Premier Wants Hillside Erosion Addressed
BVI Platinum News
July 28, 2010 7:20 am AST
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The protracted issue of rocks falling on the roadways which poses harm to residents following heavy rainfalls can be minimized to some extent, according to Premier Hon. Ralph T. O´Neal.

Speaking on the VIP´s radio programme last evening, the Premier disclosed that he will be making a suggestion to the Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Julian Fraser, for him to appoint someone to monitor the situation.

"I looked at the cliffs going to West End and I have a suggestion to make to the Minister, that someone should be appointed to check these cliffs regularly, so that when you get a heavy downfall of rain and when there is lot of sunshine, they can see the cliffs breaking up and be able to use the excavators or heavy equipment to pull down some of the cliff that is breaking away," Premier O´Neal suggested.

According to the Premier, such a move can also help to avoid persons from getting injured.

"So that when they (cliffs) do breakaway, no one would be sort of passing by or get hit by something. I went over to Jost Van Dyke to see what the damage was like over there. They complained about a lot rocks on the road. I have to speak to the Minister about this so we can get it cleared up as quickly as possible," Premier O´Neal said on the programme.

During last week, heavy rains and gusty winds associated with Tropical Disturbance 22 resulted in a number of accidents, flooded roads and fallen rocks on the roadways around the Territory.
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Readers' Opinion ( 15 Opinions )
The opinions of users on this website.
Departed Engineer
July 28, 2010 - 9:03 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 6 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
As a recently departed engineer with experience in geotechnics, Pete is right. the slopes are cut too steep, and with the soil on Tortola landslips are inevitable. Factor in the removal of vegetation and you have torrents of water coming down the slopes. Have a look anywhere on Tortola and see... more
engineer
July 28, 2010 - 12:22 PM AST ▪ Like ( 1 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
PLEEEZZZE come back. we need you!! vegitation removal, angle of cut, narrow road, steepness, brown water eroding into the bays and mangroves, flooding roads... all preventable. no oversight at all from planning, town and country. they should be liable for neglect of duties.
.02cents
July 28, 2010 - 12:51 PM AST ▪ Like ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
I wish you all would stop blaming Town and Country. The problem is they say no to developments and the developers or contractors appeal to the Minister - as they can do under the Planning Act - and he, thinking of his votes, allows them to do what they want!
$5
July 28, 2010 - 11:25 PM AST ▪ Like ( 1 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
so expose the problem and loop hole in the Planning act. Town and Country should have more teeth. This too, smacks of collution and corruption, favoritism etc. from the minister. It has to stop because quality of life is being affected with NO rules or procedures. But in all fairness, TCPD... more
pete
July 28, 2010 - 11:31 PM AST ▪ Like ( 1 ) ▪ Dislike ( 1 ) ▪ Report Abuse
.02 cents- are you saying the premier gets involved with how a road is cut and engineered? how to put retaining walls with sidewalks? It is not all premier intervention. some is ignored by town and country. gee... the premier IS busy...
THE OBSERVER
July 28, 2010 - 12:50 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
My people we are JAMMED IN. The roads are in a mess and we have no where to turn to. Mr. White Head said no more asphalt until he is paid for work done in Virgin Gorda. This Government has allowed our asphalt plant to depreciate to the point where it is now useless. We are now forced to patch... more
pot holes
July 28, 2010 - 11:34 AM AST ▪ Like ( 1 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
Up here we are getting concrete patched with tarmac. As soon as a big truck rolls over it, it sinks and then the hole is back again.
BVI very own
July 27, 2010 - 10:13 PM AST | Reply ▪ Like ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
Hummmmm....good point. i wonder if this is another way to way for Fraser & Fahie to put money in their District. while @ the point of falling rocks, hope you look @ the road falling down to the sea in Ballast bay. it has been like that for years. suggestion, with no houses above the road,... more
Whooo
July 27, 2010 - 6:26 PM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 5 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
Ehem......Just wait a minute:

- He wants to address boulder's and out town is getting robbed back to back?? How about addressing that.

- He should be paying for consultancy on recent robberies rather than spend it on **** like drag racing and Medical school.

- He should address the... more
Guest
July 27, 2010 - 12:47 PM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 10 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
We have had landslides, vehicle's been smashed by fallen boulders this problem is ongoing for years since HL was cheif, the Navy even looked at the west-end road and offered there services but nothing was done, so now Ripvanwinke suddenly woke up and had a brillent vision.

He could employ... more
pete
July 27, 2010 - 10:48 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 13 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
gee, maybe an inspector should have looked at the way roads were/ are cut to begin with. buldozed roads and driveways in seacow and duffs bottom are also accidents waiting to happen. In the states, some highways have big nets to stablize hillside slides. Maybe officials should ask California... more
Uncle Ralphie you needs to sleep on this one
July 27, 2010 - 9:48 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 7 ) ▪ Dislike ( 1 ) ▪ Report Abuse
Its only now u realise the boulders, come on. Get your wife to drive you around to see our island condition. What happen that bit a rain we had open your eyes. Everytime it rain, peebles, rocks and boulders drop in the whereabouts of West End.

Thank God for those individuals with backhoes who... more
Really
July 27, 2010 - 8:29 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 20 ) ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
Really? We need to creat a position for someone to look at cliffs??? Can't public works keep an eye on them, they must drive around the island all the time...
wm
July 27, 2010 - 10:16 PM AST ▪ Like ▪ Dislike ▪ Report Abuse
just another way to spend money our country dont have.....
harry belsack
July 27, 2010 - 8:10 AM AST | Reply ▪ Like ( 11 ) ▪ Dislike ( 2 ) ▪ Report Abuse
The premiere should probably also address the issue of gravity, which could use some attention.
Disclaimer: Please note that the comments posted are the views and opinion of the commentor and do not in any way represent the views and opinions of the management and staff of Virgin Islands Platinum News and its parent company.
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