REMARKS BY MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS
HONOURABLE MARK VANTERPOOL
AT CONTRACT SIGNING FOR
HARRIGAN ESTATE (BOUND TREE ROAD) - SLOPE STABILIZATION AND
ROAD RESTORATION

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR ROAD REHABILITATION WORKS

Today marks another significant milestone as the Government of the Virgin Islands forges ahead with the project to rehabilitate the roads damaged during Tropical Storm Otto in 2010.

As you know, loan funding was provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in the amount of $15,670,000.00 in June 2012. These funds are being used for Engineering Consultancy, Planning Regulations and Construction Works.

I am pleased to say that we have made great progress with these rehabilitation works and the Government is eager to complete the remaining projects.

Seven (7) projects have already been completed. These include:

1.         Drainage Solution and Road Rehabilitation Works in Long Trench, carried out by Autland Heavy Equipment and Company Ltd.;

2.         Drainage Improvement and Road Rehabilitation in Fortune Ghut, by Autland Heavy Equipment and Company Ltd.;

3.         Road Reconstruction and Slope Stabilization in Huntums Ghut, by Quality Construction;

4.         Road and Drainage Improvement in Palestina, by G-Unit Construction;

5.         Embankment Stabilization and Road Reinstatement in Ballast Bay, by Autland Heavy Equipment and Company Ltd.;

6.         Installation of a Retaining Wall at Thomas Land, by Autland Heavy Equipment and Company Ltd. and

7.         Drainage Improvement in Parham Town, by Sandwise Ltd.

With today’s contract signing between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Autland Heavy Equipment Company Ltd., work will begin to build a retaining wall, kerbs and slipper drains and pave that stretch of road in Harrigan Estate that extends from the top of Fort Charlotte to the Sea Cows Bay Methodist Church.

As mentioned before, Autland Heavy Equipment Company Ltd. has successfully completed similar projects in Long Trench, Fortune Ghut and Ballast Bay and work continues on a Drainage Solution and Road Rehabilitation project in Greenland.

I expect that Autland Heavy Equipment Company Ltd. will execute these works in Harrigan Estate with professionalism, within budget and on time.

There are five (5) other contracts for infrastructure works currently ongoing;

1.         Nottingham Estate – Construction of Retaining Walls and Road Rehabilitation, which is 90% complete. This project is being carried out by G-Unit Construction.

2.         Greenland – Drainage Solution and Road Stabilisation: 90% complete. This project is being done by Autland Heavy Equipment Company Ltd.

3.         Windy Hill - Slope Stabilisation and Drainage Construction by G-Unit Construction which is 5% complete.

4.         Lee Road, Virgin Gorda – Drainage Solution and Road Rehabilitation by Creative Builders Limited is 30% complete; and

5.         Horse Path – Road Reconstruction, Slope Stabilization and Drainage Construction. Quality Construction was recently awarded this contract and work began last month (February).

Under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Loan-funded Programme, Tira Green was contracted in the amount of $52,750.00 to complete the Planning Regulations and FDL Consult Inc. was awarded a $499,500.00 contract for Engineering Consultancy.

There is one (1) tender package now going through the National Competitive Bidding process via the standard local procurement procedures. This project is for Rehabilitation Works in Cox Heath.

Preparations are also being made for the contract signing between AMEC Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited and the Government of the Virgin Islands for the Hydrology Study. This contract is valued at $499.340.00.

So far, a total of $10,763,990.04 has been spent on these CDB projects. This leaves a loan balance of $4,906,09.96. 

As Minister for Communications and Works, I have been closely monitoring these projects to ensure that they are being done according to specifications and I can report that they have been executed as required

and we are well on the way to completion.

I commend all contractors and their teams who have worked and continue to work on these projects.

I also commend the staff within the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communications and Works, for working together to execute these projects.

The Government of the Virgin Islands will continue to maintain and develop the infrastructure of these islands, for the benefit of all of our residents and visitors.

Thank you to all.