Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025

BVI to see smoother roads by the time American lands

BVI to see smoother roads by the time American lands

Residents on the eastern end of Tortola are being assured that they will be seeing smoother roads in their districts in the very near future. 
According to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and Works Minister Kye Rymer, the road project is expected to be completed in time for the inaugural American Airlines flight that is expected to happen in June 2023.

Premier Wheatley recently announced in his budget speech that roads between Paraquita Bay and Trellis Bay are expected to be put out for tender soon and reaffirmed recently that this is a priority on his government’s agenda. Dr Wheatley also noted that the project is expected to be done in a phased process.

“We’re gonna tender it. We’re gonna make the money available. We’re gonna borrow what we have to borrow to get it done, and we are gonna demand nothing less than that,” the Premier told reporters at a recent press conference. 

Cumbersome process

D Wheatley described the process of getting projects done in the territory as cumbersome and suggested changes needed to be made to streamline things. 

“It’s onerous, it’s time-consuming and we can’t function like that. So we have to streamline the process as much as possible while maintaining transparency, while, you know, seeking value for money, and having an accountable process,” Dr Wheatley said.

According to the Premier, the territory has suffered from a lack of investment in its infrastructure over the last 20 years. Even though many roads were paved, the Premier expressed that supporting infrastructure had not been put in place. 

“You need drainage, you need properly engineered and constructed roads and it takes money. You need equipment for good roads. The minister came in, he had no equipment. The minister had to get an asphalt machine,” Premier Wheatley explained.

I feel bad

In the meantime, Rymer said roads have been an issue in the territory for years, and offered some level of empathy for residents who have had to constantly endure the poor state of infrastructure over the years. 

“I feel bad. I feel bad knowing that the roads are in this state. I’m responsible for the roads. I think the Premier feels bad, too, because I go and I ask him for the money. He’s now committed to getting a loan,” Rymer said.

The road project for the eastern end of the island is slated to cost upwards of $10 million, said Rymer while reminding persons that a recent smaller project in the Fish Bay area cost more than $2 million.

But the minister compared this level of spending to other places in the Caribbean such as Dominica, where he said nearly $300 million has been set aside for road infrastructure. 

“We have just been chipping away at our roads and we need to be serious about it,” Rymer stated. “I’m not just neglecting them (the roads) or thinking that is okay. I travel as well and I wanna make sure that we travel on nice roads.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×