The previous Government had started the widening of the road but was unable to finish it due to what it had claimed was the disagreement of one of the landowners to give up a portion of his land for the road to be cut. Photo: VINO

Minister for Communications and Works, Mark Vanterpool. Photo: VINO

The previous Government – the Virgin Islands Party – had started the widening of the road known as the Paul Wattley Road from the area of the Methodist Manse to Joe’s Hill, but was unable to finish it, over what it had claimed was the disagreement of one of the landowners to give up a portion of his land for the road to be cut. The land owner had denied this, however, and had said on one of his radio programmes that he had told Government to go ahead and they would sort out compensation after.

Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool, speaking in the House of Assembly on Monday December 19, 2011, said the Manse Road widening project was listed as priority by Government and he was pleased to report that the Ministry and the landowner have been able to reach mutual grounds for the project to continue.

“Madame Speaker works on the final phase of the Manse Road widening slowed temporarily to allow for final negotiations with one of the land owners. To this end, Madame Speaker, I am pleased to report that over the last several weeks, the Ministry has been able to agree, in principle, on certain mutually acceptable conditions that will now enable this phase of the project to advance and in the process bring welcome relief to not only those who traverse the area daily but also for the residents in the area,” Minister Vanterpool said.

The 4th District Representative also said the project, following evaluation of several projects, is being treated as priority. “As was expected, Madame Speaker, it was necessary to allow for a period of evaluation of all projects, particularly given the current fiscal and economic climate of the territory. In moving forward, however, a decision had to be made to place priority on the projects that are of a critical nature and require urgent solutions such as the widening of the Manse Road in the vicinity of Russell Hill; the national sewerage project and the recently acquired Johnson’s Ghut drainage improvement project from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.”

Hon. Vanterpool had said in November Government would be looking to find a quick solution to the Manse Road widening issue which has affected the completion of the project.