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$404K contract for UK firm to provide feasibility study for modern landfill

- Wood Group UK Ltd awarded contract by RDA
Solid waste at the Pockwood Pond landfill. The Government of the Virgin Islands has signed a contract for a feasibility study aimed at developing a sustainable and modern landfill that contributes to a responsible and circular management of waste within the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said that addressing waste management has been more than a decade long conversation, and it is time to address it once and for all. Photo: GIS
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said that addressing waste management has been more than a decade long conversation, and it is time to address it once and for all. Photo: GIS
Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) said Government is taking a holistic approach to waste management. Photo: GIS
Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) said Government is taking a holistic approach to waste management. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Government of the Virgin Islands has signed a contract for a feasibility study aimed at developing a sustainable and modern landfill that contributes to a responsible and circular management of waste within the Virgin Islands.

The contract signed on August 17, 2021, through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) with Wood Group UK Ltd is for the sum of 404,000.00 for the designs and ultimate contracting of a modern means for managing waste that forms part of a cohesive Waste Management Strategy.

According to a press release from the Virgin Islands Recovery Development Agency (RDA) on August 19, 2021, the outputs from this 18-month technical assistance will provide the recommendations needed to develop the most responsible and cost-effective means to dispose of landfilled waste in the Territory for the next 40 years.

'Time to address it once & for all'- Premier Fahie

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said that addressing waste management has been more than a decade long conversation, and it is time to address it once and for all.

“As a Government, we are irrevocably committed to the health and well-being of the people of the Virgin Islands and waste management is a crucial part of this process.  This is extremely important because it will not only ensure that our whole environment looks clean but is clean,” the Premier said.

Premier Fahie said the Territory is aware of the challenges of open burning at Pockwood Pond and in Virgin Gorda and this contract is a step in the right direction as the [British] Virgin Islands shifts into its next paradigm.

'We cannot be indirectly & indiscriminately disposing our waste'- Hon Malone

Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) stated that Government is taking a holistic approach to waste management. 

“This is a very important step in accomplishing our goals towards sustainable development, towards ensuring that waste is given its prominence in a healthy environment.

"We cannot be indirectly and indiscriminately disposing our waste and think that our environment can be protected,” Honourable Malone said.

'Project impacts the entire Territory'- RDA Acting CEO

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the RDA, Mr Anthony S. McMaster said the project transcends all the islands in the Virgin Islands and efforts we must be made to ensure the sustainability of the future for present and future generations. 

“This project impacts the entire Territory. While it is Government-led, we must understand that waste impacts all of us in every faucet of the way and is a partnership that must be taken seriously by all,” Mr McMaster said.

Mr McMaster added, “The success of this project is not based on the plans and the funding that Government has put in place. It is dependent on us as a community and as a Territory.”

The procurement of this contract, according to the press release, was done in accordance with the RDA’s procurement policy and general procedures. It said a request for expression of interest was published on the RDA, Government of the Virgin Islands, and the United Nations websites and the BVI Beacon newspaper.

Fourteen (14) international firms expressed interest in this opportunity and the top six were requested to submit detailed technical and financial proposals from which four proposals were received, the press release stated.

16 Responses to “$404K contract for UK firm to provide feasibility study for modern landfill”

  • Rubber d!ck (22/08/2021, 09:35) Like (9) Dislike (16) Reply

    Uk firm I bet my life the coi will not investigate this! They want everything for their people set of racist oppressors

    • some thoughts (22/08/2021, 13:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Anothe obscure but essential project. Obscure because it’s not clear how the contractor was selected. Other (larger) Caribbean Islands have engineering design expertise and could have brought useful perpectives. Curious though that we’re spending $ 1 mil for WE ferry terminal design (that we’ve managed without, not to say it is not useful) but less than half of that on something we desperately need, that is essential, and that has to last a very long time. Also, mention is made of a cohesive waste management strategy. Is its development part of the contract? And, crucially will this be another one of those publically funded consulting jobs that generates confidential reports that few are privy to? I’d imagine that part of the solution would involve waste segregation (plastics, metals, foods, glass), so the challenge will be to motivate everyone on island to do the right thing, and quite possibly to have a regular garbage bill to pay for proper waste management. That won’t be easy, given current waste handling practices.
    • tola (23/08/2021, 10:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      say what you want about my Premier. He is smart! he knows just how to keep the UK off his back
  • NICK (22/08/2021, 10:04) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    where is the already paid scrubber for pockwood pond?
  • what (22/08/2021, 11:12) Like (14) Dislike (25) Reply
    What services are we truly receiving for $404k. The headlines say FEASIBILITY STUDY!!!
  • Groundhog day (22/08/2021, 12:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Haven't been here before i think we have been here before alamost 20 years ago. Is it groundhog day.
  • Good Advisor: The Hon. Andrew Fahie like all of us do make errors sometimes. (22/08/2021, 16:02) Like (2) Dislike (64) Reply
    But why should some of us think and speak negatively of him of his approvaled of a contract with a UK based company? Don't they too have the right to work in the British Virgin Islands? Hew! Some of us, in our minds is more crooked than sidewinder snakes.
    I am am not against Independence, but first we should seek Independence from envy, division, racism, arrogance, selfishness, etc.
    God loves all.
  • the doc (22/08/2021, 16:24) Like (46) Dislike (0) Reply
    I try talking to the present minister about such idea in that area about one (1) year or more since he took office but he just brush me aside cause he feel I just a small fish trying to swim in the deep. We native or belonged have no ideas for people of such. Just like I did a draft of how west end ferry terminal should look like but again no one look at me that way.
  • lol (22/08/2021, 17:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How did that boat float all the way up that hill?
  • The TRUTH (22/08/2021, 20:02) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Big contracts are only OK when people of a certain hue get them.
  • For Study (22/08/2021, 21:20) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's too much for a study!
  • Alkebulan Minds (22/08/2021, 22:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's just kinda sad, because Alkebulan Minds Recycling Inc was doing at free of cost to the government of the BVI.
    So just imagine what's really going on here
  • F for policy failure (22/08/2021, 22:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about a community project where people submit their best ideas then assign experts in the community to review the ideas and come up with a feasible solution that combines all viable suggestions...split the money several ways for participation.

    NO VISION...THE PEOPLE PERISHING!!!
  • lodger (23/08/2021, 08:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If they recommend moving the site the project will come to a stop with land owners refusing to sell, and govt no nerve to compulsory purpose.


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