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Gov’t undertakes emergency ghut clearing in anticipation of adverse weather

In anticipation of adverse weather this week, teams at the Ministry for Communications and Works have undertaken work to ensure that ghuts have been cleaned and cleared ahead of expected rains. Photo: Team of Reporters
Cleaning vehicles including trucks and excavators were deployed to various ghuts for clearing of grass, mud and more overrun. Photo: Team of Reporters
Cleaning vehicles including trucks and excavators were deployed to various ghuts for clearing of grass, mud and more overrun. Photo: Team of Reporters
Jr Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Lude D. Hodge-Smith (R4) who represents District Four was also seen on the scene today as clearing was being carried out by the works team. Photo: Team of Reporters
Jr Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hon Lude D. Hodge-Smith (R4) who represents District Four was also seen on the scene today as clearing was being carried out by the works team. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In anticipation of adverse weather this week, teams at the Ministry for Communications and Works have undertaken work to ensure ghuts have been cleared ahead of expected rains.

In a report, the local Department of Disaster Management (DDM) said a trough, along with available moisture, will support cloudiness and showers across the Leeward Islands and [British] Virgin Islands starting today and into tonight.

Trucks and excavators were deployed to various ghuts for clearing of grass, mud and more overrun.

Jr Minister for Tourism and Culture Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith, who represents District Four, was also on the scene today as ghut clearing was being carried out.

VI experienced flash flooding earlier in month

Earlier in the month, residents of the Virgin Islands particularly in Road Town, Tortola were caught off-guard with flash flooding in the capital, after torrential downpours turned streets into rivers.

Videos sent to our newsroom showed flooded streets in the capital city as well as in Huntums Ghut, Sea Cows Bay and Pockwood Pond.

Neighbouring US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico also experienced heavy flooding.

Weather tonight

Meanwhile, DDM said the weather tonight, May 22, 2024, in the Virgin Islands is cloudy with showers. Winds will move East – southeast at 11 to 22 km/h or 7 to 14 mph and Seas: 1.2 to 1.5 meters or 4 to 5 feet.

24 Responses to “Gov’t undertakes emergency ghut clearing in anticipation of adverse weather”

  • ok (22/05/2024, 20:46) Like (45) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why not clean them on a regular basis and not just when we're expecting bad weather?
    • You Mean Last Minute Ghut Clearing (23/05/2024, 06:20) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      You mean last minute Ghut clearing.

