REMARKS BY HONOURABLE KYE M. RYMER
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, WORKS AND UTILITIES

Pasea Estate Sewerage Leaks Addressed,

April 11th 2022

Greetings residents and visiting friends of the Virgin Islands.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience during the emergency sewerage works that occurred over the weekend, of Friday, April 8 to, Monday, April 11.

Motorists traversing along Walter James Francis Drive (Highway) in the vicinity of Pasea Estate were inconvenienced by the sewerage issue that resulted in a massive crater on the eastbound lane.

In recent times, there have been numerous sewerage leaks on the main pumping pipeline between the Purcell Estate entrance all the way to the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall in Road Town.

As a result of a rupture in the line, late March 2022, it aggravated the already failing pipeline.  This failure compounded the impending disastrous sewerage issue, that has contributed to the exhausting trend, of the Department of Water and Sewerage having to tirelessly do repairs, at varying points, on the same line, in the same area.

The aged line, installed many years ago, reached its breaking point.  Resulting in the activation of an emergency response from, the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities.  The decision was made to replace the entire line with the assembled team from the Water and Sewerage Department.

Through the already planned phase approach initiated last year, we replaced what we believed to have been the worst part of the line. This was from the bridge across from the Tortola Sports Club ending just before Treasure Isle Hotel along Walter James Francis Drive totaling around 320ft.

This weekend Friday, April 8 to, Monday, April 11, we replaced just over 800ft starting from the Purcell Estate gap onto the bridge across from the Tortola Sports Club vicinity, bringing the total to just over 1120ft.

It is important that the public understands that the line terminates across from the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, leaving another 1300ft to be replaced.  This should be done in the not-too-distant future.

I highly commend the emergency response Water and Sewerage Crew that worked diligently to finish the project in two days including the Public Works Department for asphalt resurfacing.

I especially thank you the public for your patience and understanding and ask that you continue to follow the road signs and safety practices, for save driving saves lives.