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‘Downright lawlessness’ regarding parking on Tortola – Skelton-Cline

Poor parking in Tortola continues to be a major issue plaguing the community according to ZBVI Honestly Speaking radio moderator, Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the Thursday, February 25, 2021, edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show. Photo: Trip Advisor
Calling for Virgin Islanders to be more respectful regarding the use of the roadways in the territory, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline further urged building managers to provide designated parking. Photo: VINO/File
Calling for Virgin Islanders to be more respectful regarding the use of the roadways in the territory, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline further urged building managers to provide designated parking. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Poor parking in Tortola continues to be a major issue plaguing the community, according to commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the Thursday, February 25, 2021, edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show on ZBVI 780 AM.

“We’re getting a lot of complaints from neighbours in the community regarding this parking, we don’t park well in the town, we don’t park well in the local neighbourhoods.

“People are using the street as though it is their public place. What supposed to be a dual road turns into a single road,” he said in listing a number of road violations.

Calling for Virgin Islanders to be more respectful regarding the use of the roadways in the territory, Mr Skelton-Cline further urged building managers to provide designated parking.

Need for Designated parking

“There has to be properly designated parking, people cannot be using the streets for their private space,” he said.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) was also singled out for failing to enforce traffic and road laws in the territory.

“The only time we see these police officers sometimes is when they are out there allowing the kids who are going to school to cross the road,” he said.

Calling the situation ‘downright lawless,” he said the violations are present in several communities across the territory and that there is a need for law enforcement to step in and handle the issue.

34 Responses to “‘Downright lawlessness’ regarding parking on Tortola – Skelton-Cline ”

  • annudda2cents (26/02/2021, 20:06) Like (54) Dislike (0) Reply
    what is really downright lawlessness is the authorities permitting the erection of buildings without measures being put in place for adequate parking. case in point, the 6-storey building currently being erected next to Said Department Store. Zero parking whatsoever. the only developer that seems to have this concept on lock is Mr. Colin O'Neal and his organization.
    • @ annudda2cents (26/02/2021, 21:26) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
      There’s an apartment building being constructed after the park on your way towards Huntums Ghut before you turn left towards Lower Estate.

