‘I’m not blocking EE Sewerage Project!’ – Hon Fraser
He made the remarks during the April 1, 2015 edition of the VIP’s Let’s Talk radio show heard on ZBVI 780 AM.
Honourable Fraser believes the family of East End got blindsided by Government’s recent motion in the House of Assembly for the compulsory acquisition of a plot of land earmarked for a sewerage pump station opposite the East End Police Station as part of the project.
The parcel of land, said to be approximately half of an acre, originally belonged to a Mr Steadman Penn but is now family owned.
The family had made it public that they are not pleased over the Motion which was moved by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith during the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly on March 19, 2015. It received 7 votes for its passage.
"This particular land that we are talking about isn't land that was acquired through purchase. It's an inheritance. So Madame Speaker, when you are going to ask me to agree with you to acquire compulsory a piece of property that belongs to someone through inheritance, you will have to convince me Madam Speaker, that all avenues of negotiations were attempted and exhausted...Information is key and it is not here," Hon Fraser had said in explaining his reason for abstaining to vote.
Hon Fraser commissioned engineer for project
Addressing the host of the talk show, VIP President Carvin Malone, Honourable Fraser said, “Mr President, I would just like to make this point. Nobody can go out there and say that I am standing in the way of the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project because I am the minister who first commissioned the engineer back in 2002 – 2003 to do that project. And when I came back into office in 2007 to 2011 we worked on that project through the years,” he said.
“Nobody is going to get in my way and say that I was being a monkey wrench in the project. I am one hundred percent behind it just like I am behind the Road Town Sewerage Project,” he said.
Honourable Fraser does not believe that it is too late for the Government to work out an amicable solution to this matter but expressed that the Government seems unwilling to go this route.
A family member concerning the land had told Virgin Islands News Online that the land owner is not willing to sell and had even proposed an alternative land that is in short distance of the land in question.
He noted that his uncle had plans to develop the land identified for the sewerage pump station and is now seeking legal advice over the planned acquisition.
Government had stated that it decided to go ahead with the acquisition of the land since its engineers had advised that it was the most suitable place for the sewerage pump station.
See previous stories here:
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/ee-family-upset-over-ndp-land-grab
12 Responses to “‘I’m not blocking EE Sewerage Project!’ – Hon Fraser”
Them 2 will get such a shellacking, please let them come.