Replacing sewerage lines to commence in January
Speaking at a meeting with businessmen last evening November 23, 2011 in the Treasure Isle Conference Room, Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool said Government was keen on having immediate fixes to the sewerage problem especially in Road Town.
However, it has decided not to go ahead with the replacing of lines now as it would mean businesses and traffic being interrupted, which was not a good idea during the Christmas season. He noted that works would commence speedily in January.
The meeting was called by the Ministry of Communications and Works and CBE Engineering Associates Limited to inform the business community about the project and to also solicit their concerns and suggestions.
Minister Vanterpool recalled that one of his campaign promises was that within the first 90 days in office, he would be making every effort to solve the immediate sewerage problem in Road Town.
“We had decided to start this week. Contracts were already prepared but we have decided to hold off until after the Christmas season as businesses and traffic would be interrupted. In January we will be moving very quickly on it and this is all going to work in connection with the remodelling and retro-fitting the old pumping station for the time being until we can get to the next step... I would say that we will make every effort to ensure that you know what is going on as we move along and have your input and concerns.”
According to the Minister, finance is already available for the project regarding the replacement of sewerage lines, however, Government has already discussed in Caucus to seek funding for other sewerage projects pending, as they are very crucial.
Meanwhile, Carvin Malone of CBE Engineering Associates Limited disclosed that the 2002 master plan for the national sewerage system included public education as an important component.
“Letting the public know, step by step, what needs to be done in order to fix or solve the waste water issues in the British Virgin Islands is key. And as we move forward to replace broken lines it would have interruptions as it relates to businesses and traffic flow so it was important to get the business persons, who would be immediately affected, into a single room so that their concerns could be heard, addressed and let them know that we have taken this into account. They have major concerns, they have voiced these concerns and these are very important in moving forward. Based on what we have heard our plan took most of the concerns into account already.”
Malone added that one of the concerns raised by business owners was the location of the pump station in Road Town and they wanted to know whether or not the pump station couldn’t be moved to the location identified and cleared at Bird Point. He noted that the Ministry would have to make a decision on that.
Hon. Vanterpool had disclosed that the existing pump station would be completely revamped in the next six months as a temporary fix.
Questions were also raised about the cost of the project and whether it was feasible to have a revamped pump station before constructing a new one.
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