$12.4M to be plugged into 2022 infrastructure development– Premier Fahie

As the Virgin Islands continues to forge ahead with rebuilding and maintaining its infrastructure from the devastating impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria and the challenges of the global pandemic, some $12.4M in funding will be plugged into local infrastructure development for the 2022 budget year, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has indicated.

Speaking during the 2022 budget presentation on November 11, 2021, the premier said some of the projects include the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project, the Cane Garden Bay Sewerage Project, and the Road Town Sewerage Project.

Works continuing in 2022

He said funding will also go into the continuation of works on the RT O’Neal Administration Complex, the Road Town Improvement Project, and reservoir repairs and improvement of the water network – in areas such as Pockwood Pond, Long Trench, Chalwell, George’s North Side, Cane Garden Bay, Sabbath Hill, and certain parts of East End and Virgin Gorda.

“The allocation also includes improvement of our road networks, civil works across the nine Districts, construction of the long-overdue Frenchman’s Cay Bridge, and revetment and development work on the North Coast, Carrot Bay and Cane Garden Bay roads to reduce the impact of storm surges,” Hon Fahie detailed.

Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) is allocated for improvement works on the Community Centres at Cane Garden and East End/Long Look.

Hon Fahie reminded that in 2021, the Government conducted extensive road repairs in a number of areas to improve the integrity and performance of the infrastructure, and road safety.

Projects to be implemented in 2022

He announced that Designs and drawings for a number of projects have been completed for implementation in 2022.

“In Windy Hill, Tortola, and on East Bound Road and Jumper Road on Jost van Dyke, for instance, curb walls will be installed. Remedial works will also be done on the Great Harbour Road on Jost van Dyke and at the Valley on Virgin Gorda,” he said.

Hon Fahie further announced that money has been allocated to continue the rehabilitation works on the Multi-Sports Complex so that our athletes can have a quality facility for talent development.

The Premier said more initiatives include the further development of local infrastructure for HM Customs, for which $500,000 has been allocated, and continued work on the National Emergency Management Operations Centre for which $2.1 million has been provided in the budget.

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