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Finally – Ballast Bay ghut, CGB seawall to be fixed this year!

- Funding available, plans to be ready in one month
A bridge has now been proposed to fix the Ballast Bay Ghut issue that has been a concern for residents in the area for many years. A recent fix of placing three culverts has been causing more harm than good, according to residents, where they are considered to be too small and leads to flooding of homes below the ghut. Photo: VINO
Cane Garden Bay Eye Sore - This area of the sea wall in Cane Garden Bay has been deteriorating over a long period of time since the October 2010 floods. Minister Vanterpool said it is among projects that will be fixed from funding available from the CDB loan. Photo: VINO
Cane Garden Bay Eye Sore - This area of the sea wall in Cane Garden Bay has been deteriorating over a long period of time since the October 2010 floods. Minister Vanterpool said it is among projects that will be fixed from funding available from the CDB loan. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool (left) updating residents on some of the infrastructural plans that Government are working on for the Second District at the May 24, 2012 community meeting at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool (left) updating residents on some of the infrastructural plans that Government are working on for the Second District at the May 24, 2012 community meeting at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool (left) updating residents on some of the infrastructural plans that Government are working on for the Second District at the May 24, 2012 community meeting at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre. Photo: VINO
Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool (left) updating residents on some of the infrastructural plans that Government are working on for the Second District at the May 24, 2012 community meeting at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre. Photo: VINO
Cane Garden Bay Eye Sore - This area of the sea wall in Cane Garden Bay has been deteriorating over a long period of time since the October 2010 floods. Minister Vanterpool said it is among projects that will be fixed from funding available from the CDB loan. Photo: VINO
Cane Garden Bay Eye Sore - This area of the sea wall in Cane Garden Bay has been deteriorating over a long period of time since the October 2010 floods. Minister Vanterpool said it is among projects that will be fixed from funding available from the CDB loan. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – After more than a decade of appealing for a viable solution to address the Ballast Bay ghut, a commitment has now been made to build a bridge over the ghut with funds already allocated from the recently approved Caribbean Development Bank $15 million loan.

Following a strong appeal made by residents of the Second District last evening May 24, 2012 at a community meeting held at the Cane Garden Bay community centre, Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool announced his plan to build a bridge over the ghut.

A resident of the area said he hoped this time “they would do it right” as previous attempts to address the issue were futile and it is his hope that it will be remedied once and for all.

Explaining the situation, one resident said, “the ghut used to flow and so bad that vehicles couldn’t pass. So now instead of elevating the bridge so water can flow underneath, they had fixed it by placing three small culverts, which is not the best solution as it not working. So the water is running on people’s houses and areas below the ghut.”

Minister Vanterpool assured residents at the meeting which was organised by the Second District United Development Council (UDC), that the issue will be addressed this year as the funding has already been set aside for the project from the CDB loan which was recently approved by the United Kingdom. The monies for the loan he said will be available in another few weeks.

The Minister also told residents that he visited the site three months ago and determined that rather than doing anything else, his ministry would put together a plan on how to design the bridge and bring it back to residents for their input.

From a mitigation standpoint, Hon. Vanterpool added, the Ballast Bay ghut and another project in Jost Van Dyke are the two top priority projects for Government.

Solution for Sea wall eye sore
Another major concern for the Second District is the sea wall in Cane Garden Bay, which has crumbled significantly since the October 2010 heavy rains. And according to Hon. Vanterpool it is also a priority project.

He again assured that funding is also available for that project and along with the Ballast Bay ghut, whereby a design will also be put together and brought back to the district by the end of June for their input. He also disclosed that if the Public Works Department cannot handle the project, the project will be contracted to ensure it is addressed.

Furthermore, Hon. Vanterpool stated members of the community are encouraged that even before the Minister and his team return in June with their plans, that they can visit the Ministry and offer their inputs and suggestions.

Several other issues were also discussed that are affecting the Second District at last evening’s meeting which is one of the regular meetings conducted by UDC in the second district.

The United Development Council of the 2nd District is an independent, collaborative community based organisation with a mission to improve and enhance the quality of life of residents, businesses and visitors within our district. The organisation’s vision is to create a world class destination in the VI by impacting people, places and spaces.

10 Responses to “Finally – Ballast Bay ghut, CGB seawall to be fixed this year!”

  • jvd (25/05/2012, 09:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Waz dey district representative there? He seems to gone back in his shell
  • Well done (25/05/2012, 10:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank goodness for this Government, had we not come to our senses last November we would have slowly sunk into the sea. How anyone can still be giving the VIP any sort of praise is beyond me.
    • street man (25/05/2012, 12:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Scatter your anti self you need to grow some balls thank god thank havens for the vip who had the wisdom and leadership of fraser and ralph to request this loan so the sell out ndp who voted against this loan will have $$$$$ thank god for vip leadership unmatch by anyone!!!
      • Well done (25/05/2012, 13:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        So very typical of a VIP supporter, just rudeness and nothing constructive.
    • ice cream (25/05/2012, 15:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      "well done" just looking talk he know he hogwash he ah chat
  • ooooo (25/05/2012, 11:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    vip idea vip money
  • Don (25/05/2012, 11:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    3 words - PROPPER CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT !
  • making sports (26/05/2012, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank god for that loan that alvin voted against
  • cane garden bay (27/05/2012, 17:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be careful that group is about pure politics


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