Roads are horrible, but we’re doing our best — Rymer
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has acknowledged the dire state of the roads in the territory but said his ministry is actively working towards improving the infrastructure.
Appearing on the Talking Points radio show this week, Rymer conceded that the roads are in horrible condition but highlighted ongoing efforts to address the issue.
“So, in the absence of getting the major works done, we have been trying our best to try to make the roads as best as possible,” Rymer said. “And I know it’s very tough; the roads are in horrible condition, but we are working tirelessly to get them as comfortable as possible.”
The Public Works Department has been tasked with cleaning drains and preparing for potential heavy rainfall to mitigate further damage. However, Rymer noted that the continuous heavy rains have caused significant saturation, making immediate repairs challenging.
One of the critical projects mentioned by Rymer involves the installation of high-definition pipes in areas prone to frequent water main breaks, such as Diamond Estate and Lambert Estate. He explained that this is aimed at preventing the recurring issue of roads being dug up shortly after repairs for water infrastructure maintenance.
Funding remains a significant hurdle for the Works Minister. Although $1.8 million was recently allocated for road resurfacing, Rymer admitted that this amount would only cover about six to eight miles of road. The ministry is seeking additional funds to expand its efforts, with a focus on 38 miles of critical road infrastructure across Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.
Residents and businesses have expressed frustration over the slow progress and the impact on daily life and tourism. Dan Farkas, Chief Development Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, highlighted that the poor state of the roads detracts from the BVI’s natural beauty and affects the overall guest experience. This sentiment was echoed by local business owners and residents who are eager to see more substantial and lasting improvements.
Responding to concerns about the piecemeal approach to road repairs, Rymer stressed the importance of proper drainage and comprehensive planning. He also mentioned that the government is in the process of securing a loan to fund extensive road rehabilitation projects, which will include infrastructure upgrades to prevent future issues.
Rymer appealed for the public’s patience, assuring them that the ministry is committed to making the roads safer and more reliable. “It hasn’t been easy, but based on the resources allocated, we’re most definitely trying to make the best impact, the most positive impact as possible,” Rymer added.
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Dear Rhymer, please admit your deficiencies, accept the honorable action of “falling on your sword” and resign, so that maybe your replacement will have some management ability and can help PW overcome its many inefficiencies. Your legacy will always be one of failure; failure to admit you are unable to manage PW and failure to find a #2 ability. All you had to do was find someone, let them get on with the job, and take the accolades.
Instead we suffer from your hubris!
This is a disgrace. And you morons got the nerve to be inviting visitors/guest to visit the BVI. Shame on you damn clueless,inept incompetent morons. Put the damn energy into fixing the beyond deplorable roads rather than PAVING YOUR CRONIES PRIVATE DRIVE WAYS. EVERYONE THAT HAVE A DRIVE WAY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAVING THEIR OWN DAMN DRIVEWAYS NOT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. MAY AS WELL DIG UP ALL THE ROADS AND GO BACK TO DIRT ROADS AND HAVE EVERYONE TRADE IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR A HORSE AND CART/ARMISH BUGGY AND A HORSE. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A ARMISH MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IS, GO AND RESEARCH IT.
The majority of the population don’t know what is an ARMISH mode of transportation. Care to enlighten us?
Buuuutttt, we do know what is an Amish mode of transportation, so GO AND RESEARCH IT!!!
PS: It was not a mistake as you used the same wrong word twice.
Although one or two letters were off I surely appreciate what this person said. I clearly understood what they are saying because I am a daily driver in this “ Armish” town. Horse and cart is clearly what the current government is pushing as a long term environmentally friendly solution. I won’t say no more since I know outsiders are reading and won’t expose the current sad truth in this place. Wait, I’ll say it: get these amateurs OUT and put persons with a proven track record. This mess about giving the new-comers a chance clearly isn’t working out! Spell check this!
Rhymer when you mentioned the pittance of $1.8 million for road repairs, the last 2 parties cost more than the infrastructure that can save live, roads kill. And the clinics electricity been disconnected is not a concern when it comes to party. I am confused.
Kye Rymer is a horrible minister. The end.
It’s a shame we didn’t build proper roads when we had the money to do so, between 1984 and 2008. We wasted or stole it instead. Oh well….
