Look forward to clean up & transformation of RT ‘very soon’– Hon Hodge-Smith
Hon Smith’s statement came as part of brief remarks at Cappoon's Bay Playfield on Saturday, April 20, 2024, during the presentation launch of Dr the Hon Karl Dawson's (R1) first district report to the community.
“Yes, I recognise all the issues, all the complaints about the 4th District, that it needs to be cleaned up and it is our capital, and we have a real, real ethical responsibility, moral responsibility, to clean it up.”
She said the cleanup is not just for visitors but for the people of the VI, where persons are working behind the scenes daily trying to get plans in motion, putting plans on paper, and getting funding for the project.
“And then you have to source the funds and we have sourced some funds. We do have some plans and you will see some transformation of Road Town very soon. Trust me, believe you me, this is what we're doing, and we will be seeing some works coming up very soon,” she added.
'We all need to not be ashamed' of our freedom from slavery
On the culture and tourism front, Hon Hodge-Smith said the 70th anniversary of the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival will be grand, and persons should participate in any way possible.
“This is our significant cultural and historical event that happens every year. We are celebrating our emancipation from slavery. We should be very happy that we are free from slavery, so we need to recognise it, and we all need to embrace it, and we all need to not be ashamed of it and to participate,” the Jr Minister added.
She also encouraged vendors, individuals, and families to support the festival. "Bring your families to all the events support and let us make Festival 2024 - 70th anniversary in festival, the way we know it and how we celebrate it and make it a grand affair,” Hon Hodge-Smith added.
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36 Responses to “Look forward to clean up & transformation of RT ‘very soon’– Hon Hodge-Smith”
The BVI has a strange approach to governing, ie, how resources are distributed among districts. The sitting government has the responsibility and power on how resources are distributed among districts. Typically, resources should be distributed commensurately based on needs, not on how a majority of voters voted, punishing some voters on how they voted. The Premier as the leader of the country has a responsibility for ensuring that public resources are evenly and commensurately distributed to the best extent possible and practical. Districts are small and lack the means to individually grow their own economies as is done in large local locales within larger countries, ie, states in US, provinces in Canada, counties in the UK, etc. Even so these smaller locales depend on central government. Government must established the framed work, the planning, etc so, that all districts have the opportunity to flourish. Resources should not be distributed on how people voted in a particular areas. Citizens pool their resources ( taxes and fees) for government to provide resources. As such resources are not distributed based on how much an contributed., for it is one territory. We need to get out the current polarized, divided, etc state.
Cleaning of guts, the painting of buildings, cleaning up in between buildings of trash, and debris..Cutting down of overgrown shrubbery, Proper signage of buildings and locations..
Road Town needs help!
All of Tortola need help!
It seems to me, everyone is concerned only to drive around in fancy cars, wearing the fanciest of clothes, talking about the billions of dollars that passes through the economy, all the while, the place looks, feels, and smells of filth..
We need a change in priorities..!!!
I know everyone is asking you for money but you don’t have to hold 1 hour conversations with people who are begging! Direct them to Social development. Cut that long talk short!
Seek out private and public individuals who are willing to help you plan a clean up course for our Road Town community. Many residents want to help but if there is no plan, it’s pointless.
All of you sound so DUMB putting your faith in a few politicians as if they give a sh**. Nothing will change, same bulls*** over and over. Big elected official in office over a year and promising to clean! lol
First of all the up keep of the cross walks is very important. Most of them are badly faded and needs to be properly repainted. This is a very serious situation because sometimes you driving and you don't realize there is a cross walk, and you almost struct someone when they about to cross the street. The next thing is that cross road next to the police station that take you across to the Botanic Garden, needs a stop light very urgently before more serious accidents occur and kill someone. That huge aged tamarind tree next to that same cross road, that have been there over sixty years is also traffic hazard because you can hardly see when a car is closely approaching. The road in front the court house also need stop light. Tortola traffic and population have increased rapidly and because of that no one wants to give way in a busy traffic. Because of that we have so many traffic accidents from time to time. Please district representative for the fourth, we need action quick before tourist or anyone collide and kill someone.
Thanks much in advance.