A resident has bemoaned the stalled JVD multi-purpose centre. Photo: VINO/File

Second District Representative, J. Alvin Christopher indicated that he had already approached the Minister for Health and Social Development on the issue but would not disclose details of the discussion. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking as a caller on the 3D Show aired May 24, 2013, the resident suggested that the District Representative has ‘fallen asleep’ following the previous elections.

“I haven’t heard him in the House speaking anything about the community centre for Jost Van Dyke at all,” the caller said.

The caller expressed that the people of JVD have been forgotten and noted that the hurricane season is once again on its way, thus bringing the need for the centre into even sharper focus.

Co-host of the programme, Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, suggested that the caller do some research since the District Representative, Hon. J. Alvin Christopher did not appear to be the type or person to fall asleep on issues.

Previously, prominent businessman and co-owner of New Horizon Ferry Service, Mr Sendrick Chinnery expressed the need for education initiatives with youth involvement in the JVD community while residents suggested that this should be facilitated by the promised community centre.

Repeated calls have also been made by residents of JVD for a representative of their own in order for issues to be more centrally addressed.

When contacted, Hon. Christopher indicated that he had previously approached the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton, on the issue but would not disclose what came of the discussions.

In December of 2012, many residents had expressed to Virgin Islands News Online the need to have educational programmes on the island for residents, who are not able to travel to Tortola to attend development courses and had impressed on the need for a community centre that could be used to facilitate certain programmes.

“We need a community centre so that people could go and learn something because when you working here you can’t pay passage to go Tortola. They should be able to offer us some courses here and maybe have a computer centre, or other courses to teach people certain things like how to decorate a cake and so on,” a Ms Williams had told the news site.

She also said there was need for more activities for the children, both recreational and education wise.
Isaiah Chinnery had called for remedial programmes for school drop outs. “A lot of people over here drop out of school and need programmes that could help them to get qualified to land a proper job. Some people can’t read self, but to go to Tortola and other place else you taking time out and spending money, the Government could help with that kind of thing. You have programmes like that all over the place. How come we don’t have any?”

A group of young men that included Meshach and Daniel George and Anthony Chinnery had said there was also need for skills training to be offered to young people as well as other educational programmes that could qualify them to have trade licenses.

All of these programmes, they agreed, could be offered at the community centre, which is yet to be constructed.