STATEMENT BY MINISTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, WORK AND UTILITIES HONOURABLE KYE M. RYMER

AT THE ELEVENTH SITTING OF THE THIRD SESSION

OF THE FOURTH HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Thursday 12^th August 2021

EAST END/LONG LOOK SEWERAGE PROJECT

Mister Speaker, the Honourable Minister for Transportation, Works, and Utilities, Kye Rymer, would like to update this Honourable House on the East End Long Look Sewerage Project. 

The recommencement of the East End Long Look Sewerage Project has been long in coming and is of national importance. 

The current state of the sewer system in the East End/Long Look area is manifested with overwhelmed private sewer systems that eventually make it to the public roadways and byways.  

I am pleased to see that actual works have commenced to complete the force main pumping line in the vicinity of Paraquita Bay. 

These works will see the installation of approximately 1300 linear feet of force main lines that will complete the force main lines leading to the Paraquita Bay Treatment Plant. 

The works are projected to last for approximately two weeks, and we apologise to the motorists and residents of the East End Long Look community for the inconveniences caused while we detour traffic to facilitate these works.

I also want to note that other works have been ongoing behind the scenes by the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities. 

Such works include:

• Fencing the staging area located at Paraquita Bay;
• Initiating the procurement of all the gravity sewer lines and accessories; and,
• Finalising the designs for the works in various areas.

After the completion of works in the Paraquita Bay area, the commencement of works in the Fat Hog’s Bay area will take place. The works proposed to be undertaken in the Fat Hog’s Bay area will include the connection of the distribution lines to the main gravity system. 

Mister Speaker as you can see, the Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities has made a commitment to complete the East End/Long Look sewerage project. 

We have encountered some delays because of the challenges of COVID-19, particularly in procuring material due to the fluctuations and shortage of various key raw materials. 

Notwithstanding these challenges, we continue to forge ahead in ensuring this project is completed. 

We will finally have a fully operational sewerage system to serve the people of the East End Long Look community. 

Thank you, Mister Speaker.