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Final checks being conducted on Gov’ts asphalt plant - Jeremy W. Hodge

-promises VI’s roads will be addressed when asphalt plant is commissioned
August 30th, 2023 | Tags: asphalt plant BVI road road works paving roads
Virgin Islands (VI) Director of the Public Works Department, Mr. Jeremy Hodge says final diagnostic checks are being conducted on the department’s asphalt plant ahead of its operation. Photo: GIS
Mr Jeremy W. Hodge detailed that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed while adding that plans are underway to address the Territory’s roads in a holistic manner. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Jeremy W. Hodge detailed that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed while adding that plans are underway to address the Territory’s roads in a holistic manner. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Director of the Public Works Department, Mr. Jeremy W. Hodge says final diagnostic checks are being conducted on the department’s asphalt plant ahead of its operation.

The Director thanked the entities including the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) and the Department of Information Technology for their assistance in setting up the asphalt plant and for ensuring that it was configured to be connected to the internet thereby ensuring that issues will be identified and rectified in the future.

He added that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed.

Checks being completed - Hodge 

Hodge detailed that the plant’s technician and members of his team are in the Territory ensuring that the checks are completed while adding that plans are underway to address the Territory’s roads in a holistic manner.

“I know that there will be a lot of anxiety but we will get around to all those roads, including your community,” he said. 

Mr. Hodge added, “We are also in communication with some technicians overseas to work along with our technicians to share expertise on road paving and other techniques.”

Hodge also issued an invitation to persons who are about to complete their heavy equipment license and those with an interest in learning about asphalt or its applications to sign up with the Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment and Development (RATED) Programme where they will receive the necessary training when another team of technicians arrives in the Territory.

 

 

22 Responses to “Final checks being conducted on Gov’ts asphalt plant - Jeremy W. Hodge”

  • Manjack (30/08/2023, 19:10) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hopefully, they will redesign and properly prep the roads, ie, subgrade, subbase, base and surface course and not just slap hot mix asphalt on a failed road(s). Slapping asphalt on a failed road is at best a temporary bandaid. Let me say it again, the proper and only fix for a failed road is reconstruction— period, full stop. It is fools gold to do otherwise. Poor design, including poor drainage, construction, repair, maintenance among other factors are the prime contributors to the severe, premature, deteriorated, dysfunctional, butt of jokes, road conditions. Quality functional roads are a quality of life, standard of living, economic growth and development, etc., issue. It is time BVI taxpayers get a good return on their investment. Hate to say it but Public Works is a joke and a hot mess; it is relegated to a maintenance unit . If we value high quality roads, lets us stop putting round pegs in square holes, expecting positive outcomes. It is an insult to engineers, eg, civil engineers, to put non-engineers in engineering position(s). Let’s stop feeding road crocodiles believing that they yield positive outcome. Where is Dr. Glasgow, former PWD Director?
    • Engineer (31/08/2023, 06:32) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Glasgow is not even an engineer, but he is the closest you have, so put him in charge and then employ an engineer to work along with him. You cannot operate a Public works Department without an engineer. You may save $100,000 annually by not employing one but how much does it cost the department in wasted asphalt annually not to mention the cost to the Public.
      • Ne Timeas (31/08/2023, 08:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Engineer, it was a stroke of genius to put non-engineer(s) in the Public Works Director, position, an engineer position, permanently. . This is a tongue and cheek statement. Agree that that the Public Works Director position not should but must be filled by an engineer. It seems like the government of tge day value politics over quality public works services,
        • @Ne Timeas (31/08/2023, 22:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          @Ne Timeas, stroke of genius you say. No, you got jokes. It is gross mismanagement , malmanagement. The government is not serious about public works being an essential function and services. The Public Director is/should be the senior most technical advisor to government. Can anyone with a sober face say that is the case now. Jeremy is a personable guy but he is out of his depth on this one; he is an admin, lacking the technical chops. In order to serve as the senior technical advisor, the director must have the technical knowledge, education and training, experience, etc. Public Works is a joke department.
      • @Engineer (31/08/2023, 22:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Engineer, “ You cannot operate a Public works Department without an engineer.” Premier Wheatley are you listening to a sensible voice of clarity and reason.
      • @Emgineer (03/09/2023, 11:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Engineer, all yu ease up on Jeremy nah. It is not his fault, for he was assigned to the job and trying his best not being an engineer.
    • @Manjack (31/08/2023, 08:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Mankjack, hounaskeed, “ Where is Dr. Glasgow, former PWD Director.” ? Well, there is a sighting. Were you suggesting that he being trained as a public works theoretical expert, not a practical one didn’t do so well at the helm of public works. He was a victim of the education system, focusing heavily on theory and little on practical. College is a theoretical laboratory. The experience and practicality comes later outside the classroom. Over the years, a number of articles, commentaries, etc on road design, construction and maintenance were written but nothing changed, rather road conditions seems to have gotten worst. Perhaps these commentators can weigh in again. If it at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.
  • asking for a friend (30/08/2023, 20:30) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do Puplic Works employees do anything to collect a salary every month?
  • Arrion (30/08/2023, 21:45) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    If I ever see the roads fixed and not patched, only to break open again a month later, I and so many more will be the happiest people in the BVI. The soreness of our spines, legs, and arms falling into potholes, and driving on an obstacle course is so unhealthy, dangerous, and tiring. Our tires and vehicles are crying as much as we are. Please please please hurry and start fixing the roads properly, that is all we ask as human beings. Thank you.
  • The watchdog (31/08/2023, 03:31) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Another pipe dream!!
  • 2023 (31/08/2023, 05:42) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    when will the current government fix the dump
    That toxic smoke is hazardous to the people

