What’s the bigger plan? Post-Philippe clean-up continues
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stated that the authorities are still calculating the cost of the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Philippe, but the government has assured residents that restoration efforts are underway across the territory.
Minister of Communications and Works Kye Rymer said several initiatives have been launched to expedite recovery, including a heavy equipment drive, road washing and rehabilitation of undermined roads.
“It is of the utmost importance to the ministry to restore the roadways following Tropical Storm Philippe. We have been on the ground clearing the main road arteries but now we are asking persons to report any road blockage, undermined roads and blocked ghuts in their areas to the Public Works Department,”
Director of Public Works, Jeremy Hodge added that reports should be sent to the Public Works Department’s email at [email protected] and should include pictures along with the location.
“This is a territory-wide effort which means that residents on the sister islands should report issues so that we can ensure that all issues across the territory are addressed,” Hodge said.
In addition to these efforts, the ministry said they have commenced road washing to clear roads of sediment and mud as well as a heavy equipment registration drive to enlist efforts from the private sector.
Hodge said that the purpose of the drive is to update the department’s database, which will aid in executing clean-up efforts expeditiously.
“Therefore, persons with heavy equipment are being asked to email the department at [email protected] with their name, contact details and heavy equipment specifications so that our database remains up to date,” the Director said.
What’s the bigger plan?
Before the passage of Philippe, residents were drilling the government for comprehensive road and infrastructure repairs, as the government continued to promise that loans were being borrowed to carry out the repairs.
Now that Phiippe has caused even more damage to the territory, residents will be watching closely to see how quickly the government will move to begin extensive road and infrastructure repairs to offer residents some long-awaited reprieve.
The government has not released any comprehensive plan to detail how it plans to approach long-term infrastructure repairs in light of the new damage that was caused by the tropical storm.
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WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE WITH THESE SET OF INCOMPETENTS
Theres never a bigger plan. There never was and there never will. Its just “clean up after each and every flood and go about our business”.
Nothing speaks progression when it comes to the BVIs infrastructure. Road town is just one big hole surrounded by buildings not allowing proper drainage of water back into the sea. Governments have done absolutely nothing to improve drainage or infrastructure. They have either done nothing or worsen an existing situation.
Take purcell for instance. Who in their right mind chose to turn a Natural Ghut into a road. A few years ago, they chose to dig under a ghut(bend down vicinity) to run pipes under it so water can “run through them” then they cast concrete and road over the pipes so motorist can drive through. Then you wonder why that area floods excessively dragging cars away.
The water that drains from the hills in town and eventually run through scatliffe alleys ghut just comes to a halt by franklyns old building next to the fire station. Why? Because of some pipes running under that bridge and lack of proper ghut drainage after that, that runs in the direction of the village grounds.
All of these are decades old issues
Can the representative for the fifth district clean up the area on the ridge road? there is a huge tree blocking half of the road by the mural in fahie hill. I know he passed that way for his sankey sunday event yesterday.
You are quite right Migoman. This problem goes all the way back to the dredging of Road Harbour to create Wickams Cay 1 & 2. No thought was given to land drainage, nor to the visual character of Road Town. Previously, the bay came right up to Main Street and in heavy rain runoff from the surrounding hills had direct access to the sea.
Plan? Plan? What language is this you speak?
Premier Smith being the proactive leader has asked for a 2024 contingency strategy from all ministries not just communication and works. Her courageous and prescient response to TS Phillippe demonstrated her effectiveness and set the blueprint for future natural disasters.
You are quite right Migoman.
This problem goes all the way back to the dredging of Road Harbour to create Wickams Cay 1 & 2. No thought was given to land drainage, nor to the visual character of Road Town. Previously, the bay came right up to Main Street and in heavy rain runoff from the surrounding hills had direct access to the sea.