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Willock calls for more attention to be paid to secondary roads

- said retaining walls needed to help shore up the infrastructure
Former Speaker of the House of Assembly and businessman Mr Julian Willock has called for the Government of the day to pay more attention to secondary roads. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslides have been occurring in areas of Hannah's Estate, making the need for the government to consider building retaining walls. Photo: Team of Reporters
Landslides have been occurring in areas of Hannah's Estate, making the need for the government to consider building retaining walls. Photo: Team of Reporters
Areas vulnerable to landslides in Hannah's Estate, Sea Cows Bay. There are times when it is in the public's interest for the government to build retaining walls on private property to help homeowners stop further deterioration before it reaches the public roads. Photo: Team of Reporters
Areas vulnerable to landslides in Hannah's Estate, Sea Cows Bay. There are times when it is in the public's interest for the government to build retaining walls on private property to help homeowners stop further deterioration before it reaches the public roads. Photo: Team of Reporters
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Former Speaker of the House of Assembly and businessman Mr Julian Willock has called for the Government of the day to pay more attention to secondary roads. Mr Willock released a social media video clip over the weekend in which he praised the Deputy Premier and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser, RA and the Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M Rymer (R5) for keeping their words by effecting road rehabilitation in District Three.

Mr Willock noted that this is something both he and his Third District Committee had advocated for over the past three years, and this will bring relief to not only the residents of District Three, but all persons driving on the roads.

Sea Cows Bay Road Works ongoing

Currently, there is a Sea Cows Bay road project by E& K Trucking & Construction for the reconstruction of sidewalks, new slipper drains and curb walls and getting the road ready for asphalt. While the road is dug up, many utility companies are putting in their pipes.

The Third District resident, Mr Willock, however, asked that more attention be paid to secondary roads in District Three, because of the terrible erosion and hilly landscape. He noted that the government will have to get back into the business of building retaining walls to shore up the road, as it has become a safety matter. He further stated that there may be times when it is in the public's interest for the government to build retaining walls on private property to help homeowners stop further deterioration before it reaches the public roads.

Secondary Roads need attention  

Mr Willock, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, noted the challenging conditions of many secondary roads, which make them hazardous to traverse, and the many landslides on both public and private property that require retaining walls.

Following the one-man UK Commission of Inquiry, the government no longer assists residents in building retaining walls. Mr Willock believes that the issue has to be looked at and dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

He said the ongoing work in District Three may be a huge inconvenience to motorists, but Mr Willock asked that they be patient and think of the long-term benefits of the works.

22 Responses to “Willock calls for more attention to be paid to secondary roads”

  • hog city (19/04/2026, 11:15) Like (8) Dislike (15) Reply
    Agreed with the esteemed on this one!
  • SIN-D FOR MYRUN (19/04/2026, 11:27) Like (6) Dislike (21) Reply
    WILLOCK FOR THE WIN
  • I dont know if the other guy capable (19/04/2026, 11:30) Like (9) Dislike (27) Reply

    This guy is capable of holding a seat.

  • hog city (19/04/2026, 11:36) Like (8) Dislike (20) Reply
    Poor Aaron he going get smoke you watch
  • BET (19/04/2026, 11:55) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hopefully I am wrong, but I will take a photo of the Sea Cow Bay road on day one when its finished and see how long before huge potholes and flooding occur. I bet it will be less than a year.
  • Fran (19/04/2026, 12:24) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those pictures are horrific! The walls can collapse onto the road and onto passing cars at any minute. When I passed through Seacows Bay on Wednesday, the road work was out of a horror film. The men were trying to direct traffic, but the backhoe, without stopping, was backing up too close to the cars passing by. I hesitated, then drove by quickly, only after I saw him going forward to pick up dirt. It is very scary, and I expect an accident there soon with the machines hitting cars.
    • I TOO (19/04/2026, 14:49) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      I too was almost hit but the backhoe, the driver was unprofessional and dangerous. These machines weigh thousands of pounds and can injure car drivers very easily; it's an accident and LAWSUIT waiting to happen.
  • %100 raise (19/04/2026, 13:25) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    The way VIP terrorize we with those roads they shouldn't win no seat.
  • Fam (19/04/2026, 14:08) Like (4) Dislike (19) Reply
    The man has ideas and knows the needs of his community
  • Anonymous (19/04/2026, 15:27) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Well I see all Aaron can do is jump on a backhoe sent by Fraser and owned by rajah smith

    At least willock making things happen
    • @Anonymous (20/04/2026, 12:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      don't you think that the former speaker would be able to get more privilege than Aaron? you all will hear.
  • JW (19/04/2026, 15:34) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Willock is a great fella- but his loyalty to the VIP is too strong for a party that has been careless and thoughtless
  • NIGHT SHIFT (19/04/2026, 15:44) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    TESE TYPES OF WORK SHOULD BE DONE AT NIGHT
  • What!! (19/04/2026, 17:52) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    “Secondary roads “ can’t even maintain the main roads .
  • asura (19/04/2026, 23:23) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is right the secondary roads are all in a mess to small and lack turn around spaces
  • Tax payers money (20/04/2026, 06:34) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Spent on friends & family same old chestnuts “ for the public good” jokers!
  • Real Talk 284 (20/04/2026, 11:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is deeply troubling for residents of Hannah’s and Sea Cows Bay. Watching the land slowly give way after every heavy rainfall is frightening, and it feels like a disaster waiting to happen. The erosion and landslides make it clear that urgent action is needed, including retaining walls and proper attention to secondary roads, to protect homes, safety, and access for the community.
  • E.Leonard (20/04/2026, 11:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Virgin Islands (VI)[British] has a small/limited road network,ie, arterial ( main ), collector , and residential (local). The collector channels traffic from the local to the Main. There are limited alternative routes. Therefore, the roads must designed, constructed, repaired, and maintained to function effectively for as long as possible. Further, the roads are multi-use roads, carrying automobiles, large trucks, heavy construction equipment, solid waste trucks, etc. Consequently, roads should be designed to carry the largest wheel load using them. The VI is hilly and roads are designed and constructed with steep inclination/ gradients, sharp ascents/descents, etc. To the maximum extent possible and practical, roads should be designed /redesigned with gentler slopes. Other countries with hilly terrain can be benchmark, eg, Switzerland, etc.
    • Road Engineer (20/04/2026, 15:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, I endorsed what you saying. Nonetheless, the road network was not centrally planned, especially for the secondary roads,,ie,,what you call residential/local roads. Consequently, what results are roads with steep slopes cut by property owners. Instead, the reduce the steep slopes and provide land owners easy access to land, the roads should have been cut in a circular fashion with hairpin turns/ bends..However, at this stage no one probably will provide any voluntary dedicated easement for such a project..So we got what we got, a royal mess..Indeed, the should be built to safely facilitate the heaviest wheel load.

      J. Willock, I hear you on your pitch for maintaining secondary roads at a high level. I endorsed the motion. The VI needs to get more linear miles and higher quality for the dollar. We waste too much money on roads which may last until the next rain.,It is like our engineers forget what they learnt in school when they come back to the BVI. Something is wrong mehson.
  • Fari (21/04/2026, 16:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    wilock needs to Run Again
  • WOW (23/04/2026, 12:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Willow stop brown nosing Fraser and trying to keep him relevant. Let's see how the roads hold up after a storm and the constant pounding of traffic.


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