City Development Statement Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool House of Assembly Sitting – Thursday March 13, 2014 Madam Speaker, the Capital City of Road Town, remains critical, to the economy, and social life, of the British Virgin Islands. For the purposes of clarity, Madam Speaker, Town Planning indicates that Road Town, stretches from the roundabout at Slaney in the West, to Jean Hill in the East. Road Town, Madam Speaker, is the centre of economic infrastructure and services, including banking, retail, professional services, real estate, yachting tourism, dining and night life, apartment and villa rentals, hotels and transportation. The key features of the City, include its deep water harbour port, cruise and ferry passenger terminals, marinas, privately owned buildings on Wickham’s Cay, historic Main Street, and social and religious institutions, among others. Madam Speaker, this Government, led by Premier Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, recognizes the importance of the City, to our residents, the business community, and to our visitors alike, and has been working diligently, over the past years, to upgrade its aesthetics, the infrastructure and amenities. Three months ago, Madam Speaker, in December 2013, I announced the formation, of the Road Town Development and Management Committee, chaired by businessman Mr. Colin O’Neal. Since then, Madam Speaker, the committee has had two meetings, and we expect to receive some valuable input from them continuously, on the way forward, in terms of developing, managing, marketing, promoting, maintaining and beautifying Road Town. This committee is also tasked, with making recommendations, for policies and guidelines, for the operations, of the Office of the City Manager; and Madam Speaker, the public would know, that we have appointed, Mrs. Janis Braithwaite Edwards, as City Manager. Madam Speaker, one of the objectives of this new structure, is to merge the Wickham’s Cay Development Authority, and the Road Town Development and Management Committee, into a City Board or Authority, and proposals for that, will be coming forward, in due course. In everything we do, as a Government, Madam Speaker, we are careful to ensure, that we have, the best interest, of the general public, at heart. With the appointment of Consultant, Ivor Jackson & Associates, who specializes in, Environmental and Land-use Planning and Landscape Architecture, meetings have been, and will continue to be held, with members of the public. Madam Speaker, the consultant continues to work, on what is known as, the BVI City Development Plan. Key components of this plan, include: Implementation of revenue plans for city administration; Development of a framework, for Public Private Partnerships, for implementation of, the Main Street Improvement and Historic Preservation Project; Drafting of legislations, for the creation of, a City Management Authority; and Preparation of the design concept, for a Waterfront Promenade, and provisional costing of Phase 1 of the project, from the Cruise Pier, to the parking lot adjacent to the ferry terminal. Madam Speaker, we expect, that the proposed Road Town City Management Authority, in due course, will guide the City in a number of areas: Capitalizing on its diverse and cosmopolitan mix; Achieving, in its first 3-4 years, financial self-sufficiency; Streamlining the delivery of services to the City, through cost effective management of operations and finances; Reducing overlap and duplication in delivery of services among Government agencies; Providing prompt and effective responses, to issues raised, by residents and interest groups; Providing strategic promotion and marketing, of the City’s cultural and other events; Achieving significant improvements in litter control, city beautification, and the visual appeal of the City of Road Town; and Adequate parking and traffic flows, including priority for pedestrians. Madam Speaker, the Main Street Improvement and Historic Restoration Project, has two primary objectives: To promote the historic importance, and heritage, of Main Street; and To provide an environment, in which businesses can thrive. It is recognized, Madam Speaker, that a lot is required, to convert Main Street, into an attractive and vibrant zone, of historic appreciation, dining, night-life and business activities. Madam Speaker, as such, we are encouraging, Government-Private Sector Partnerships, and the revival of the Main Street Association. Madam Speaker, there are thirteen (13) components, to the Main Street Improvement and Historic Restoration Project: Information and Signage – street signs and numbering, branding and marketing, plaques for historic buildings, developing historic tours in Road Town; Sidewalk and Pedestrian Crossing Improvements – repairs, widening and construction of sidewalks, alleyway improvements; Road Repairs – asphalt surfacing, and curbside drainage improvements; Traffic, Circulation and Parking – calming devices, parking metres, marking of no parking areas and possible multi story parking; Storm Water Drainage; Sewage; Electrical Infrastructure and Lighting – installing utility lines underground; Water – infrastructural adjustments; Amenities; Planning Guidelines and Standards; Restoration and Reuse of the old Prison; Restoration and renovation of the old Post Office; Improvements to Sir Olva George’s Plaza. Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance and the Government, saw it fit, in this year’s Budget, to approve a million dollars, to go towards projects in Road Town, and these projects will be developed, and discussed, with the public, during the course of the year. The ultimate aim of all of this, Madam Speaker, is to enhance the quality of life, and living, in Road Town, and by extension, for every resident of, businessperson and visitor to, the Virgin Islands. As a Government, Madam Speaker, we solicit the support of the general public, as we seek to carry out this mandate of improving our City of Road Town. ###
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:32:50 +0000
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