  • Youth (31/08/2023, 08:15) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This plant sat in Skelton concrete yard for many months so can Minister Kye who out it there tell taxpayers why and how much is it costing the tax payers?
  • Once again (31/08/2023, 08:18) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is the best of Minister Kye Ryymer. He hides behind the public officers when there are serious issues concerning to the public and they are not being addressed but comes out to take the credit if it looks like it is being resolved and dumps the public officers on the side. Poor leadership.
  • Mustang (31/08/2023, 10:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Frantz Fanon, Martinique-born French freedom fighter notes: “ Colonialism is violence in its natural state.” Indeed, colonialism is an extractive, exploitive, exclusionary, violent, privileged, etc., failed institution. Governing in the BVI shared between Mount Olympus and local government is floundering; every function seems to be in a floundering state. There are no Pilates in this floundering mess. Mount Olympus holds a concrete belief that it has a right/privilege to do what it wants. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King writes: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.” Strongly believing that you have the right by decree to rule over others without their will/consent is sincere ignorance. The local government is green and inexperienced, contributing to some of the poor floundering. Undoubtedly, weak, poor, failed, etc., leadership is a factor in the floundering state. Strong leadership and management needed. Chanakya (c350-(c.275 bce) notes:” A single Wheel does not move.”

    Moreover, it comes down to strong , effective leadership and management. A leader/ruler is responsible for the welfare, security, and discipline of his/her people. He/she needs to have a wide range of knowledge, skills, and personal qualities. He/she also must be trained in self-discipline and statecraft before taking office. And while in office, he/she must be advised by able and experienced people. Further, government is possible only with assistance . A single wheel does not move. By the way, I too endorsed Public Works being led by an experience engineer. Graduating from college is not strong experience; college is theory.
    • Eagle and Buffalo (31/08/2023, 11:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Mustang, I was on hiatus but this post had such a gravitational pull on me than I must weigh in. Our political governing practices, succession planning( what succession planning?) is in disarray. Consequently, succession failure results in bright perhaps but inexperience people elevating to top leadership roles. Experience is invaluable and must be earned, and cannot be purchased. Faking to make it is burdensome and costly. The inexperience on the government process shows. As such, our governing processes often touch only the outer bands, not the nucleus of solutions to problems. The thinking is shallow and skin deep, due to inexperience. For example, routine functions, ie road maintenance and repair become challenges. The political governing process needs to be revamped, ie, Virgin Islanders having direct input as to whom is assigned as governor, effective preparedness for government leaders, etc. The Chanakya take is a heavy lift for the BVI but overcoming the inertia is not insurmountable but their effective planning is needed. Valuing Politics over the well-being of people is retarding our progression.,

