'Without love, without community & without respect, we’ll go nowhere'- Hon Rymer
Deputy Premier and Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), after choosing not to go through a laundry list of achievements in the Fifth District but rather focused his campaign launch speech on March 18, 2023, on bringing the community together, has been challenged to name just five of the projects he completed in his 2019-2022 year in office.
Speaking as a telephone guest during a panel discussion on ‘Da Morning Braff’ radio show on Tola Radio 100.5 FM with host Floyd Burnett aka 'Heritage' on March 20, 2023, Hon Rymer said even before entering office, projects for the children of the district were a focus of his team.
D5 was in dire need of development - Hon Rymer
The Minister added after being elected as the Representative of the 5th District, the area was in dire need of development as one of the hardest-hit districts following the hurricanes of 2017.
“When we got there, there was no physical infrastructure for the children. And even before being elected, we worked on the basketball court, and we were able to get that repaired.”
The 'GQ Minister' said he immediately went to work on repairing local parks with new equipment and initiatives to make it safe for children to play.
“Children are critical to us and where we speak about the community and the community's involvement, we must make sure that we have a conducive environment for the children. So, what we did initially is we started an after-school programme at the Resource Center where we hired some retired teachers."
The Minister said some 60 children benefitted from the programme, which ended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, parents are still asking for its return. He also recalled back-to-school initiatives where school supplies were provided to hundreds of children in the district, along with mentorship programmes.
Deputy Premier and Minister for
Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) during his
campaign launch in the Fifth District on March 18, 2023.
Children & Infrastructure Development
“So those are five initiatives pertaining to children, because, you know, with the children, our future, we want to make sure that these children, have the environment and have the opportunities and abilities to lead this territory forward,” he added.
Turning attention to infrastructure, he said repair works were done on Lower and Upper Great Mountain Road, including repairing leaks on the road network and water retention, asphalt paving, and extensive road works, not just in the Fifth District but across the Virgin Islands.
"So easily we forget some of the situations we were in before, but you know it's good for a reminder. When I launched my campaign. I didn't want to go and speak about all the work that we did. I wanted to speak about bringing a community together because without love, without community, and without respect, we’ll go nowhere,” he added.
