‘If you give me $1M I can fix’ CGB beach issue – John I. Cline
Every year the world renowned Cane Garden Bay Beach on Tortola attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, mainly via cruise ships. Over a number of years; however, the tourist attraction has been the subject of a number of challenges, which were heightened by the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Most recently, following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen, Government was forced to close the beach for a number of days due to the level of dangerous bacteria found in the water.
Mr John I. Cline, while disagreeing with the mass media blast about the beach closure, said he is particularly concerned about what is being done to once and for all rectify the problems.
“I am not aware, and if you are doing something to fix it then the people of that district and Cane Garden Bay should be aware of what the efforts are.”
‘I do more for CGB beach than Gov’t’
The ‘man of the cloth’ made that statement while on ‘The Big Story’ recently with Cathy O. Richards when he also credited himself for doing a lot for the beach. “I think I make more efforts to fix Cane Garden Bay than any government has ever done.”
The Cane Garden Bay resident said he and others have spent out of their pockets, “brought in people to help rid the ponds of some the bacteria that derived from the sewage. So we put enzymes in the ponds to help to eat up some of the bacteria.”
According to Bishop Cline, he has had several meetings with authorities to lobby them to recreate ponds to fix the situation. “Let’s contain it, we can do it.”
Then he hit with the million dollar proposal: “If you give me a million dollars I can fix Cane Garden Bay… guarantee.” And according to Mr Cline, he is in the process of presenting the government with a proposal for the job.
Sewerage issue being addressed- Hon Kye M. Rymer
In a statement during the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on October 17, 2019, Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) said the matter of sewage runoff is receiving the attention of Government.
According to Hon Rymer, some remedial measures have been taken to bring some immediate relief; however, a more permanent solution is required, and work on this is in progress.
“Mr Speaker, you may recall that the Cane Garden Bay Sewerage Programme, including the new Network Build Out and new Treatment Facility, is being tendered publicly. This will conclude on October 22, which is about one week from today.”
Following the closure of the Public Tender, Hon Rymer added, the submissions will be evaluated by the subcommittee and a recommendation will be forward to the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands to approve the selection of a contractor or contractors.
Lift stations added to prevent sewerage overflows
In the meantime, in order to mitigate against any present effects from the current state of the infrastructure, the Ministry of Transportation Works and Utilities and the Water and Sewerage Department have retrofitted the CGB treatment plant, which is currently treating sewage.
“Further we have procured eight (8) lift-stations and have installed four (4) of the pumps to lift the sewage to the retrofitted plant.”
Hon Rymer said these pumps are being placed in the wells with the highest flows to prevent overflows and to significantly minimise the need for the use of a pump truck.
“I am advised that, to date, this temporary system is working well and when the remaining four (4) pumps are installed over the next week, these will address the remaining areas identified.”
Hon Rymer said everyone is fully aware Cane Garden Bay is one of this territory’s most valuable tourism assets and that the area is also a well-populated community.
“For some time now, before your new Government took office and even more recently, there has been some concern about how sewerage in that area is being handled and the impact – real and speculatively - on the environment, the tourism product and general public health.”
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32 Responses to “‘If you give me $1M I can fix’ CGB beach issue – John I. Cline”
If you give me a million dollars I can also fix something that I do not know anything about - anything you like to
Mention I can fix for a million dollars.
I am a 2nd year student from the BVI studying Enviromental Science and I can correct the problem for wayyyy less than a million dollars. As a matter of fact, when I finish my Studies, I will correct the problem pro bono. Everything should not always be about $$$$$ when it comes to helping your Country.
All those 10%'s you collect from people and putting fear into them about your white man god.you should fix the problem for free.
Dem tolians like to say" them from here". Why he don't go and fix the sh*t where he from in the bay for free