“when we had money”??
We still have money and them ain doing jack sh**
We got money for music fest
Festivals
Travel expenses 1st classss
Hotelsss
We got money them man using for nonsense
if this is your best you need firing
Well “doing your best” just isn’t good enough.
“Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has acknowledged the dire state of the roads in the territory but said his ministry is actively working towards improving the infrastructure.”
How was this allowed to happen?
No planning or vision.
This government is just bad after bad.
if yall really study politics you would know the finance minister holds the Key to the roads being fixed tell him free up the money and Kye can do his job properly
They are a team that ran together and were on the stage together as a United team asking us to vote for them. Stop making excuses for a team that’s bad for the territory. If the Minister is having trouble accessing funds, spell it out to the people. This will not happen because in the end they are a United team….. that is bad for this territory.
Finally realised the water pipeskeep breaking. Are they all idiots.
Isn’t it amusing how they keep paving on top of concrete? Slides down the hills, breaks away from the concrete, etc.
A child could have figured out that when you have two different solid mediums that expand and contract at different rates (even more so when it rains) that nothing will adhere!
The main roadway is always bedded with compacted aggregate with the appropriately engineered depth of asphalt/concrete – but in the BVI we know better than excepted road building standards, simply because our ‘cronies’ will not be able to make money if we did it right the first time! That comment applies to all BVI infrastructure by the way!
Just blows my mind how such obvious things are lost. Best thing you can do is peel that asphalt off the concrete and repair the concrete underneath! ESPECIALLY on inclines!
Willful ignorance is tragic rather than amusing when it has a large scale impact on society. Instead of learning from mistakes as we must all do when growing up, we should be learning how other island nations have tackled infrastructure problems. Here, the govt would rather repeat the mistakes since there is hardly any consequence, except maybe if you get caught narcotrafficking, which many don’t. Any wonder youth is not civically engaged?
What happened to the road contract signed for the Hodges Creek area?
Or this was just a photo-op?
Useless government!
NOT good enough
There is an old saying , that goes like this ( a picture says a thousand words ) and the kind wannabe politician has just displayed the new version of their creative road artwork in the bvi •¿• / we wo Der if those hypocrites who sat in the road , with their fake protest , where are they now that we need them to protest for a worthy cause
Since the BVI is one of the cheapest places in the world to register a car or truck the fees are nowhere near what needs to be spent on just road maintenance this is what we have.
Registration fees should be 4 times what they are, and trucks should pay even more . Trucks loaded put 2000 times the wear on a road than a small passenger car.
The public is paying for trucking companies profits.
and the people that don’t own cars are paying for the people that drive!
Ayo know seevand know dis but will vote dem back right there
Some ayo so badminded that you prefer to allow leaders to bring us to ruin just because they born her three generations
Sandy Koy levans and Estride along with Myron and Marlon would have done a better job .
Ayo tex that !!
Even in positions of work
Ayo prefer to use less productive and less efficient people once the are roots of parents from else where
It is costing us
Prople will support Andrew for Premiet if he comes out . Sick thinking … Sweep
Wrong under the rug !! It will go way well me buoiy
More of the same unfortunately. The problem is the recycling of persons who never truly accomplished anything apart from ‘falling upwards’. Party affiliations is what’s killing this small nation. But that is slowly changing due to the migration and legal challenges to the status quo. The good years were squandered by self-serving individuals whom would have never been able to acquire the levels of wealth they have off of the backs of the poor and under-represented.
Instead of exploiting the UK relationship our elected leaders made it adversarial. They spout rhetoric to their electoral base and double speak when it’s election time. Infrastructure, Health.m, Education have never been seriously engaged for decades and now we are reaping what was sown. As for the road infrastructure specifically, successive ministers never had a clue or plan to develop this regardless of the in-numerous studies filed away and paid for by tax-payers dollars. Currently this ministry is underperforming drastically and a reshuffle may be he last resort outside of a no-confidence vote.
You are doing your best! Joke of century, yo You don’t love your country, this how you want your country look like
Trying your best for the past 30 years? Hon. Rymer, we really like you but you’re pushing it.
party party is all them know