      [lets lead like eagles, not corralled off the cliff like buffaloes].
  • Rubber Duck (31/08/2023, 10:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who can i send my enormous tyre bill to?
  • 132 (31/08/2023, 11:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pave my yard to test it out
  • KING FISH (31/08/2023, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If ever finish the plant would die a rusty death in a year or two due to lack of maintenance
  • E. Leonard (01/09/2023, 10:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    David Allen: “You can do anything you want to, but you cannot do everything.” The Virgin Islands (VI) [British] has a myriad of challenges, including deteriorated road conditions. It cannot addressed all its challenges at once but it can have better roads. Proper road design, construction, maintenance, and repair is neither rocket science, biochemistry, nor nuclear physics. All it requires is effective planning, programming, budgeting, designing, constructing, inspecting, maintaining and repairing process. It takes commitment and prioritization. It cannot do everything but it can have better roads , ie, First World standard.

    Moreover, in addition to poor design, construction, inspection and maintenance, a major contributing factor to the deteriorated road conditions is poor drainage, ie, ponding on the road. As a minimum, roads should be designed and constructed with a proper crowns and cross slopes to facilitate runoff from roads into side ditches, curb and gutters, etc. Often times, engineers are blamed for poor design of roads. Well, assuming that a road is effectively design, if it is not constructed consistent with the design, premature road, shorten lifecycle will result. Effective inspection is critical to ensuring that a road project is constructed consistent with design.

    Further, road constructed as designed, it requires periodic maintenance to attain and maintain functionality, and achieved its planned lifecycle. Let’s take a peak at the minimum planned maintenance schedules for a 20-year asphalt, flexible pavement, road. An asphalt road is like a layered cake, ie., subgrade, subbase, base, and surface course. Construction completed and road put in service, at the 7-year mark, a seal coat is applied over the surface course. At the 15-year life, the surface or top coat is completely milled and replaced with an overlay. Finally, at the 20-year mark, the road is dug up and reconstructed. And in between these maintenance schedules, crack sealing may be needed.

    Moreover, each jurisdiction clearly will have its own lifecycle(s) and will have different maintenance schedules. Nevertheless, VI roads must last longer than the next 2-year rain. Here are a few truths , ie, a smooth road is not necessarily a good road, the only fix for a failed road is reconstruction, water ponding on roads will quickly result in premature road failure, starting with potholes. By the way, in a small locale like the VI, potholes may be a nuisance but manageable.

    Moreover, poor roads are not consistent with a First World image, adversely impacts quality of life and standards of living, impacts economic growth and development, increase s reconstruction cost, enhances the probability for accidents, increases vehicle owners operating cost, poor image for tourism sector, 1/2 of economic twin pillars etc.
    • @E.Leonard (01/09/2023, 11:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, your commentary are idealistic and feasible but PWD is less and cannot handle the basic things you suggesting. All I want at this point, is for them to fix the frigging potholes so I don’t have to spend my time dodging potholes. My poor car screaming for help, pocket book crying for help. Government need to provide a basic transportation allowance for all vehicle owning they fix the roads they to construct properly and maintain. I’m puzzle. It is either the PWD is less or the processes you are describing is technically complicated and costly. What is it?
    • @E. Leonard (01/09/2023, 13:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, Boi, you will quicker look out your window and see a green mule flying than our roads getting fix. All Public works know how to do is slap some asphalt on a surface and smooth it out and call it George. No line and grade shot, no temperature of asphalt taken, no analysis of proportion of ingredients in asphalt taken..etc. Why even bother, for it is Latin to these people. They less and hopeless. The poorly design road network is a hot mess.


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