Tourists are seeing our ‘dirty’ country — Smith

Former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has urged the government to improve its efforts in cleaning up the BVI, highlighting the territory’s ongoing execution problem and raising concerns about its image as the peak tourism season gets underway.

Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Smith emphasised the need for immediate action to tidy up areas frequented by visitors, particularly Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. Smith noted that while Virgin Gorda maintains a clean and tidy appearance, other islands like Jost Van Dyke and Anegada “leave a lot to be desired.”

She described the presence of derelict vehicles and an unkempt environment as “unacceptable,” especially with an expected influx of tourists over the coming weeks.

“The BVI is one of the most beautiful countries on earth by everybody’s admission, but we have to keep the BVI beautiful by cleaning it up,” Smith argued. She expressed concern that visitors arriving in the territory are encountering “a dirty, unkempt, untidy country,” and stressed that recent heavy rains should not serve as an excuse for the current state.

An execution problem

Smith acknowledged the allocation of $500,000 to the Tourist Board for territory-wide clean-up efforts but questioned the effectiveness of such funding without proper execution. She pointed out that despite the financial provisions, the territory faces an “execution problem” in implementing clean-up initiatives.

Highlighting the importance of tourism to the BVI’s economy, Smith recounted her recent visit to Jost Van Dyke, where she observed 11 boats near the popular bubbling pool area. She expressed concern that tourists navigating through overgrown bushes, unkempt streets, and scattered garbage would have a negative impression of the islands.

Smith also mentioned the RATED programme, intended to address such issues, but noted its ineffectiveness in its current state. She urged the government to consider involving the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), which can execute projects swiftly and manage the clean-up efforts.

Emphasising the need for national pride, Smith called for a collective effort to present the BVI in its best light.

“We need to have pride in our country,” she asserted.