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Infrastructure needed ‘to support Event Tourism’- Damion C. Grange

Co-host of Talking Points, Damion C. Grange, has opined that proper infrastructure needs to be put in place to support Event Tourism in the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: Internet Source
(L-R) Talking Points Co-hosts Damion C. Grange and Violet Thomas-Gaul on Talking Points on November 17, 2025. Photo: Facebook
(L-R) Talking Points Co-hosts Damion C. Grange and Violet Thomas-Gaul on Talking Points on November 17, 2025. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Co-host of Talking Points, Damion C. Grange, has opined that proper infrastructure needs to be put in place to support Event Tourism in the Virgin Islands (VI).

He shared his views during "Talking Points" on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, November 17, 2025, ahead of the inaugural call of the UberSoca Cruise at Cyril B. Romney Pier Park on November 18, 2025. 

UberSoca Cruise’s arrival saw many of its over 3000 passengers disembark on Tortola and partaking in the J’ouvert Punk Rock edition through the streets of Road Town. 

“I am in support of Event Tourism, I am in support of the push to diversify the product,” Grange said adding, “I would just hope that we are doing so in a way that we can literally track the progress, make sure the associated risks are minimised as much as possible, and we are doing so in a fiscally responsible way.”

Concerned about infrastructure

Grange continued that what concerns him is the infrastructure to support event tourism. 

“I would love for things to be done in a more planned or structured approach.”

He used the road network as one example, stating that the roads need to be as safe as possible. 

Grange also said the healthcare system needs to be equipped to deal with mass casualties. 

“If at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital, you have two ambulances and one may conk out before it leaves the parking lot, then you’re probably going to want to reconsider having a number of persons on the ground.”

Grange added that the issue of accommodation also needs to be looked at. 

“What if something happens while the ship is in port, and these people need to be housed on land?”

16 Responses to “Infrastructure needed ‘to support Event Tourism’- Damion C. Grange ”

  • BuzzBvi (26/11/2025, 15:28) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    What if something happens while the ship is in port, and these people need to be housed on land?”

    BELLAMY CAY
  • Real (26/11/2025, 15:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Infrastructure needed for smart city too.
  • … (26/11/2025, 18:39) Like (8) Dislike (9) Reply
    Can he say this in Jamaica? These chater box make one thing clear: behind the promise of progress, very little has changed, as they come here from there poor rass country with one agenda to always call down the bvi
    • Big f (27/11/2025, 08:09) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Good advise mr grange
    • @... (27/11/2025, 09:35) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You could wriggle up as much as you want, but the man makes a valid point. Matters not where he came from.
    • @... (27/11/2025, 10:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Are you really serious? Saying that we need to improve necessary infrastructure (which anyone can see, and which has been said repeatedly) is calling down the country? Whoever you are, you need to get real!
    • Indifference (27/11/2025, 10:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      A country that cannot feed itself is poor. A country that relies on fickle industries is also poor. So Jamaica is definitely rich.
  • PKC 2026 (26/11/2025, 20:46) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Painkiller Cup stand-up paddle event on Jan 17, 2026. Just sayin... More info www.painkillercupbvi.com
  • ragdoll hit (27/11/2025, 00:58) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's awesome
  • Wow. Nice.. (27/11/2025, 04:32) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a real sensible, constructive and solution oriented conversation....Then again we all know the BVI iproblems, the lack of consistent water and proper roads are shameful, I get water from 430.am to 530 am. Sometimes for about 2 year now... We have an excuse government, no fixing will. Sad.. We falling back while other Caribbean Islands who were once trying catch up is now ahead of us...Really sad.!
  • E. Leonard (27/11/2025, 07:20) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Virgin Islands ( VI) (British) needs to flesh out/develop and codify a rolling, short-term (1-3 years ) and long term ( 4-10 years) Capital Improvement Plan ( CIP) program. The project should include design and construction of new roadways, reconstruction/ maintenance/repair of existing roads; design/construction of water utilities system , viz, potable water,,wastewater, storm water(drainage); healthcare facilities, education facilities, port facilities( air and sea), sports and recreational facilities, parking facilities ( horizontal and vertical), tourism facilities, environmental protection and preservation facilities, disaster preparedness facilities, public safety facilities,,government admin facilities, etc. The project should entail identifying and maintaining a rolling prioritized estimated cost list of projects, funding sources, etc.. A part of the House of Assembly ( HoA) approval of CIP should include establishing a Planning Commission to review CIP projects prior to their getting on an agenda item for HoA action. Proper planning and execution,, and funding are the sine qua non of successful CIP program. The VI should also consider having two budgets, ie, a) Capital Budfet, and b) Operations and Maintenance Budget.
    • @E. Leonard (27/11/2025, 09:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      @E. Leonard, ah you does bolt from the BVI leaving we here to fight among the sharks and don’t come back. Then y’all from a far can see what yall think is wrong with the BVI, and what it needs. Y’all come up with all these pie in the sky projects. In regards to the proposed CIP project, where is all this money going to come from? Government needs to use the revenue it collects to get things done. It must prioritize its expenditure. What works in the US and big countries cannot work in the BVI without restructuring..Who will manage this CIP project..He’ll,,Public Works barely manage pothole repair and not well. RDA in essence is a contracting agency..To make this happen will require a serious Public Works restructuring and focus.
      • RealPol (27/11/2025, 13:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@E. Leonard, serious thing, the BVI should be managing its capital projects from a Plan, not on the fly or from the seat of its pants in a haphazard manner. Prior poor planning piss poor performance is a valuable lesson, reducing cost, improving quality, enhancing function and performance.
    • GateKeeper (27/11/2025, 16:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ed, this Capital Improvement Plan programme sounds interesting and intriguing with possibilities. However, how practical is it? You say it will be a rolling, prioritized list of capital projects, but will it be or become a list of unfunded projects since it may get the funding and priority. By rolling , does it mean that the list will be constantly chsnging driven by urgency and importance'. Secondly, I like the two budget idea. The O&M budget has a one year life and has to be authorized and appropriated every year.. On the other hand, the capital budget crosses fiscal years, and only need action driven by need.
  • asura (27/11/2025, 07:30) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    he talks to much he needs to go back to jamdown with his blah blah blah
  • same (27/11/2025, 07:41) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Points can be made about the passengers on the multiple large planes which will supposedly use the extended airport runway daily. Where are these hoards of people going to stay for their expensive land based luxury vacations in the BVI? And if there is an event where a plane or planes are delayed overnight, where is the extra accommodation for those passengers? We are competing with the whole world here. BVI needs to up its game significantly and it needs to do that first.


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