      Obviously the Music Fest grounds and the road in its vicinity being paved is more important to a clueless Premier!!!!!!!!!
  • See (22/05/2024, 21:05) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everything involving normal maintenance is always an emergency but God forbid we don't have a drunken music fest .
  • roy (22/05/2024, 21:11) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
    Vip ready this time
  • hmm (22/05/2024, 21:15) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    and mangrove removal. Make it make sense
  • WOW (22/05/2024, 22:24) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nothing is being done in the districts that the VIP does not control. ONESIDED!
  • SPITEING FRAZER (22/05/2024, 22:28) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    NONE OF THE 3 MAJOR GHUTS IN THE 3RD DISTRICT NOT CLEANED, WHY?
  • one-sidedness (22/05/2024, 22:30) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Several guts are being cleaned without 3 estimates.
  • Boycott the Musicfest (22/05/2024, 23:19) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hopefully it rains out…
    • hm (23/05/2024, 06:38) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      The young ppl who only love rum, clubs and bars oh I forgot to mention sharing partners and a bunch a the girls sucking each other p…y. Nasty generation
      • HMMM (23/05/2024, 15:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        this government is just trying keep the young population happy!!!! Its about partying. am sure if any of them go tryin to acquire a piece of land it will be like pulling tooth. Help the young ppl in other ways.
      • facts (24/05/2024, 19:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Those girls nowadays vicious lol. We ladies complain about man but can share a woman.
  • Band-Aid fix (22/05/2024, 23:28) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are still going to flood because the problems are not rectified.
  • Last minute.com (23/05/2024, 02:51) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too little,too late.
  • This is news? (23/05/2024, 06:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    They had full time people in Virgin Gorda doing this work 10 years ago. Seems like a constant job (start at one end of the island and by the time you get to the other end, it is time to start over again. Repeat).
    Back in the day they cut all day long with a cutlass. That worked FANTASTIC and required just a file to sharpen the tool.
    The cutters were all down islanders making $6 and hour. So how are you going to get any cheaper than this???
    Get you hand out of the cookie jar and do your job! Cutting brush is not that complicated…and if it is, they you don’t belong in government!
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (23/05/2024, 06:23) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    this is what public servants/civil servants are being paid to do. it is not about fighting for money and power.
    • @ Maria Louisa Varlack (23/05/2024, 18:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is this what the public servants went to study? How to cut bush? We need to utilise their skills where it is warranted to benefit the general public.
      Perhaps, the prisoners should be doing this job. Aren't they already being funded by the tax payers? Some of the other Caribbean islands make sure their prosoners are given some type of work to do instead of wasting time in their cells creating mischief and getting fat. Its time we create some type of work program for the guests of Balsum Ghut.
  • WELCOME (23/05/2024, 07:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    TO THE PRETENDERS CLUB , AN OLD MATRESS AND A INNER PLASTIC DRUM OF A WASHING MACHINE ,WAS GIVEN THE BLAME FOR BLOCKING THE GHUTS ( WHEN WE CAN LEARLY SEE TON LOADS OF ROCKS / DIRT / SAND / TREES THAT WAS GROWING IN THE SAME GHUTS EVEN ROTTEN TREE BRANCHES THAT FELL FROM BIG TREES THAT WAS HANGING OVER THE GHUTS , THESE JOKERS DON'T KNOW OR CARE ABOUT THE MEANING OF MAINTAINCE ( WELL AT LEAST THE GOVERNOR , CINDY AND WALWYN WON'T GET THE BLAME THIS TIME ) FOR YHEIR NEGLIGENCE (
  • Culpable (23/05/2024, 07:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Essentially admitting Road Town and the high school flooded due to a blocked ghut and lack of routine maintenance?
  • LUCE LESS (23/05/2024, 08:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    NOT A SOUL FROM HER DISTRICT WERE CLEANING THE GHUTS YESTERDAY.....IT WERE MEN FROM OTHER DISTRICTS....NOT A TOWN MAN.....SHE WILL WANT OUR VOTES AGAIN
  • @HM (23/05/2024, 08:20) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    You need mental help.....seek it immediately!!!
  • Emergency? (23/05/2024, 14:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Emergency? Things that should be done and checked regularly. oh boi.

    Did they not see the forecast last week about possible weather? how is it an emergency if we were informed ahead of time to prepare
  • E- Leonard (23/05/2024, 19:14) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Stormwater should be a section under Public Works or attached to Water and Sewage Department, forming a Water Utility. Regardless of what unit it is under, there should be a written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the inspection, maintenance and repair of the drainage system/channels and appurtenances, viz, ghuts , road side ditches, lines/pipes, culverts, manholes, catch basins, curb and gutter, etc. There should be a periodic schedule set for inspection, maintenance, and repair, preparing and getting ready during the dry season for the wet/rainy season, ie, quarterly, monthly,, as needed, etc. Additionally, prior to a projected major rain event, flood prone areas, etc should be inspected and maintenance performed as needed. Further, the same process should be repeated after the rain event.
    • RealPol (24/05/2024, 10:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard, real talk. In the BVI we should an indifference to free, practical, proven, etc advice. We pounce on advice if they cost taxpayers hundred of thousands of dollars. We are a self-hating community, we pounce on every lame brain advice coming from Round Rock. We have an allergy to history, culture,etc. Common on mon. Let us embrace the simple, doable advice offered. Hell, we tried every other idea which has not work.


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