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Is it a cover up? Top of VG dock being fixed while underside ignored

- photos of the bottom of the VG dock show different issues
A section under the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Concern has been expressed about the underside of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Concern has been expressed about the underside of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Cracks in the underside of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Cracks in the underside of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Repair works are only being done to the surface of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
Repair works are only being done to the surface of the Virgin Gorda dock. Photo: Team of Reporters
An area of the Virgin Gorda dock under repairs. Photo: Team of Reporters
An area of the Virgin Gorda dock under repairs. Photo: Team of Reporters
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- It was sometime in February that Ninth District Representative Dr The Honourable Hubert O'Neal said he was surprised that there was no money to repair the Virgin Gorda dock.

A couple months later repair work started on the dock, but it appeared only the top of the dock was being fixed.

Virgin Gorda ferry services have been temporarily relocated to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour Marina on Dock B only, which has led to its own confusion and cries of racism at the treatment of the locals by the manager.

The work is expected to be completed at the end of May 2017, but photos show the bottom of the dock is still in desperate need of repairs and the dock could still collapse despite the top being fixed.

The scope of the project, according to government officials, entails the laying of a wearing slab with steel reinforced concrete on the existing jetty, repairing and replacing bollards, placing new bollards for the cargo ramp and pouring a concrete slab on the entire apron, as well as the installation of lighting on the apron.

Hon Vanterpool's version

Meanwhile, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, said a study was conducted by engineers on the dock, which showed that it was intact, but the concrete slab is where the issue lies.

He went on to state that the works are similar to what was done on the cruise pier in Road Town, however, he did not state the cost of the project. 

And while our newsroom does not have any engineers on staff, the photos provided leaves a lot to be concerned about the stability of the bottom of the dock.

45 Responses to “Is it a cover up? Top of VG dock being fixed while underside ignored”

  • VG (22/05/2017, 17:35) Like (34) Dislike (3) Reply
    Wow thanks vino we need you
  • Grill Bonito (22/05/2017, 18:08) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Same thing I've been thinking. It's only makeup ;) . Guess its a start though
  • Street reporter (22/05/2017, 18:11) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    Doesn't government has engineers. That work looks takki. Poor. Hope it doesn't collapse and hurt people
    • grench (22/05/2017, 20:50) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply

      I am sure no professional engineer would sign off on this. Mark looking points by doing a quick job. That dock represents ..... trying to cover up all .... dirt but everything will come to light.

  • Hmmmm. (22/05/2017, 18:28) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    So how much is it costing to put the "bandaid" on.

  • VG (22/05/2017, 18:28) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    They knew this from 2006
    • Bumble Bee (22/05/2017, 22:27) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      The best we can hope for is that nothing happens, it all will be forgotten with the next scandal just around the corner.
      • lollol (23/05/2017, 08:51) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        any truth to ur name, "bumble bee". show the goods since ndp hiding theirs
  • qualla (22/05/2017, 18:53) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    If no one gets financial surcharge for this blatant misuse of public funds, I am going ask the general public to take action. This is exactly the reason why we need public review of public projects. The bidding process could help identify hidden cost as is evident in the photographs showing the underside of the exposed reinforce steel bars. Good whistle blowing job VINO.
  • total embarrassment (22/05/2017, 19:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who were the engineers?
  • What?*! (22/05/2017, 19:16) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all serious? That is what they put concrete on top of. I would not have believed it if someone had said so. Seeing is truly believing. Who getting surcharge for this mess? Just surcharge them for stupidity.
  • ccc (22/05/2017, 19:58) Like (29) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need to support vino they are the best
  • Serpico (22/05/2017, 20:10) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sorry set of incompetents and cheats.
  • Afu (22/05/2017, 20:16) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    What's happening to my native Virgin Gorda?!!! This is SAD, SAD SAD.
    • Vengeful... (24/05/2017, 09:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Afu. I understand where you're coming from. Great comment! I also as a born-native here asks. Is VG paradise, or is it a land filled with deadly sharks?.
  • tola (22/05/2017, 20:25) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only to fix the top an it 2 mill wow
  • Just saying (22/05/2017, 20:44) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Shame on the ndp
  • imagine... (22/05/2017, 21:20) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    The real issue at hand is the treatment ppl receive at the yacht harbour. People gonna react negative if they can't even feel comfortable where they live. The government doing good with the dock if u ask me, regardless of how everybody feels it should be done but they need to look into the serious issue they, the government, have, of inconveniencing tax paying citizens when they carry out these projects. Both the main and secondary roadways to road town from SCB area under construction.... inconvenience! VG dock.... harassment of citizens at the alternate option, inconvenient! Deal with people better
    • Well (22/05/2017, 22:03) Like (2) Dislike (24) Reply

