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Hon Lorna G. Smith's Roots to Resilience Programme launched

-programme began with Paint the Town Project
The multi-faceted community development programme, Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive was officially launched on December 6, 2024, with the Paint the Town Project. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
The area prior to the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, joining Beef Island to Tortola received some much-needed attention under the Paint the Town project as part of the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive programme. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
The area prior to the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, joining Beef Island to Tortola received some much-needed attention under the Paint the Town project as part of the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive programme. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
Projects under the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive Programme aim to connect and engage constituents across different demographics. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
Projects under the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive Programme aim to connect and engage constituents across different demographics. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
Seven projects have been identified as part of the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive Programme. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
Seven projects have been identified as part of the Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive Programme. Photo: Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The multi-faceted community development programme, Roots to Resilience: Together We Thrive was officially launched on December 6, 2024.

The project is the brainchild of Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) and began with the Paint the Town: Community Beautification Project. According to a press release on December 12, 2024, the communities of East End, Long Look and Anegada were identified to be the first recipients of this initiative.

“The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport is a major point of entry for our visitors. It is imperative that they experience a clean, attractive, environment on their journey to their place of stay. The area prior to the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, joining Beef Island to Tortola was in disarray [and] was prioritised for attention to enhance the arrival experience, for visitors and residents alike,” Hon Smith said.

Collab with District 8 Representative

The Paint the Town: Community Beautification Project was launched with the collaboration of Eighth District Representative, Hon. Marlon A. Penn and his community group.

Launched on December 6, the work is still ongoing, and Hon Penn said he is pleased to support the project.

“This programme provides impetus, resources, and community engagement for the improvement of the East End Community,” he said adding, “I encourage everyone, community members, old and young, every resident, to come out and participate in all the projects to improve not only your community, but the entire Virgin Islands.”

Volunteers and local painters are being encouraged to partner with families living along main road to repaint fences, gates and walls.

“This initiative aims to not only revamp the area but also to foster community pride and cooperation in keeping their community vibrant and welcoming, for visitors and themselves,” the release added.

For the communities of Anegada, East End and Long Look communities, the next steps in terms of of preparing areas identified for painting will begin as soon as the weather allows, and the drier season commences.

Hon Smith stated, “Every effort to liaise with owners of the spaces identified for refurbishment is being undertaken to attain permissions. Additionally, the paint vendors have been extremely supportive of the Project and have offered additional sponsorship, and we are very grateful.”

6 more projects under Roots to Resilience Programme

The Paint the Town Community Beautification Project is but 1 of 7 targeted projects for this first year. The others are:

  • Clear the Clutter: Derelict Vehicle Removal Drive
  • Tradition Meets Tomorrow: Home Economics Training
  • Wisdom Week: Senior-led Mentorship for Young Adults
  • Old-time Talk: Cultural Dialect and Slang Mingle
  • Roots & Branches: Plant a Tree for the Future
  • Art from the Heart: Recyclables Competition & Silent Auction

The projects according to the release aim to connect and engage constituents across different demographics, including youth, adults, and seniors, on the Sister Islands and the main island of Tortola, and includes every resident of the Virgin Islands.

Hon Smith reminded, “We need to know and understand that Beauty is by Nature. Clean is by choice! We have the power to make the changes needed to return our Virgin Islands to its former heights. We must remember that the Virgin Islands “Is our place!” and this is a perfect opportunity for us to rebuild our communities.” 

16 Responses to “Hon Lorna G. Smith's Roots to Resilience Programme launched”

  • 2024 (13/12/2024, 13:23) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    the Lady ensuring She makes it back come next vote day
    to be or not to Be
  • resident (13/12/2024, 13:38) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    So happy to see some cleaning being done in Beef Islsnd. The bush is almost to the middle of the road in some areas!!! Shameful!
  • guy hill (13/12/2024, 15:01) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get some white wash and spread it on the Prison walls in Road Town. After all, it suppose to be a Tourist attraction. Please.
    • GateKeeper (15/12/2024, 18:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Guy, I hear you but just white washing the old HMP is akin to putting lipstick onna pig. The old HMP is a disgrace as a museum. What is the story behind the prison? Was it to lock up the brutes?? Was the same focus put on educating the brutes? No. Was it easier to get a prison built than a secondary school? Lock them up but don’t waste money on educating them , for they may get too ambitious, defying our view of them. The bottom line if the old HMP is going to be promoted do it right with quality.
  • bossie (13/12/2024, 16:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lorna is the new Minsiter for Clean up she took up from Archie
    • Unfortunately... (14/12/2024, 08:59) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      We did not see and appreciate the value of this initiative when Hon.Christian was doing it. We are short sighted and if we dont see an immediate monetary return then we claim that the representive aint doing nothing. The value of some thing go beyond just money and cleanliness is one of them.
  • Wave (13/12/2024, 17:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Put the VI flags back on the bridge.
  • Stealth (13/12/2024, 18:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Planning, organizing, replanning,etc is vital to community growth, development, sustainability and resilience.. A wise sage notes that he/she is blessed must first organize to be successful . Poor, discrete
    planing, and organizing, uniting, political division, lacking pooling scarce and limited resources etc, is holding back and strangling the BVI. The BVI needs comprehensive, holistic planning to chart a new course for the BVI. Government may be seen as useful as a tit on a boar hog but is legit and serves a useful purpose. It paves and maintains our roads, maintain our public buildings, protect our citizens,, eg, police, fire, ambulances, security,, etc, maintains , maintains our parks, etc. Government must step up its game. Government must do what government is elected to do. It must get off the lessness train. There is only one government at a time; these mini governments serves individual, personal political purposes ., filling a void created by government.
  • Welcome Sight (13/12/2024, 20:08) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank Your Madam Smith for your thoughtfulness and action
    A welcome relief!
    Cleanliness and order.
  • lipstick on a pig (13/12/2024, 22:39) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Residents need to take pride in their areas but it does not absolve government/public works from the complete absence of street cleaning and maintenance across the board - until then its a picket fence in a garbage dump (dont get me started on the incinerator....)
  • @ GUY HILL (14/12/2024, 06:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    TTHAT A VERY GOOD IDEA , BUT , WHO'S LISTENING ? IF THEY WON'T EVEN PUT THOSE GREEN GARBAGEBI S ON MAIN STREET , DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD DO AS YOU SAID ? COMPLIMENTS TO THE SEASON BRO
  • guy hill (14/12/2024, 10:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @@GUY HILL... Compliments to the season to you and yours. Peace Love and blessings. Be safe out there.
  • -------------------------- (15/12/2024, 10:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lorna is good people
  • Glory (15/12/2024, 13:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you Hon. Lorna Smith.
  • @lipstick on a pig (16/12/2024, 11:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    You are 100% correct, we need to have the proper legislation in place, enforcement is needed. The BVI lacks enforcement across the board we will continue to spend resources on clean up campaigns 'till pigs fly' it will not change a thing......but continue to be a broke nation. They will be cleaning up again next season and the next, etc. Where is the legislation to prevent persons from committing the offence again?
    My neighbor's septic has been leaching on to our property since I was a teenager, my mom has been fighting outside and inside the courts for years. When the wind blows, you can't sleep or entertain the smell of $%&* knocking you down. I left the BVI and whenever I visit I check in to see the progress, do you know this matter has not been resolved yet? Even though it is in the court? This is a cowboy nation...... it is not a real place. I had to leave, I cannot pay taxes in a country that has nothing to show for it.



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