      Where are the tenants going to park???????
      • annudda2cents (26/02/2021, 23:03) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
        yes, and I may be wrong, but that building doesn't look like an apartment building. so besides parking, how did what appears to be a major commercial development was allowed to be given the green light...right smack in the middle of a residential area? anyways...
    • Yes (01/03/2021, 06:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Wheatleys
  • Towing (26/02/2021, 20:19) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well a proper Tow Company is needed. People will look at a NO PARKING sign and STILL PARK THERE. It has been a lawless place for a long time, people want to do as they please and when you try to tell them anything...they curse you stink. People have been blocked in time and time again...who are we to complain to???????? Cops need to walk around and ticket vehicles that are parked in "NO PARKING ZONES
    • raz (02/03/2021, 08:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with this I was talking to someone about this and it really would do good....... tow and remove all cars on the roads that are violating traffic laws
  • Sanitize (26/02/2021, 20:20) Like (2) Dislike (48) Reply
    It’s all those racist whites who support Donald Gus!
    They should be banned from parking! SMH
  • smh (26/02/2021, 20:54) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lawlessness reigns in this place, with a Police Force that enforces very little.
  • Now what (26/02/2021, 21:18) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    After the leaders take away some of the parking space in town to make an extra lane for vehicles you should expect that to be a major issue now. Maybe they can use the land next to Elizabeth Park to accommodate vehicle parking for now.
  • Well oiled (26/02/2021, 21:38) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    Mr cline this problem is also caused by the people that bought their licenses. It have a well oiled machinery selling drivers license to the people that fail their driving test. Even if you failed the written test once you have the cash you can get your license. I am taking the matter to the COI if they would be interested in the matter because this is corruption in a government department. There are many many drivers on the road locals and expatriates that bought their drivers license in the past two yrs . I'll leave the rest for another time.
    • TORTOLIAN (27/02/2021, 06:34) Like (0) Dislike (9) Reply
      POLICE SHOULD FINE OUT WHO YOU ARE AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE SELLING DRIVER'S LICENSES. IF YOU DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH.
      • hello (27/02/2021, 12:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        Hope you are not one of them that bought or selling drivers license. And yes I have names of some people that bought and I have the names of the people working as agents for the seller. So be careful what you wish for
      • DEDE (27/02/2021, 16:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        What Well Oiled said is the truth. Check the archives oh this website and other news publication going as far back as 2009 and you will see and read the evidence. There were a few arrest if my memory is correct. Well Oiled is not wrong it continues up today. Just look at the many drivers who commit traffic violations. Do you think if they actually past, they would be committing such offenses?
      • DEDE (27/02/2021, 16:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        What Well Oiled said is the truth. Check the archives oh this website and other news publication going as far back as 2009 and you will see and read the evidence. There were a few arrest if my memory is correct. Well Oiled is not wrong it continues up today. Just look at the many drivers who commit traffic violations. Do you think if they actually past, they would be committing such offenses?
      • DEDE (27/02/2021, 16:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        What Well Oiled said is the truth. Check the archives oh this website and other news publication going as far back as 2009 and you will see and read the evidence. There were a few arrest if my memory is correct. Well Oiled is not wrong it continues up today. Just look at the many drivers who commit traffic violations. Do you think if they actually past, they would be committing such offenses?
      • buttah (02/03/2021, 08:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I hope the police "fine" out rel soon.....
  • NezRez (26/02/2021, 23:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    There needs a "NO PARKING" sign across the street, coming out of BVI Electricity. We had to back up and go out of the "IN" entrance because cars park across the street in front of the restaurant, and we cannot swing our vehicles to exit. This is a quick easy fix, just put a pole with a sign stating just that. Let's see how long this takes. Give me the pole and "NO PARKING" sign, and I will have it up in one day. This is a problem for so many people trying to exit.
  • Me (27/02/2021, 02:37) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh yeah once you have your money you can get any thing in this place buying a license is nothing NEW .
  • rewrsdffds (27/02/2021, 07:47) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    when NDP in power certain privileges are afforded to their supporters: when VIP in power certain people have certain privileges: this is nothing new: back in the day a reef was destroyed to build a road after a building went up, in the prospect reef area....it is common for people to build on all their property and use the public road as parking space when you have parking that disrupts the flow of traffic we need police
  • Rubber Duck (27/02/2021, 08:43) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    One of the best things about life in the BVI is the lack of oppressive over regulation. Parking is OK in Road Town and if it isn’t it will sort itself out. We need better bus services though for sure.
  • 007 (27/02/2021, 09:06) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    He must be invested into car parking.
  • Questions... (27/02/2021, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who owns the land these developments are being built on?
    What ordinances are there in Town and Country planning legislation for parking provision for developments?
    What penalties are there for non-compliance with parking provision per the legislation?
    What is to stop a land owner from claiming they can do as they please with their land in defiance of legislation (this is my grandfather land, you can't tell me what to do mehson)?
    What are the plans for public transport for the territory to reduce the need for private vehicles, and reduce both traffic congestion and competition for limited parking spaces?
    What are the plans for decentralisation of government offices (what happened to the big eGovernment plan?) so that ALL the government services don't have to be PHYSICALLY accessed in Road Town? Same with banking (Anegada have a bank yet?)
    What happened to the plans for traffic wardens and parking metres?
    How many police officers are there in the service that are assigned to being out in public ensuring parking compliance instead of being swamped with paperwork, report writing and CYA administration?
    Why are people looking at this issue only from the endpoint (we need more police out there punishing bad parkers, we need people to tow, we need X punishment) rather than looking at the problem holistically and systematically and asking WHY there are so many vehicles and not enough parking spaces on a 21 sq mi island? Why not look at the problem from Town and Country legislation and enforcement provision (unlike in St Thomas, you can't enforce demolition of non-compliant developments here), public transportation planning (we should have buses AND ferries given our sailing history), AND law enforcement?
  • KLM (27/02/2021, 09:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Sanitize, It seems to me like you are very racist.
  • @klm (27/02/2021, 11:22) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    SANITIZE IS A TRIBAL BUSHMAN THAT NEVER STEPPED OUT OF THE BVI TO SEE HOW THE ACTUAL WORLD
  • Really? (27/02/2021, 12:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s not just parking that is lawless in case you haven’t noticed:
  • Taxi Man Dem (27/02/2021, 13:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about the ignorant taxi drivers who continually break the law? These are supposed to be Professional Drivers yet the things I see make me rather walk than ever hop in a over priced raggedy ass bus with these set a jokers!
  • Lawless (27/02/2021, 15:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is lawless is the area down west end that they were allowed to dump up without regard to water run off. Now when it rains the water is up to your car door.
    • @Lawless (27/02/2021, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is a pond that was filled in including the drains and drainage that were in place for many years.. us area is a few yards from th e Premier's residence where he must traverse several times daily. To date the community has not been nor informed as to why or purpose.





      y has not e n oindvthha5t was filled ingignotingvthe drain
  • CB4Life (27/02/2021, 17:44) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    When it comes to parking there should be serious consideration for traffic as well. Businesses as well need to understand that customers need space for parking. Time in case the HOSPITAL. When you go there to visit, pharmacy, or pay a bill you can't get a parking space cause the management & other staff have the parking lot occupied for them selves. That should not be. They need to park in the parking lot across the street and let the hospital parking lot for customers.
  • Lawless (27/02/2021, 21:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI is the most lawless place in the world. Look at all the boats and cars parked on the road. Look at the parking lot west end across from the community center. Since VIP got elected lawlessness has become the new norm.
  • sooooo (01/03/2021, 07:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    So who allows this? Where are Methodist Church in EE and Town parking lots? The 2 churches up Long Look, etc. A house was built on the road up Hope Hill/Bellevue with no park. The Government allows buildings with no park so Claude you need to zip it.
  • raz (02/03/2021, 08:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    We have to blame town and country planning for all this nonsense tbh they approving sh*t left ,right and center without making sure these people have sufficient parking for tenants/ customers!



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