      They should leave the @#$&* place in shambles. Cant please you all. 20 years ago when govt squandered money on the populace nobody had an issue with money for nothing. Now everything needs to be overhauled and we are upset over temporary inconveniences to get them fixed. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

  • Eagle Eye (22/05/2017, 22:16) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    VINO is like a breath of fresh air, bringing new light to this situation...all people of good will should pray for the sites success....
  • E. Leonard (22/05/2017, 22:29) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Has a structural engineer look at this spalling and declared the jetty structurally sound? Spalling can have public health and safety consequences, can adversely impact the structural integrity of the jetty or can lower the asset value. Assuming that a qualified structural engineer has determined that the spalling has not impacted the structural integrity of the jetty, as a minimum the spalling need to be remediated to stop the corrosion of the reinforcement (steel/rebar). Further, assume that a comprehensive forensic examination was conducted on the jetty before a scope of repair work was developed and executed.

    Moreover, curious about the concrete cover of the rebar to prevent/minimize seawater coming in contact with the steel, causing spalling. Minimum cover over steel, combined with moisture, will accelerate spalling, resulting in a non aesthetically pleasing appearance as a minimum. Moisture infiltration from the surface could also cause steel corrosion and contribute to spalling. Design, construction, maintenance.......etc should facilitate runoff and prevent ponding.
    • Political Observer (PO) (23/05/2017, 10:00) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      From its appearance, the structural integrity and structural soundness of the wharf is questionable. Furthermore, it is likely that it is at end of its useful life and may need to be replaced. The visual of the spalling does not give one a warm fuzzy feeling. One does not have to be an engineer to see that something is drastically wrong structurally underneath of the wharf. Was an engineering evaluation conducted on the structural integrity of the whatf? And if so what was the findings and recommendations? Was the recommendation to repair the surface instead of replacing altogether? What was the net present value of repairing vs replacing? Whose decision was it to repair vs replacing? What is the taxpayers paying $2M for? Is $2M a fair and reasonable price? Is taxpayers getting value for money?

      The condition of the beams below the wharf should raise urgent concerns and give engineers and others pause. Does the $2M include repair of the spalling under the wharf? If so should not the work, if any, under the wharf should have been done first? Is the plan to stop the infiltration from surface first? Nevertheless, the spalling under the wharf haunts me. Heaven forbids that no one is harm. But if the spalling and deterioration is not addressed/slowed now, premature failure can occur, posing a risk to public health and safety. This almost borders on gross negligence. If there is a premature failure, who is going to take responsibility, i.e., design consultant engineer, PWD director ( justification for an engineer to be in charge of PWD), government.....etc?
    • RealPol (24/05/2017, 07:39) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      No doubt the spalled condition on wharf substructure is a disaster in the making, posing a potential serious risk to life and property. Fixing the superstructure and ignoring the substructure as another blogger noted is like putting red lipstick on a boar hog; he is still a pig and will behave and act like a hog. In my opinion, the wharf is structurally deficient and in the interest of public health h and safety it needs to be taken out of service until it is either repaired or replaced. What caused the structural degradation?

