Gov't has 'hodgepodge' & 'willy-nilly' approach to loan spending- Hon Penn
Hon Penn was speaking during the NDP Radio programme on ZBVI 780 AM on May 19, 2025. He was asked by host Bishop John I. Cline what he would do if he were to be the one to spend the loan money.
“The reality is we borrowed $100 million, and we’re yet to see what the government’s plan is for spending this money,” Hon Penn stated.
He accused the Virgin Islands Party government of having a “hodgepodge” or “willy-nilly” approach to spending the loan funds.
New roads already deteriorating
Hon Penn said the recent rainfall has already begun affecting the newly redone road surfaces.
“With the little bit of rain that fell over the weekend, some of the roads already start to lift up. In some of the areas, some of the roads that we spent money on, thousands of dollars on.”
He stated that the work on these roads was done hastily and in an effort for the public’s gratitude for the relief from the poor road infrastructure.
“They want it to be a long-term relief, they don’t want it to be a temporary relief, and we've got a situation where we saw a little rain, we’re in the rainy season now, and the roads already start to deteriorate.”
He said it is obvious things are not being done properly, as there’s no proper drainage and no proper planning.
Businesses along road works are suffering
Hon Penn added that businesses in the areas where work is being done on the roads have begun to suffer.
He called the road works being done on the Paraquita Bay and Hodge’s Creek Road a “disaster”.
“We’re almost back to September again, and we don’t see an end in sight…the road is less than a mile, and it’s taking that long to get the road completed…My deeper concern, though, is the damage that it’s doing to the businesses in the area.”
According to Hon Penn, one such business is the Hodge’s Creek Marina that has been “suffering” from these roadworks.
“Not because they’re my family, but there are people invested in this economy. The Penn family, who owns the Hodge’s Creek Marina that have to deal with this on a daily basis; the restaurant that just opened there have to deal with the dust.”
Asked by Bishop Cline his opinion on why those in charge of the project cannot see those issues, Penn answered that he does not think they cannot see, but they are “probably tone deaf”.
“I know that the proprietors of these businesses have gone to the minister; there are some restaurants further down below, so persons on either end of this project are feeling the brunt of it.”
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13 Responses to “Gov't has 'hodgepodge' & 'willy-nilly' approach to loan spending- Hon Penn”
Who want to hear from this c**kr**ch no leadership
How can you expect to keep doing the same thing the same way and get different outcome.
You need to bring in people who knows about road construction to do the work and let the local guys learn from them.
Our guy can only build roads to last until the next shower of rain. I see people building roads and the roll and compact the road surface for two or more days and the apply a sealing coat to ensure a smooth even surface to give you a road last for five years or more. Here our guy just spread the asphalt roll it two times and move on leaving a bumpy and pervious surface that start deterioration after the next shower of rain. Please get people who knows about road construction and learn from them that is how you are going to build competency. Event when there are private contracts they are so greedy that no qualified expert is employed to ensure quality work is done.
where you able to track down the aeroplane or the ten million dollar tax payer money
You have ample free time to track down the 8 million approved in the House of Assembly for the East End Sewage System