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Honourable Rymer & team assess drainage in RT ahead of tropical storm

Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) has led a delegation through several areas of Road Town to assess the drainage situation ahead of Tropical Storm Tammy, which is expected to bring heavy rains at the weekend. Photo: GIS
According to Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer, the walkthrough was necessary to ensure the appropriate manpower was present and to identify all the areas of concern ahead of the weather that is expected to affect the Territory. Photo: GIS
According to Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer, the walkthrough was necessary to ensure the appropriate manpower was present and to identify all the areas of concern ahead of the weather that is expected to affect the Territory. Photo: GIS
A significant amount of ghut clearing was done following the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe earlier this month. Photo: GIS
A significant amount of ghut clearing was done following the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe earlier this month. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) has led a delegation through several areas of Road Town to assess the drainage situation ahead of Tropical Storm Tammy, which is expected to bring heavy rains at the weekend.

Honourable Rymer stated that the walkthrough was necessary to ensure that the appropriate manpower was present and to identify all the areas of concern ahead of the weather that is expected to affect the Territory.

‘We are just out observing’- Hon Rymer

Honourable Rymer, according to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS) on October 19, 2023, said, “As we are expecting extensive rain on the weekend, we are back looking at our drainage and our ghuts to ensure that they are cleared. Where we need to hire private contractors, we are doing so.

“We are out walking and looking at all the ghuts in the town area, and from there we will look at some other areas of concern. So today we are just out observing, making sure that we have enough people on the ground and making sure that our ways are clear.”

‘Formal policy development’ needed- PWD Director

Director of the Public Works Department (PWD) Mr Jeremy W. Hodge said while he was unable to be physically present on the tour, he hopes that this opens the door for formal policy development that will allow a better funded and streamlined process allowing the Public Works Department to comprehensively prepare for the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Mr Hodge said, “The passage of Tropical Storm Phillipe opened a window allowing my department to better mobilise to clean up after the tropical storm that brought several inches of water. The practice should allow for the PWD to be able to have the ability to carry out a significant cleaning of ghuts and drains than it normally would.”

The delegation included Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL); Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9); Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr The Honourable Karl Dawson (R1); Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs Elvia Smith-Maduro; Deputy Director at Public Works Department, Mr Kurt Hodge and delegates from the private sector.

12 Responses to “Honourable Rymer & team assess drainage in RT ahead of tropical storm”

  • onesided (20/10/2023, 11:48) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    HE ONLY TAKING CARE OF HIS DISTRICT
  • BANDAID FIX (20/10/2023, 11:50) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    SAME THING GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN....NO SOLUTIONS
  • Clean higher up the ghut...get rid of the fallen trees and body parts from srcapped cars (20/10/2023, 11:53) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    When or how soon are we going to rectify the problem?
  • 2023 (20/10/2023, 14:00) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    the issue is the drainage at times becomes blocked and in some cases the drainage systems are far to small to support large flows of water: the drainage system works fine during sprinkles of rain & small showers of rain


    Fix the place Mr Minister
    • @2023 (21/10/2023, 02:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      In addition, we as residents need to do our part as well and stop throwing our garbage over the hillsides. Also, when we build on the hills, we go the less expensive route and throw our dirt/rocks from excavation, over the sides of our building sites. When we have heavy rains, it all gets washed down to the ghuts and into our drains creating blockages.
      We can’t expect our government to keep cleaning up our mess. We need to change our attitudes and play a role in doing the right thing. If we don’t, we will always encounter these problems. WE MUST DO BETTER AS A PEOPLE. CHANGE OUR MENTALITY OF “IT’S NOT MY PROBLEM”!! It is our problem when we don’t care about what we do.
  • IKEA (20/10/2023, 15:07) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Road in Sea cows bay area floods to quickly
    • @ IKEA (20/10/2023, 16:40) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      the member for the third had more than enough years in government to deal with that matter: look there is a water plant in that district and the people there have no ample water supply… because of politicians the country back in London Hands
  • resident (20/10/2023, 16:46) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    WTF would Rymer know about drainage, time to bring in the Engineers, that is if their Belongership applications get approved...
  • man (20/10/2023, 19:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We sure love our delegations here. If it isn't to Monaco, or Singapore, or the USVI, it's D5
  • WHT (20/10/2023, 20:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    He better remember he is a Minister too. The drains on the sister islands ain’t get clean. Send help Jesus
  • Madness (21/10/2023, 16:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The sad thing is that the guys are cleaning the drains and scraping it beside the drains for the rain to wash it back into the drains.


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