STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, WORKS AND UTILITIES
HONOURABLE KYE RYMER
DURING THE SEVENTH SITTING OF THE FIRST SESSION
OF THE FOURTH HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
Thursday, 17^th October, 2019

Mr. Speaker, as we are all fully aware, Cane Garden Bay is one of this Territory’s most valuable tourism assets. The area is also a well-populated community.

For some time now, before your new Government took office and even more recently, there has been some concern about how sewerage in that area is being handled and the impact – real and speculatively - on the environment, the tourism product and general public health.

This matter is receiving the attention of your Government. Some remedial measures have been taken to bring some immediate relief. However, a more permanent solution is required, and work on this is in progress.

Mr. Speaker, you may recall that the Cane Garden Bay Sewerage Programme, including the new Network Build Out and new Treatment Facility, is being tendered publicly. This will conclude on October 22, which is about one week from today.

Following the closure of the Public Tender, the submissions will be evaluated by the subcommittee. Then a recommendation will be forward to the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands to approve the selection of a contractor or contractors.

In the meantime, in order to mitigate against any present effects from the current state of the infrastructure, the Ministry of Transportation Works and Utilities and the Water and Sewerage Department have retrofitted the CGB treatment plant, which is currently treating sewage.

Further we have procured eight (8) lift-stations and have installed four (4) of the pumps to lift the sewage to the retrofitted plant.

These pumps are being placed in the wells with the highest flows to prevent overflows and to significantly minimize the need for the use of a pump truck.

I am advised that, to date, this temporary system is working well and when the remaining four (4) pumps are installed over the next week, these will address the remaining areas identified.  

Mr. Speaker, attention is also being given to the Road Town Main Pump Station, which is located next to the O’Neal’s Gas Station by the main roundabout.

This facility will be undergoing some structural and infrastructural works to improve its reliability.

We have developed the Scope of Works and will be taking the relevant documents through the dereservation approval process. Depending on the lead time required for getting some of the specialised equipment in place, I expect that works will begin on this asset by the end of the year.

These works will improve the functionality of the pump station. Malfunctions will be significantly reduced and contained, and it will present an esthetically pleasing facility.

On another note, Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to advise this Honourable House and members of the public that measures are being put in place to commence repairs to all the Fire Substations throughout the territory in the very near future.

For the Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and Cappoon’s Bay Fire Substations, Bills of Quantities have been submitted and contracts are being drafted.

Except for Anegada’s Fire Substation, the repairs on which are most extensive, I expect that repairs to all the substations mentioned will be completed by this years’ end.   

Mr. Speaker, it is just eight short months that your new Government is in place, and just six months operating with a proper – albeit transitionary budget – but I am sure that you will agree that your new Government is performing, and making strides to honour our mandate to the people.

We entered office and found a lot of things left to be done. We are rising to the challenge and through the grace of God, the support of the people of the Virgin Islands and the collective hard work of the members of our team, including our Public Officers and other stakeholders, we will ensure that the BVI recovers and rebuilds, becomes revitalised and resilient.

I thank you.