2 years, 7 months later still no Public Library in Road Town
In the past, the NDP has funded $7.2M for the BVI Airways that never flew—and to date, no one explained what has happened to taxpayers money—and $1.6M for a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) in which the Auditor General speaks of corruption, broken laws and persons being paid for work not done.
In addition, there was a whopping $40M overrun on the Ports Development Project with the Auditor General, the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee and a former project manager Hugh E. Darley calling the project corrupt.
Recently, millions and millions in no-bid contracts were unearthed via the Virgin Islands’ House of Assembly (HoA), in addition, the United Kingdom imposed an alternative government after the hurricanes of 2017—called the Recovery and Development Board (RDB)—to handle all rebuilding projects, because of mistrust and lack of accountability and transparency in the Dr Smith led regime [2011-curent].
We need our Library
Furthermore, to the disappointment of the educated class since May 16, 2016, Tortola, has not had a public library. It means that important research cannot be done, and puts the Territory at the back of the line when compared to other developed and modern countries.
While the proposed Library some two-plus years later was to be housed at the old Clarence Thomas Building—which never came to past—a public library appears not to be a priority for the NDP Government.
The last we heard about the Public Library from the subject Minister, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), was when he said he could not give a restoring date. He was at the time responding to a question from the then Opposition Leader, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
East End, small and dusty
There is a small Library in East End on Tortola, but it does not have the volume of books or materials that would normally be found in a national public library. In addition, the room is extremely small, congested and under staffed with limited resources, according to one resident.
However, the fact that a public Library remains closed almost three years later, residents could only conclude that this is still not a priority for outgoing Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) and his administration.
Where are the books?
It is unclear where all the books and materials from the Road Town Public Library are and the conditions of them. In June 2018, Hon Walwyn told the HoA that they are stored at the ESHS campus in a building labelled Block F.
They are said to be stored in four rooms, one room on the ground floor and three rooms on the second floor according to him.
It also says much about the state of education or the value placed on such an important resource—books and a Public Library—post-Irma and Maria of 2017.
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20 Responses to “2 years, 7 months later still no Public Library in Road Town”
The people with education would never have him lead them, not even within the ndp. The educated Ronnie, kedrick, mitch, Ms parsons, ms hull, etc all gone.
Now he left with alvra, Pope, Jay, Brian, the fool ftom purcell who does be on radio with zoe and the likes, it says a lot, oh and arron and digo shm
I am from his district and I am still waiting to see him from the hurricane. He is arrogant and proud person and god don’t like it.
We need people that we can sit,laugh, council and debate it is.
TBe honest which one of the leaders can do that. That what we need in this time beside Jehovah
WHAT A SET OF OPPRESSORS
Why Mr Premier, not even that counts?
Millons on wall, millions on plane
When is the library coming back again?
I know you might think it's not important right now, but could you please put something in place..before you take a bow.