Road Town, Tortola – The Government of the Virgin Islands continues its efforts to ensure that the Territory’s road network and buildings infrastructure remain safe for residents and visitors alike.
Speaking last Thursday, February 4th at a meeting of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association, Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, highlighted several projects within his portfolio that the ruling Virgin Islands Party Administration continues to place as high priority.
He said the network of roads, building safety and occupancy, are vital to the economic development of the Territory. “The intense emphasis this Government places on infrastructural development is clearly no accident, as it can be found as one of the cornerstones of the Virgin Islands Party’s Manifesto of 2007,” he stated. “We believe that we must continue to develop and operate our road network in a way that ensures safety and convenience, while maintaining access for all the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Hon. Fraser went on to say that the inclusion of a national drainage programme guarantees a significant reduction in flooding of homes and businesses. Likewise, he said, a national guard rail programme is in place to protect the motoring public, both residents and visitors alike.
“As simple as this national guard rail programme may appear on the surface, if by misfortune a bus-load of tourists was to go over an embankment that could have been protected by a guard rail, the local and international repercussion to our economy could be devastating,” the Minister declared.
Another important and vital function of the Ministry of Communications and Works is that of the inspection of buildings.
Hon. Fraser told the members of the business community: “The objective of this is to ensure that all structures within which you do business, are safe, meet standards that are accepted internationally, and in cases of emergencies, the loss of life and damage to your business and property are minimized and in some cases prevented”.
Minister Fraser reiterated that the Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal’s Administration continues to facilitate improvements to public docks and jetties, as this Government regards this area as vital to trade and industry.
“Another important aspect of the synergy between a sound infrastructure and our economy is our ability to maintain our roads and bridges, and to foster an aesthetically pleasing environment,” he said.
Hon. Fraser said to that end, his Ministry will continue to pay attention to architectural and landscaping designs, maintenance of public building structures, and sound engineering principles during construction.
British Virgin Islands News