Hon Lorna G. Smith's Roots to Resilience Programme launched
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.”
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16 Responses to “Hon Lorna G. Smith's Roots to Resilience Programme launched”
to be or not to Be
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.
A welcome relief!
Cleanliness and order.
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.