Communication woes crippling tourism at Anegada
“One item that was surprising for me to listen to today (Friday, February 22, 2013) is challenges with the telecommunication providers,” noted Mrs Flax-Mars. It was evident and a fact that the telecommunication carriers are committed to mobile/cell phone and internet services on the island. However, according to residents and tourists alike, both of the services are extremely "lousy". As it relates to the internet services, they are "anciently slow" while the signals for the mobile services are reportedly unacceptably low.
Various levels of communication were highlighted as lacking and responsible for the some of the snags in the tourism industry. This reportedly included the communication among Government entities, the Tourist Board and tourism partners. The reported communication challenges for tourists and residents alike was spotted as a serious concern.
“The trust is to see what’s good, what works what the challenges are, what the opportunities are and to work with the industry partners as well as the government industries to make sure that we are moving in the right direction," Mrs Flax-Mars told those concerned.
At the time, the Director and her team were on one of the promised sister island visits. When Mrs Flax-Mars had taken up the post as Director of Tourism some six weeks ago, she had made a promise that there were going to be regular visits to other islands that have a tourism base.
Virgin Islands News Online was on location when the concerns were being noted, however, for reasons of their own, those highlighting the problems they are experiencing, chose to speak through the Director of Tourism and her team as opposed to having their names mentioned.
“They are having problems with dropped calls and it is very important for the guests and the type of guests that we get to know that their communication would be seamless,” said Flax-Mars. Despite the peace and tranquility that propel the tourists to some destinations, their ability to keep connected with the outer world especially in the event of emergencies is critical, it was noted.
“They need to know if they need to get connected it can happen quickly, so we see that as an area where we maybe need to speak with the telecommunication providers and find out if there is a problem and if so what the problem is. That’s one of the areas we know that we definitely need to look at,” said the Director.
On the distaff side, it was observed that most of the businesses including the guest apartments did not have a presence on social media. In this regard the Tourism Director said that they would be looking at getting those businesses and attractions on the Tourist Board’s website and possibly setting up individual Facebook and other pages for them.
Among the other issues raised with the Director of Tourism and her team were that of access to the island, access to the tourism sites around the island by road, infrastructure, the disposal and management of garbage and the maintenance of the beaches.
On the other hand there were a number of areas that were spotted to be main pullers to boost tourism on the island, including in the area of fishing where fishermen bring in their catch and prepare them for market.
On a very high and positive note was the discovery of a resident and businessman’s development of a personal museum. Mr Wilfred M. Creque has been collecting artifacts from the age of 16 and today houses a wealth of history, which he hopes will one day develop into a "proper museum". Mrs Flax-Mars expressed surprise at the wealth of personal collection and promised to make it one area for immediate attention.
Mr Creque told this news site that most of the items were collected from various points across the island including the beaches. “Some of these thing were washed ashore and I, loving collections and artifacts, never allow them to escape my grasp.” Among the collection are coins dating back to 1800s, bottles dating back to 1698, U.S.M.C. ceramics manufactured in 1923 and older.
“Again if there is an opportunity for the Tourist Board to work with Mr. Creque, as well as to involve the Ministry of Education and Culture and the College, I believe that can be a really interesting attraction on Anegada if developed properly,” Flax-Mars said. She also noted she was aware there was a collection on the island but did not know it was that extensive.
In the very near future the BVI Tourist Board will be adding to its staff fold, a product officer, who will be assigned specifically to the needs of Anegada and will be filling a void that was never filled in the past even though there is someone assigned to Jost Van Dyke. “Now by nature what Anegda is becoming and what their potential is, we need to do something for them as well."
To further develop the island, Mrs. Flax-Mars said it was noted that there is a dire need for the development of a partnership among the businesses at Anegada. This, she said, can be done through the development of a business association and hotel and restaurant association which can allow them to share ideas and further on, look at corporate advertising and marketing in conjunction with the BVI Tourist Board.
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27 Responses to “Communication woes crippling tourism at Anegada”
However, isn't Ralphie your district representative?
Why are you guys still suffering like this when the VIP has been in power for almost thirty years PRIOR to the NDP's administration?
You should redirect your concerns to your representative or else vote him out next election cycle! Y'all must like it/Ralphie/conditions so, so decrepit conditions must, sadly, remain!
First and foremost, the island has a socalled "District office" who shows up to work whenever time they fells like when they shold be there from 8:30 - 4:30 with 1 lunch hour and not two and half and then does not show up to collect the mail from the ferry. This so called "District Officer" is the Anegadian's link to all Government Offices. If they will do their work some of the issues will be dealth with. Secondly, if the business owners will stop throwing the garbage outside the gate then there will not have any problem. One of these days there will be an article with all the names on the business owners who throw their garbage outside the garbade dump infront of the gate. You all are always trying to bring down each other trying to better yourself but God do not slumber nor sleep and remember you all will reap whatever you all sow.
Fools!!
Perhaps she needs to 'learn' to get 'creative' and develop revenues to pay some of the ridiculous salaries at BVITB along with covering the other expenses or better yet get rid of some of the many useless staff!
If we address the school and its facilities: only around election do you see work being done (as in any sister island) but what the children are lacking is a comprehensive curriculum. The opportunity to take on a skill in carpentry, computer science, arts, the sciences, etc are not offered so the children are not exposed as those on the mainland are. Look at the calibre of teachers: only a handful are truly teachers, have undergone the necessary trainings to become one and/or have the natural ability to do so. Again, others are given the job because of political affiliation. How does that profit the school children?
Health care: non-existent basically and a joke.
Banking: Once upon a time, a story was spun that a representative from the the Government Bank of the Virgin Islands would come up once a week to alleviate the expenditure of ferry fare just to conduct banking on Tortola. Another promise not kept and again, another one made during election time
Land Issues: First Anegadians were allotted 2 acres, then 1, then 1/2 now 1/4. Many have several and those who are not Anegadians claim they are 14 generations removed and can get land because of who they know
Tourism: Forget it. Observant Anegadian hit the nail on the head and I'm afraid drove it past the concrete structure! It's a joke. Too much in-fighting now coupled with the greedy investors taking over our land and rubbing shoulders with political party affiliates to get golf course etc on island. At least Mrs. Flax-Mars is doing what NO OTHER Tourism Director has done and that is come to Anegada and TALK to the people ON the island! For effort, I say thank you, it's a step in the right direction.
I will reserve more for later. But to observant Anegadian, job WELL DONE in shedding the light on some of the bureacracy that goes on on this island.