'Hold Gov’ts responsible for executing development plan' - Gregory W. Adams
The series of public meetings on National Land Use Maps and Plans seeks to get resident’s vision for the Territory’s physical development under the project titled enVIsion 2040 Smart Land Use Planning for the Virgin Islands.
The first session was held on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall in Road Town.
The project will be spearheaded by Dr Cassander P. Titley-O’Neal, Executive Director of Environmental System Limited, along with the assistance of Mr Gregory W. Adams, Chief Planner with the Town and Country Planning.
Will EnVIsion 2040 become reality?
Leader of the Opposition Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Deputy Governor Mrs Rosalie Adams and members of the community shared the same sentiments that the EnVIsion 2040 plan should be adopted by every politician and community leaders regardless of who is leading the territory.
“Once we involve the short term, mid-term and the long term planning, anyone that is leading you – I don’t care who it is- would have to be foolish not to buy into it, because the people have shown that this is what they want in 2040 and this is what they want to move with into 2040 and also this is what they do not want moving into 2040.”
Mr Kareem-Nelson Hull, expressed similar views questioning what kind of assurance will be given if the government changes that the plan will continue.
“What do we need to get this guaranteed? I think it is brilliant to think about the BVI in 2040, but I also thought I would have been a lot more impressed if it was something that the government would do, the Premier and his elected officials had created for the territory,” said Mr Hull.
Posing a question to the chief planner, Mr Hull asked, “What would you need as a chief planner from us to support you and to make sure that in 2040 this is going to happen; is it investment, government buy-in? Do you know what they government of the day feels about this?”
No guarantees
In response, Mr Adams stated that there are no guarantees that the plan will see through to the end; however, the community should hold the government responsible for the execution of the plan.
“We can’t guarantee it, but our best chance at ensuring that the political will doesn’t waiver away from this vision is to make sure that it is a vision that is crafted by the community and that means all spectrum of the community,” explained Mr Adams.
He continued, “I’m sure you know that each party has its own manifesto. Ultimately, what becomes the manifesto should really come out of this plan…The way that we ensure that every four years we are not charting a new course, is by setting this plan in motion that becomes the road map that we as people- since we crafted it- we will hold our leaders responsible to say, listen, we hear you, but we already have a vision.”
Deputy Governor Mrs Rosalie Adams agreed and commented that this plan will give the community the cohesiveness it needs. She further added that when government officials are campaigning they should have documents to speak to the people about their development plans and in turn the community will choose who should go ahead as the leaders.
The National Physical Development Plan (NPDP), or ‘EnVIsion2040’, is being funded by the EU Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) and OECS projects, spearheaded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.
The project team is expected to produce its first draft of the national plan by February 2018.
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