JVD business owners blast uncaring drivers; Police
Police authorities on the island were also called out during a stakeholders meeting held on March 22, 2013 at Foxy's Tamarind Bar for their seeming inaction and ineptitude at resolving the decades long issue.
One resident, Paula Chinnery, claimed that some drivers intentionally speed up as tourists and locals sit down to eat at beach front restaurants knowing fully that the resulting dust and sand would get into their food. She described it as disrespectful. "I called the Police already, I told the Police about a couple of people, but they're still doing the same thing," the upset resident said.
Director of the BVI Tourist Board Mrs Sharon Flax-Mars said Officers in JVD need to do what they are supposed to do and called on drivers to have 'respect for one another'. "Don't do to somebody what you don't want them to do to you," she added before suggesting that signage or a speed limit should be put in place in the area.
Concerns were also raised about children who were in the area and might end up in the way of the speeding traffic at times. "They will kill somebody," the resident continued.
Business owner, Rudolph George, said he was so appalled at the behaviour of the drivers that he might be led to take a hammer and kill someone if they endangered his grandchildren.
"When tourists come to our island, they would lose their senses," he said while noting that they would walk out in the middle of the roadway admiring the beauty of the island. He noted that he too had spoken to the Police Department about the callous behaviour of the drivers and nothing has been done about it. "You know when they're going to do something about it?" he asked, "when somebody gets knocked down. when it's too late."
Yet another business owner, Greg Callwood, said when complaints are taken to the Police, persons are told that there is no yellow line, parking line or sign demarcating the area.
The Tourist Board Director suggested that the Officers needed to employ their common sense in executing their duties and suggested the installation of speed bumps.
Residents were in opposition to having the area designated as a pedestrian only are and suggested that the businesses built there should have never been there in the first instance but much further back instead.
They also noted that businesses needed to utilise the roadway to load goods into their stores, therefore the idea was not practical.
Callwood said that a proposition was also made even before the current administration got into government to have the area designated as a one way but even though this was agreed to, it was never done. "All it takes is two signs. they tell us yes. we didn't get any call back or anything.."
The business owner also said there was no respect coming from Ministers. "We call them, we don't' get them, leave messages for them, we don't get any return call. we need charges against them," he said, "we need to come up with some way how we could fine them and put the money in some place because it is getting overbearing with these Ministers."
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10 Responses to “JVD business owners blast uncaring drivers; Police”
How many cars are allowed and used anyway? if pedestrian, business unloading can be set for different times of day. It is too bad that cars even interrupt a peaceful afternoon and that drivers don't get that. Maybe a by-pass road would take traffic off the beach. But all this was bound to happen. Town and Country should have been involved-- but then again-- they don't enforce rules and have no vision for further helpful ones. You have to ANTICIPATE the problems in order to watch out for them.