According to a Government Information Service (GIS) press release, the Minister and his team of ministry officials including the Acting Permanent Secretary Arlene Smith-Thompson and Acting Director of the Public Works Department, Dr. Drexel Glasgow assessed the area on Thursday 5 January in order to provide solutions to improve drainage and the aesthetics of the area.

“The area is in need of a major clean up,” Minister Vanterpool told the Department of Information and Public Relations. “Our first objective is to re-grade the parking lot so that we can provide better parking while eliminating pot holes and water settlement,” the Minister added.

Another objective according to the Minister is to remove the debris from surrounding areas and the cleaning of the ghut. “The problem with the ghut is that we need to remove the steel structure from the middle of the ghut which is preventing debris from flowing freely,” Minister Vanterpool explained.

The minister revealed that the grading will be completed by this weekend providing nature permits and that other civil works should be completed in the coming weeks.

The Market Square clean up is the third initiative to be undertaken by the ministry in an effort to improve the aesthetics of Road Town. Improvement works began at the lot adjacent to Peebles Hospital which is expected to be completed within the next month as a decision had been made to use a longer lasting concrete surface rather than asphalt.

Additionally, the lot in the middle of the Central Administration Building and the Cruise Pier also received a face lift as debris and derelict vehicles were removed from the site.

The Ministry of Communications and Works is committed to continued development and maintenance of the Territory’s public infrastructure.