UPDATE: Chairman of Rec. Trust dispels VG park destruction
Several persons had reported to Virgin Islands News Online that components of the Park were being destroyed due to the poor handling and abuse of the facility. The reports had come from residents living on Virgin Gorda, and had highlighted what they feel is the absence of a proper management system of the recently opened park and that for the greater part, children are using the park unsupervised and causing damage especially to the decorative plants.
However, when contacted yesterday January 15, 2014, Mr. Barry said that investigations have proven the allegations to have been false. He said checks were made and there were no evidence of any such disturbances.
Additionally, Mr. Barry said that the day prior to the report hitting the media, the Recreational Trust had taken steps to secure the entrance of the Park by installing a chain at the entrance.
He told this news site that it is the Trust's intention to install a more proper gate which they cannot do at this time.
As it relates to the management of the Park, Mr. Barry said that they are in the process of conducting interviews for a person to fill the position of Manager for the Park. "We are working on putting things in place, many persons applied for the position and we are doing interviews at this stage," he said.
In the interim, he said that a senior member of the Trust who resides on Virgin Gorda, has been supervising the facility on a daily basis. "She lives over there and every morning and evening she would go and clean the toilets, open and close them and check to see that all is well at the park."
An appeal was made by Mr. Barry for parents to supervise their children while they are using the facility. "With children using the place we have no control over that but this is not only our thing it's for the benefit of all so parents have to do their part and supervise their children while they are using the park."
Meanwhile, this news site contacted some of the persons who who had raised concerns about the care and maintenance of the Park and they held on to their story. One resident affirmed that on more than one occasions, she was in the park with her grandchildren when she observed, especially young boys, riding through the plants.
"Plants will grow back even if they are broken but is the long term we have to look out for. What I am telling you now and what I told you before VINO is just the truth."
The woman said that several times she had attempted to correct the riders but was met with very rude behaviours. "I ease up going there, when they bring some security I will go back but I don't want to get into trouble with nobody children. One the little man give me his mouth and I don't want no body rushing me for disciplining their child. This time not long time."
The woman said that she is happy that the her concerns were made public and is also pleased to learn that interviews are being done to have someone placed in the position to manage the park. "I raised the issue solely because I care, it was me and your tax dollar that build it in the first place so it is our civic duty to look out for the care of it," said the concerned Virgin Gorda resident.
In addition, Mr. Bertland Creque, had said that for the greater part, children are using the park unsupervised and causing damage especially to the decorative plants.
“Children will be children, they riding their bicycles all over, through the plants, bumping over things, grazing the walls and this is a new place if not properly managed it will soon look like a garbage dump,” Mr. Creque had said.
See previous story posted January 10, 2014:
Residents call for better management of new $300K VG Park
SPANISH TOWN, Virgin Gorda, VI – The government of the Virgin Islands recently expended over $300,000 to develop the Walters Recreational Park at Virgin Gorda (VG) but residents are surprised that a proper system of its management is lacking, hence reckless use is already causing visible destruction.
Over the past two weeks, several persons from the VG community have been calling on this news site to highlight what they feel is the absence of a proper management system of the recently opened park, which did not go to public tender. The callers, including Mr. Bertland Creque, said that for the greater part, children are using the park unsupervised and causing damage especially to the decorative plants.
“Children will be children, they riding their bicycles all over, through the plants, bumping over things, grazing the walls and this is a new place if not properly managed it will soon look like a garbage dump,” said Mr. Creque.
According to another resident, “The Walters Park is under no control by no individual.” He also stated the little boys who are riding their bikes and causing destruction to plants and other components is as a result of the absence of a gate to the park. “There is a guard who is responsible for guarding the Vanterpool building they want him to control the park. We would like to see they have somebody who would manage the park.”
Another issue that has been brought to this news site’s attention is the fact that more often than not, boys are allegedly being seen standing in the bathroom assigned for girls. “This is serious and we have to see someone address this very urgently, boys standing in girls bathroom is a big no no, children like to experiment and we need to have an eye out for these ills, we cannot condone wrongs,” stated another.
It was further reported that the Park which allegedly is not properly lit at nights has become a hot spot for outdoor sex. “All the money spent on this park is going in hell fire,” one man told Virgin Islands News Online.
In a bid to gather information on the system of management put in place for the Park, if any, Deputy Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry for Education and Culture Mrs. Prudence Mathavious said that the concerns will be looked into as they were not otherwise brought to the attention of the Ministry.
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn also told this news site that the Walters Recreational Park has been placed under the management of the BVI Recreational Trust. Several attempts to reach its Chairman Mr. Roy Barry were futile.
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29 Responses to “UPDATE: Chairman of Rec. Trust dispels VG park destruction”
Some folks here are just jacka$$$es as usual, The park was built but the ministry of education
and was handed over to Recreation Trust to manage, it was stated in plain english. Allow them to do
their work, it is not the first park and the know what was neede. For crying out loud give the people
a chance since you know the things that was miss is not in place. The same people who start the story knows
excactly that recreation trust are working on those things. It open in the middle of the holidays as if they dont know.
You folks are just sick and disgusting as usual, just because ralph didnt do it and would have never done it.
My view is that while the park is nice it does not seem like anybody asked the end users what they would like to see in it. Clearly a safe place to ride bikes was not considered, and is something the community needs. Riding in the streets is too dangerous given the ways people drive, as well as the narrow and unlit streets.