Hon. Delores Christopher (centre) said she would not sit still until the completion of works being done on the Great Mountain Road. Photo: VINO

Hon. Christopher was at the time addressing residents at a community meeting in the vicinity of the Huntums Ghut Basketball Court last evening, November 7, 2012. The meeting was held to allow residents of the Fifth District to interact and share concerns with their Representative, Hon. Delores Christopher.

Also present at the meeting were Premier Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Health & Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton, Minister for Education & Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Minister for Communications & Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool, At Large Representative Hon. Archibald C. Christian as well as Sixth District Representative Hon. Alvera Maduro-Caines.

Members of government seized the opportunity to report on many of their on-going projects, progress on policy implementation and future plans for the Virgin Islands (VI).

“Great Mountain,” Hon. Christopher related, “was one of the major vehicular traffic roads that taxi drivers, tour buses, residents and everyone residing atop the mountain used on a daily basis.”

She told those assembled that this was one of the projects that she had been “agitating for” while noting that there was a setback that arose in the form of an issue with land owned by a particular family, which she announced had required some amount of negotiation.

“The plan is to put the drain in first, so that when the road is re-paved it wouldn't be so easily washed away when the heavy rains come,” she said. The District Representative noted that all the contracts were now in place and it was expected that before Christmas there would be “smooth running up the hill”.

Hon. Christopher also took the opportunity to announce the completion of of a road in Long Trench, on-going works in the George's North Side and Primrose Garden areas, in addition to other works being done throughout the Fifth District. “I often talk about the Fifth being a mountainous district, more so than some others,” she said “so we are very much challenged with our roads… there are a number of them that are still unpaved.”

“We have many situations where residents still have difficulty leaving their homes and have to walk in mud or park their vehicles, sometimes depending on how heavy the mudslides are,” she added.

Hon. Christopher further expressed that these were areas that the government would like to correct as quickly as they can. “My promise to you is that I will not rest until all of our roads or most of them… [are] comfortable for driving.”

The District Representative also revealed that assistance was given to homeowners in the adjustment of retaining walls that “proved a threat” as well as the installation of electricity in areas where there were new homeowners.

Hon. Christopher also said many of the electricity poles slated for installation in the communities were “on order” according to a promise made by Hon. Vanterpool and she expressed confidence that they would be done in due course as it was a “very good promise”.

It was also revealed that the upcoming Festival of Arts, expected to cover such areas as the performing arts, culinary arts, fine arts and craft, is proposed to be hosted by the Fifth District in February 2013. The fact that it will be hosted by the Fifth District, she noted, does not restrict anyone from participating as some artists had already converged and discussed among themselves how they will get their work out.

Residents were able to ask questions of the assembled members of government and also took the opportunity to make recommendations and air concerns as well.