Hon. Alvin Christopher: “No works going on in my district”!
In an exclusive interview with this news site, Hon. Christopher said “No works going on in my district. That’s where I am right now, on the site to see if I can get some work started.”
Regarding the question of loans received by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), he noted that “I already expressed that to the Legislative Council.” “It was voted on... so I’m waiting on them to implement the project now.”
The Second District representative expressed that he had no control over timelines of projects and was confused as to why there was a common misperception with that regard. “That is not in my control,” he said “I don’t know why the people keep mixing up [this issue]... I don’t have a timeline on projects.” “The project[s],” he continued “[are] solely under the responsibility of the [subject] Minister”
“We have a general understanding where the Minister [will] liaison and work with the [District] Representative to accomplish things.” “It has always been the power of the Minister... you can initiate a project, but at the end of the day when it comes to be implemented, it’s the Minister’s responsibility.” “That is how our system of Government works,” the former Minister of Natural Resources and Communications and Works said. “The understanding [is] that we [will] work together but at the end of the day, you have to wait and find out how the game [will] be played.”
Questioned about whether this causes any frustration, Hon. Christopher said, “Frustrated?” “I can’t say I’m frustrated, I don’t get frustrated so [easily].” “Once I know the law that governs something, I follow it; when it doesn’t work in my favour I [have to] accept it or explain it.”
Indicating his acceptance of the way things have progressed, he expressed that “Eventually we will get things worked out in the best interest of everyone concerned.”
“When you get an assignment as a Minister you get a lot of power” he contended, “if you don’t have any respect for your [constituency] then... you can twist them, turn them, make them beg and plead, at the end of the day.... you do exactly what you want.”
“I’m waiting to see these projects get started, and I hope they get started soon,” Christopher continued.
“I’m not the Minister, if I were the Minister I know exactly what I would do,” he contended “I served in the position so I know exactly what it means to get projects started.”
“People are learning the ropes. There are some new people... you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. As of now, they only [have been in office] nine months, so they just began their elementary education on what is [government].”
At a press conference held recently to launch the ‘Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project’ that was introduced with the aid of a heavily debated CDB loan of US$15.7m, Hon. Mark Vanterpool said that the matter on hand is a very crucial topic and his department will be moving very swiftly to get these projects and damages around Tortola under control and safe for its people.
He said that the “project will take probably a year or two for the works to be done and for the Ministry to pin-point other areas that needs fixing.”
Prior to the work being done around the Virgin Islands, workers of the Minister’s department were to be engaged in a two day session dubbed as ‘Procurement workshops’.
During those workshops, he indicated that the workers will be trained on how best to procure materials and services to get the best cost benefits.
With his Ministry previously engaged in energy conservation and now infrastructure rehabilitation, Hon. Vanterpool said they are all [going] according to the plans that were included into the present government’s manifesto. He added that “it is not what’s next for the Government but for each area the plans are being put in place.”
The Minister had back then assured this news site that any work being done will be put on hold until August 13, after the festival.
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22 Responses to “Hon. Alvin Christopher: “No works going on in my district”! ”
"Crank Shaft". You don't know siht about what you are saying about Fraser. When Fraser was Minister all Districts had their equal shares of moneies, and it was broken down by civil works, and road construction, all of which was controlled by the District Representatives.
District Representatives decided what projects they wanted to spend their money on, they decided what work they wanted in their Districts, they took the PWD engineers out to develop the projects, they selected the contractors, and the projects were done. So stop the Fraser hating.
This man voted with the NDP against the CDB Loan funding, so he should not be here pretending like he always wanted these projects done for his District. He is a hyprocrite if I ever seen one.