Anwsers To Questions Asked By
The First District Representative To
The Honourable Minister For Communications And Works
At The Third Sitting Of The Second Session Of The Third
House Of Assembly
19^th December, 2016

The Member for the First District to ask the Honourable Minister for Communications and Works the following questions:

Question 1

Madam Speaker, as previously promised, would the Honourable Minister for Communications and Works now provide this Honourable House with a comprehensive report of the expenditure through contracts or purchase orders of the proceeds of the sixteen million dollars loan facility authorized by this Honourable House from the Social Security Board inclusive of contractor, contract amount and purpose (labor material and services)? And further;

1. Please inform the balance of the loan fund and the intended purpose?

Answer 1

Madam Speaker, I am providing printed copies to this Honourable House, with the details as it relates to this question.

To summarize, Madam Speaker, so far, we have spent twelve million, two hundred ninety-four thousand, eight hundred sixty-six dollars and three cents ($12,294,866.03) of the sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000.00) as of 31^st November, 2016.

Madam Speaker, the details of how this money was spent is detailed in the report presented to this Honorable House.

1. Madam Speaker, this leaves a balance of three million, seven hundred and five thousand, one hundred thirty-three dollars and ninety-seven cents ($3,705,133.97) in the loan fund.
2. Madam Speaker, the remaining funds will be used to continue road works in the areas of Sea Cow’s Bay Manual Reef Marina to Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, Belle Vue Church of God Prophecy Entrance to Spring Ghut, Baugher’s Bay PWD Junction to Baugher’s Bay Beach entrance, Waterfront Drive below Road Town Jetty to Mac Namarra Junction, Anegada main road leading to Cow Wreck Hotel and Beach Bar and Jost Van Dyke - Rudy’s Bar to Foxy’s Restaurant - “Bottom Road”.

Question 2

Madam Speaker, would the Minister for Communications and Works please confirm for this Honourable House whether or not the pumps for the Capoon’s Bay Drainage Project in the First District are currently in the possession of his Ministry?

1. If yes, please tell this Honourable House when the pumps will be installed seeing that the rainy season is once again upon us?
2. Tell this Honourable House from what date were the pumps in the possession of the Ministry/received by his Ministry?
3.  Other than the installation of the pumps, what other works would make up this phase of the project and when would the works commence?

Answer 2

Madam Speaker, yes, the pumps for the Capoon’s Bay Drainage Project are at the Public Works Department Compound.

i) Madam Speaker, I am afraid that the installations of these pumps are not likely to be executed until of 2017 and the project will be done through a private contractor arrangement.

ii) Madam Speaker, I do not know the exact date the pumps arrived, but I do believe that this may have been 2011 or 2012.

iii) Madam Speaker, once the private contractor is engaged, the scope of works will be revealed. I will undertake, Madam Speaker, to engage the Member for the First District to get his input in the final preparations to commence this project in the first quarter of next year.

Question 3

Madam Speaker would the Minister for Communications and Works please inform this Honourable House when will the public meeting to discuss the new Sopher’s Hole Jetty/facilities design be held in the First District?

1. What is the proposed cost of the project? and;
2. What is the scheduled commencement time of the project?

Answer 3

i)     Madam Speaker, The BVI Ports Authority is currently considering capital development projects at Sophers Hole, Virgin Gorda and Road Town, at this time cost are unknown.   

ii)    Madam Speaker, I cannot give a commencement date at this time, however, I anticipate that community consultation on the projects mentioned will begin in the first quarter of 2017.

Question 4

Madam Speaker given that the Frenchman’s Cay Bridge is currently in need of urgent attention, could the Minister for Communications and Works please inform this Honourable House when this matter would be addressed by his Ministry?

Answer 4

Madam Speaker, an engineering assessment was completed on the Frenchman’s Cay Bridge during the month of June, 2016. The scope of the assessment was limited to a visual inspection and concluded that the bridge is structurally sound. The engineering team did not uncover any evidence of noticeable structural failure or deficiencies. However, there is evidence of some flaking of the concrete cover on rebar.  

Madam Speaker, the bridge base also showed no signs of failure or deficiency. 

Madam Speaker, The Public Works Department has submitted recommendations for the remedying the flaking of the concrete which will be implemented, also, the bridge will be inspected on a yearly basis along with other public bridges in the territory.

Question 5

Madam Speaker given that all the guts in the First District especially the one by Sappy’s Bar in Carrot Bay are currently in need of urgent attention, could the Minister for Communications and Works please inform this Honourable House when this matter would be addressed by his Ministry?

Answer 5

Madam Speaker, It is my understanding that the Ghut by Sappys Bar has been recently cleaned, however, if I am mistaken or if there is another area that the Member is speaking about I will have my Team further research this.

PWD is also monitoring all remaining ghuts in District One and other Districts and have included them in their scheduled territory wide drain cleaning programme.

Question 6

Madam Speaker, given that all public main and feeder roads in the First District especially the ones in the hillside of Carrot Bay, Belmont, Frenchman’s Cay among others are currently in need of urgent attention in terms of bush cutting. Could the Minister for Communications and Works please inform this Honourable House when this matter will be fully addressed by this Ministry?

Answer 6

Madam, Speaker, I do apologise to the Member and the residents of the First District Community that have been affected by this matter.  Public Works Department has a road maintenance programme which involves retirees who have been very proficient with the road maintenance programme.  However, given the levels of rainfalls over the last months and the way the contracts are structured, we have experienced some level of overgrowth in some areas.

Madam Speaker, I have been assured by the Public Works Director that additional sources are being deployed and he expects to have these and other areas rectified in short order.