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‘If you give me $1M I can fix’ CGB beach issue – John I. Cline

- said he does more to fix CGB than any Gov't has ever done
Outspoken Virgin Islands citizen and clergyman Mr John I. Cline aka ‘Bishop’ (inset) has challenged government to give him $1M to have the issue of Cane Garden bay Beach permanently resolved. Photo: VINO/Facebook
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 at Cane Garden Bay is receiving the attention of Government. Photo: VINO/File
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 at Cane Garden Bay is receiving the attention of Government. Photo: VINO/File
A high level of dangerous bacteria was found in water samples taken by the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen on September 24, 2019. Following a brief closure, the beach was reopened on October 3, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
A high level of dangerous bacteria was found in water samples taken by the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen on September 24, 2019. Following a brief closure, the beach was reopened on October 3, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI- Claiming to have no knowledge of what is being done to fix the issue of the Cane Garden Bay Beach being contaminated, especially due to sewerage overflows and after heavy downpours, outspoken citizen and clergyman John I. Cline aka ‘Bishop’ has challenged government to give him $1M to have the issue permanently resolved.

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.”

32 Responses to “‘If you give me $1M I can fix’ CGB beach issue – John I. Cline”

  • Give me a million dollars too (21/10/2019, 12:50) Like (54) Dislike (5) Reply
    Dear Government
    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.
  • hmm (21/10/2019, 12:55) Like (32) Dislike (3) Reply
    By sharing it among all the clines
    • Rattar Raise (23/10/2019, 16:11) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      The Clines don't need government money, we have our ownd. We are not related to the Malones or Andrew Fahie or Vanterpools.
  • Unfortunately (21/10/2019, 12:59) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    The VIP only believes in atlarge malone's idea
  • the 2nd (21/10/2019, 13:44) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have a INEPT DISTRICT REP DOWN HERE, SO I GUESS SO.
  • tretretrete (21/10/2019, 14:33) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't The minister has his sewage company and many experts working for him? What's the hold up.? He already has exempt status...
  • You a millionaire (21/10/2019, 14:43) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Then he hit with the million dollar proposal: “If you give me a million dollars I can fix Cane Garden Bay… guarantee.” You can donate time and money to help remedy the situation. You from CGB
    • HAHA (23/10/2019, 16:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      factssssssssss, just looking money, i thought it was enough from wa he getting out of the ppl them in church.....
  • See (21/10/2019, 14:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    wait until you see who gets the contract . It will be an antiquated system and NO ONE will have the knowledge to conduct the proper maintainence . Same broken system a few years down the line. SMH .
  • 1 million ? (21/10/2019, 14:48) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everything is a million dollars. Lord send help and the right engineer to deal with this issue at a reasonable cost. It is a lovely village.
  • usa (21/10/2019, 15:51) Like (61) Dislike (1) Reply

    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.

    • @usa (22/10/2019, 09:55) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      Excellent thought. Some people are all about $$$ not helping the country.
  • Patriotic (21/10/2019, 16:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    OOOOOhh Nooo .Would love to see you sport in a Bentley Bentayga or a Lambo Urus . some of us have lux car fetishes .nothing wrong with that only if we have the roads.
  • Really !!! (21/10/2019, 16:31) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    John Cline is a media monger. Anything to be in the paper apparently.
  • eyes (21/10/2019, 17:05) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    No no you not getting a penny if you have advise we take it for free , remember your the man of the cloth that should be looking out for the people as well.
  • Eagle Eye (21/10/2019, 17:34) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply

    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.

    • @Eagle Eye (21/10/2019, 18:00) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
      Isn't it amusing how the whites don't fear their white god, meaning they do whatever evil they want to do to blacks, but black people fear their white god?
      • whitey (22/10/2019, 20:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are not wrong. Organised religion creates a system of control. None but ourselves can free our mind.
  • My Guy (21/10/2019, 18:16) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    I can fix it for $999,999.99 call me.
  • watching (21/10/2019, 19:46) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wasnt John berating the capitalists just last week ??
  • Outsider (21/10/2019, 20:36) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply

    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

  • think (21/10/2019, 23:13) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need to rethink what we put on those news outlets, for a territory who depends so heavily on tourism should we put it out there on a news site that the CGB beach has a sewage problem. Let’s be smarter than that we are only hurting ourselves.
  • @Think.. TB n G. failing us (22/10/2019, 06:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I Agreed 100% Where is our government and our tourist board. They need to put a positive spin on this Story. Now we have to appreciate courageous people like Cindy... I see a real failure in tourist board and our government on this issue. . our most popular beach if not one of the Caribbean most popular beach under a negative attack. Nothing from the people who are responsible for getting positive information out.
  • See (22/10/2019, 06:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    If a person or persons should get really sick or worse dont you think we would have a bigger problem if we had not been honest and upfront about the water quality ?
  • Go (22/10/2019, 10:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Man of cloth or man of skirt.
  • Well Sah (22/10/2019, 15:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    First of all, you cannot "once and for all" rectify anything to do with nature. He does not and cannot control neither water, wind, waves, or sand. Hurricanes are natural elements that will occur no matter what you fix, things will get "unfixed" and you have to do it all over again. that's the reality. So if this gentleman is promising to fix a beach, once and for all, I will question his sanity.
  • Dr cool (22/10/2019, 19:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Same thing I always say we vi islanders like to much money we don’t like the country why u cannot say u can give the government an idea
  • With NDP (22/10/2019, 23:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    When he was with NDP he couldn't fix it but he can fix it Now. Is this what I'm hearing? I think we need to find the right people who know and experience and get these sewage problems fix, once and for all. Enough of spending for nothing.
  • NO!! (23/10/2019, 09:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cane Garden people do themselves. They filled in the ponds.
  • Concerned (23/10/2019, 21:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why don't you remove your brother's stinking fowl farm from through people! And while you're at it, tell your other brother to stop the noise pollution in CGB!


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