABC123 says:

    Road Town is what it is a very small Caribbean Town. not much more than a village Why call it The Capital City. Look on any map and you will find the Capital of the BVI is Road Town

  9. Waste of time says:

    This is a complete waste of money and time. Use the board money to keep the place clean. We don’t need a city manager but since we have her use her to coardinate projects. Fix the sewage, clean the place, pave the streets. There csn not be much more to Road Town right now unless you reclaim more land. Plan the development of the rest of peir park. No Board.

    Like 10
  10. Rubber Duck says:

    The solution to every problem is not another board. The Territory is tiny, and Road Town should be run by the Govt together with the town manager. Enough jobs for the boys and girls – Sandy’s family and friends are lining up to get a job!

    Like 6
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  11. Lol says:

    Build the road by tekking people land

  12. @rubber duck says:

    Two giant womanizrs

    Like 1
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  13. Oh says:

    What about the solution to change school uniforms when sisters become principals
    Lest we forget

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  14. Boys says:

    This women is out of touch we going with Luce

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  15. @No Nonsense says:

    Why so you think Mr. Walwyn had the wall built that put him in so much trouble? It was because of the constant lobbying form Ms. Underhill and other principles/administrators at ESHS.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  16. Ask NDP says:

    What happen to the investors for Prospect Reef you know the ones Dr. Smith and the rest were consulting with and they walked away very dissatisfied with the government

  17. Know says:

    No No No to that Board.

  18. Yup says:

    Road Town does not need to be changed it just needs fixing and preserving its cultural old world look. Its what the tourist are looking for. Where they come from is modernized with all the skyscrapers etc. They want to see quaint little towns with all its past preserved.

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