      There are several factors but the prime factor is probably oxidation that resulted in spalling which resulted in the degradation of the steel. Oxygen in the infiltrated water combined with the iron ore in steel caused oxidation. When steel oxidizes it expands and results in spalling.
  • Lord o (22/05/2017, 22:29) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Early election is our best solution. Can't continue this way.
    • oh (23/05/2017, 10:36) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Early election, change the players but not game? Put new representatives and ministers with the same useless civil servants? We have been trying that for over 20 yrs, oh the progress. SMH!
  • Geez (22/05/2017, 22:29) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's totally bizarre to believe, given the amount of money we are spending on this project
  • thing teh talk (22/05/2017, 23:09) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    lets here the NDP Lies and spin on them 2 million usd repairs
  • Structual Engineer (23/05/2017, 08:46) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The damage shows the obvious.
    When the dock was constructed first, Government purchase cheaply engineer beams from Trinidad
    probably was abandon because of poor quality of concrete and rebars. That's where the blames starts.

    Minister of communication and works was misled by his consultants or he is misrepresenting the facts. A copy of that study should be made public or lets hear the consultants side of the story. An inquiry should commissioned and made public.
    • @ structural Engineer (23/05/2017, 09:28) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      from Trinidad and Tobago?
    • enough (27/05/2017, 11:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Regardless of how it was "constructed first", there is now the opportunity to correct the deficiencies, not compound them. Reinforce the beams or if they are of such "poor quality" perhaps they needed to be replaced, not just put on bandaid concrete on the top and pretend that VG got a new and improved dock. This is wasting tax payers money and conning the moneylenders that a worthwhile job is being done. Fix the Dock properly before it collapses under the sheer weight of travellers.
  • wize up (23/05/2017, 09:03) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The saying is really true: there is 2 sides to every story...(top-side & bottom-side!!!!)
  • vg boy (23/05/2017, 09:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    long time i saying dats how they do business. A pretty pig lol
    • 90 M (23/05/2017, 10:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      what new so is that the same thing they did at the ports and charge we a set of money?
  • Hmmmm (23/05/2017, 10:16) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    A little bit of putty and paint, does turn the devil a saint. Bandaid fixes.
  • Wow........ (23/05/2017, 10:26) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Looks like that hold dock needs ripping up....
  • Doctor Loe (23/05/2017, 14:12) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    That dock will collapse,the steel rebar is not Salt water resistance.Green Steel is the real steel for Salt Water..The steel is now exposed to the salt water and salt air, and we all know living in the tropics what will happen..Thanks Vino continue to expose their dirty *Linens* NDP don't with laundry,they have a lot of dirty Linens..
  • Visiting Civil Engineer (23/05/2017, 19:09) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do not live here but am currently visiting a friend on Tortola, so you can take my opinion for what it's worth.

    Anywhere in the world, that dock would be deemed completely unsafe and would be tagged for demolition and replacement. Whatever money is currently being spent isn't even a band-aid, it is a case of putting lipstick on a pig as it fixes exactly nothing. You can dress it up all you like, but it's still a pig and it is only a matter of time until it will collapse.

    I'd advise that vehicles be kept off it completely. With any lucky, it will collapse during a storm when nobody is on it and no heavy boats are tied up to it. It would be a good idea not to leave any boats tied to it overnight.
  • This is too much (23/05/2017, 23:22) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yet another horrible, tragic, heartbreaking attack on the people's Treasury by this gang
  • Bushmaster (23/05/2017, 23:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Steel exposed on the underside. What cosmetics is this? Does the entire dock need replacing? How many more contracts will be signed before it is done properly?
  • NPolitico (24/05/2017, 10:37) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    A facility condition assessment should have determined that the jetty is structurally deficient. Rating the jetty as structurally deficient and not doing anything about its structural integrity is gross neglect that imposed undue risk on the health and safety of jetty users. Users should not be exposed to this known and unnecessary risk. Did an engineer put his/her stamp of approval on the condition of the structure, providing an opinion that it structurally sound? Is not the gross looking spalling telling a different story and crying out for urgent, sensible action? Government has a responsibility for protecting the public's health and safety and must exercise due diligence in doing so. Was due diligence exercised? Where is the Hon O'Neal, RD-9, on this issue? He may not be an engineer but he needs to weigh in. He needs to get a technical jetty sufficiency briefing from the Director of Public Works and MCW. Can anyone, including lay people, honestly look at the spalling and rebar degradation and proclaim that all is well?
  • Mark (25/05/2017, 15:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We don’t know when to believe this man
  • insider (25/05/2017, 22:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The pwd and the mcw especially, is a joke meson.


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