Decision on incenerator to be made soon- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley
That is according to the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), while visiting the site during the week of October 13, 2025.
An October 20, 2025, press release from the Ministry of Health and Social Development said Hon Wheatley confirmed that steps are being taken to restore incineration capacity at the Pockwood Pond site.
Decision expected in a matter of weeks
In January 2025, Pennram Diversified Manufacturing Corporation, an international incinerator specialist, inspected the current incinerator and provided recommendations to either repair the existing 100-ton unit or replace it with two new 50-ton systems.
A final decision is expected within weeks, Hon Wheatley revealed.
Hon Wheatley also commended residents who have embraced recycling and other eco-friendly practices.
“Those who separate their garbage, compost, and reuse materials are leading by example. The more we work together, the more we keep a cleaner, greener Virgin Islands.”
New bulldozer commissioned
The purpose of the Minister’s visit to the site was to witness a demonstration of the newly commissioned bulldozer at the Pockwood Pond site.
He described it as a major cost-saving and operational milestone for the Department of Waste Management (DWM).
Hon Wheatley said, “This means that much of the work we previously outsourced can now be handled in-house, operated, maintained, and managed by our own team.”
He also commended the Acting Director of Waste Management, Mr Levi Benjamin, and the Department of Waste Management for their outstanding performance.
Hon Wheatley commended the department, referring to the fact that there had not been a single fire in 2024 or 2025, calling it a remarkable achievement.
Mr Benjamin emphasised that the new bulldozer will allow the department to better manage operations and reduce reliance on private contractors.
“Having our own equipment is a game-changer. It saves on the costs and delays that come with outsourcing. Our team has already been trained and is ready to operate the machine efficiently, starting this week.”
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8 Responses to “Decision on incenerator to be made soon- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley”
For years, successive ministers have shifted responsibility between departments, suppliers, and consultants. The result? Three years later, the only thing burning is public patience.
Someone in authority must now answer three simple questions:
Repair or replace,which is it?
Who is responsible for delivering it?
By what date will it run?
If no one can answer those, then this is not a technical failure, it is an administrative one.
Stop Talking, Start Building
The public does not need another press release about “decisions in weeks.” It needs a public timeline, a named project lead, and performance clauses for whichever vendor is chosen.
We cannot keep treating essential infrastructure as optional.
Three years without incineration is not a maintenance issue—it’s a management issue. Until leadership stops recycling excuses, Pockwood Pond will remain a monument to governmental inertia.
The Virgin Islands deserves better than silence and smoke.
We deserve an incinerator that actually works.
A DECISION.
We reached the stage of thinking about making a decision.
This Governance is laughable.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha .
Ha
Ha
Ha.
After how many years?????!