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.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Possible tourists have already seen the dirty BVI on the internet and their friends photos from their last visit so they won’t be here this season.
The cruise ship tourists will stay on their ship and skip any taxi island tours on land. The only exception will be boat trips that pick up and discharge these tourists at the Pier Park. Nobody on holiday wants to experience Haiti in the BVI.
Are you kidding ?? Jost and Anegada are prestine compared to Tortola.
Tortola was a beautiful island that is now trashed.
was raised to keep your surroundings and community clean for the betterment of the community not for no tourists or visitors but your own pride of having something and taking care of it.
Your hubby didn’t do much about this when he was in charge, and now you talk…?
Politha thticians all the time ⏲️that you were there you didn’t notice that only now you are seeing hmmmmmmm
What to do about people/companies who just use waterfront property for their junk, thereby blocking the view of St Johns at the entrance to Zion Hill from the main coastal road, for example. One day you have a lovely view of St Johns, the next day it’s gone. You have a view of junk instead. And politicians do nothing about it. People just do as they please. Policies need to be in place to stop these things from happening. Without mechanisms in place the degradation of the environment continues. The ugly continues.
why don’t you offer to buy the waterfront property so you can keep it pristine or offer them your inland acres to store their unsightly junk? you can’t want for unrestricted property ownership and tell people what to do with their property if its within zoning and property laws.
Perhaps a lot of the “reclaimed land” in District 1 was done under the watch of the ex-Premier? Just asking as those folks that are using it may be connected to him…..
Now that she out that she could see how dirty the country is??
When you are on the inside looking out it’s impossible to see everything. Now she is on the outside the view is much better.
Stop the hate. If the BVI sinks we ALL sink. Let’s make a better world for everyone.
The seemingly unstoppable slide down hill which will end up with Independence and more cash for crooks and cronies… and a half built airport.
There is no litter thanks to the road men but The Valley is a dumping ground for broken down and abandoned concrete trucks, dump trucks. junk cars and green garbage pans. Let’s also not forget. Allowing one man’s junk is another persons dengue fever.
It’s interesting how much this lady have to say now that she’s out of office.
Could someone say- SOUR GRAPES?
Premiere Wheatley creating this situation of turning the BVI dirty and ghetto, so that his solutions to the British for independence will come through, because the country will look unacceptable for the British to associate with.
What a pile of crap. You don’t even know what you’re trying to say. Wasted space…
Prospect Reef looks lovely from the ferry. Wonder who owns that property ❓
These people that just dump their old cars along the road need to be fined!!!!!!
I have seen pictures of tourist standing in pot holes. I have heard about tourist getting slap and scratches from tree branches on their arms while driving in safari busses. I have seen pictures of raw sewage running in the Capital City of Road Town.
Tortola was a beautiful island that is now trashed by the permanent and wyte trade..
It was pristine and clean before short, long and resident touist.
FACTS OFTEN GET HIDDEN UNDEERS SANDS OF HATE, PREJUDCE AND MORE.
Blogging lise do not change what we know to be truths.
Tortola is beginning to look like a Third World Ghetto or one big Favela. People here is to damn nasty. Old cars all over the place, the ones living on the hillside don’t have proper septic systems install and all their toilet and waste water running down the hill eroding the hillside and the list goes on and on.
BVI been dutty…. What is new?
Go for it Lorna, you can be a much needed thorn in the premier’s side. Go ahead and light a fire under his a$$. Make him think and do positive things for the territory. He will be sooooo sorry that he fired you, haha thought he had problems with you before…..just wait….you go girl….