Every Govt Dept. should be headed by BVIslander- Patsy Lake
Mrs Lake told the gathering that the last stop notice she received from the Town and Country Planning Department lasted five months and cost her over $50,000 in losses.
The property developer related that she was told in a meeting with the Town and Country Department, “until you make up your mind to go to the land registry and assign this lot of land [the area outside the building where persons gathered], which by the way is free hold [land]… the building would continue to be at a standstill.”
She said an architect told her, “but Mrs Lake, you’re good at turning lemon into lemonade, why don’t you think about it?”
“I said ‘think? That was the first piece of property I bought on Wickhams Cay, now I must give it away?” Mrs Lake related, “but your head ain’t good...I don’t have nothing to think about… absolutely nothing to think about.”
Further, she told the gathering, the man at Town and Country Planning making the request was an expatriate and didn’t’ even know the history “I, Patsy Lake, who marched for Wickhams Cay and bought the land that I have from the foreign investor, must now give it away for parking....Give up land?...Boy you crazy, go back where you come from....give up my free hold land what I bought?”
Mrs Lake disclosed that it was times like those that she regretted being a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC). Though she felt humbled and honoured to serve on the board of the PSC, she thought if she had replied to what she had seen as condescending remarks, then persons would have heard “it is a member of the PSC”.
The prominent businesswoman said as an approach to a ‘forwarding’ mentality, she believed “every Government Department should be headed by a BVIslander,” and this is a policy she supports “wholeheartedly”.
She urged that Virgin Islanders love and support each other, after which “those among us” would no longer say that “we are not united because we have always been a very loving and caring people.”
Mrs Lake told the gathering that a current government minister had related that it was ‘nonsense’ to give up land for a parking area.
The moment she heard about a request to uplift an approved plan to continue with her building, Mrs Lake said it brought much joy to her.
She publicly thanked Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith and his government for "releasing her from the problems" she had been experiencing and noted this was the reason she was able to dedicate the property.
The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Mrs Lake’s mother, Mrs Otencia Fahie-Warren aka ‘Miss Tensie’. The date also marked what would have been ‘Miss Tensie’s’ 93rd birth anniversary.
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26 Responses to “Every Govt Dept. should be headed by BVIslander- Patsy Lake”
Even Colin O'Neal has parking under his commerce building. it is a better and smaller design and he saved the historical portion on Main Street. Patsy would have torn that down to maximize her square footage and ignore the historical importance of other buildings around her.
doc met those two buildings almost complete so hush your dumb @$$. ralph is the one that approved the construction in the firs tplace.
Its the one thing that drives me nuts about the VI.... everything is made to be more difficult than it needs to be because we refuse to follow rules and do things correctly. you older folk say the problems of the VI start with the younger generation, younger generation learn breaking the rule from you.
Yes the VI is small and so land comes at a premium, but every man want to drive so decide either land for parking, put a limit on vehicle ownership or limit on vehicle access to Road Town ...set some rules for the betterment of all and follow them!!!!!
vote them out!