ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, April 19th 2011 - In a statement that was read on ZBVI radio last evening Monday April 18, 2011, the leader of the National Democratic Party said he has no quarrel with Mr. Roberts but that his concern is that the VI continues to suffer from “gross mismanagement” which he said has never been since the establishment of the Ministerial system in 1967.
“Mr. Roberts’s press conference as reported in the various media later in the day regarding this Government’s management of the economy was reflective of some of the views he expressed during a meeting to which he invited me. What struck me most forcefully from his press conference was that Mr. Roberts was pleased with the way in which this Government is managing the people’s ‘affairs’, and, that the BVI is such a success story that there is little else for the UK to offer in terms of how the territory might improve!” Dr. Smith said in his statement.
The Opposition leader pointed out to various issues in the Territory that he indicated needed urgent attention and questioned where was the success story in light of the many areas that needed attention.
“In the almost four years of this Government’s administration not a word has been uttered about building a modern road network or even putting in place a comprehensive road maintenance programme. This begs the question, where is the success story here?” Dr. Smith questioned.
He further added that over the last four years, “it was common place in Road Town to see raw sewage flowing in the streets and we endured on a daily basis the foul smell of sewerage”.
Dr. Smith also mentioned of the external burning at Pockwood Pond which attracted the attention of the US State Department and said the situation has become “an international embarrassment”.
Speaking on the issue of addressing the sewerage woes, he said four years ago, when the situation was not nearly as bad as it was today, pipes were already laid in the East End/Long Look area, a plant purchased and all was set to install an effective system.
“The Government in its wisdom chose to allow this plant to languish at Paraquita Bay and has instead chosen to have the sewerage system installed by BiWater. Four years later we have nothing but an expensive contract. Again, this begs the question, where is the success story here?” he further questioned.
He also spoke of the incompletion of the new hospital and said “no real explanation” has been given for it and the lack of the mini hospital in Virgin Gorda.
He further charged that the reality of the education system is that the current Government has denied the realities of the world around us.
“We find ourselves with overcrowded classrooms, poorly paid teachers and facilities that are in dire need of repair and upgrades. This has left our children ill-prepared to pave their own way in the world. And let me say that this is a reality in most of our schools. Where is the success story here?”
“Where is the success story in tourism? The government has sorely mismanaged this industry, one of our biggest sources of income and the one sector where our own people have invested their hard earned dollars. Hotel owners have often said to me that were it not for their own resourcefulness and God’s help their rooms would be empty.
Our people deserve better. We must dedicate the resources needed to promote our beautiful country and increase profits at home. However, we must always practice smart tourism where the benefits to our citizens are clear up front, or else there’s no deal,” Dr. Smith further charged.
He said as far as the young people are concerned, the current government is turning a blind eye to the youth.
Dr. Smith lashed out at the Sea Cow’s Bay wall which is near completion, stating that “If success is to be measured by the, million dollar, wall nearing completion at Sea Cow’s Bay, while everywhere else is allowed to languish. Then give this Government full marks. Mr. Roberts himself talks of tough economic times; was this wall really a priority in the circumstances?”
The Opposition Leader called on the people of the Virgin Islands to help bring changes to the current situation and also outlined some of the plans that the National Democratic Party has to remediate some of the many concerns and issues that he highlighted in his statement.
Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online
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