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'It has to move now!'- Havers residents blast new site for derelict vehicles
Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reported in October 2024, that the owner of the property being leased by government for the dumping of derelict vehicles in Pockwood Pond, M. Ashley Ritter, had blocked access to it over a land lease dispute.
VINO again reported in December 2024, that a new site had been located in Upper Pockwood Pond owned by JXS Ltd.
During a community meeting at Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay last evening, Thursday, January 23, 2025, District Three Representative and Deputy Premier Julian Fraser, RA along with Minister for Health and Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), encouraged residents to share their views on the very concerning matter.
Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) and Hon Stacy M. Mather (AL) were also in attendance.
‘Things no one else wants’ comes to D3- Havers Resident
Following brief remarks from both Hon Fraser and Hon Wheatley, the floor was opened for comments from those present.
Mr Ken Hodge was the first resident to speak and said, “It seems to me that things that no one else wants, all things that no one else wants come to the Third District as if we are a district for rejects and that's not the case.”
He said it is one thing to have the garbage there but to now move in the derelict vehicles “right in front our house” without being informed is another. The residents he said are not accepting the excuse that this is a temporary situation because it means it will become permanent.
“We ain’t settling for that, it don’t belong here,” he warned.
Another resident questioned the ownership of the property where the vehicles are being stored and after a significant pause, Hon Wheatley informed that it was owned by a company called Jabber XS Limited.
The panel was also called out by one resident who informed that the pictures being used to show what the site looks like are not an accurate depiction of the site today as there are “much more cars there now”.
Dumping occurs under the cover of night- Havers Residents
Residents also expressed their frustration with not only being previously consulted about this current situation but argued that the dumping occurs “in the cloak of night”.
According to accounts from them, it seems to have happened overnight and came as a complete surprise to them.
One resident informed that she figured out the new site would be in Havers from a VINO article which did not mention the community by name but the description of the location as “Upper Pockwood Pond” gave it away as such a place does not exist.
‘It has to move now’- Havers Resident
Residents also questioned the effect the dumping of derelict vehicles in their community will have on the value of their properties.
Someone else said due to previous experiences she was not surprised that people showed up in the “dead of night” and dumped cars there in front of their properties because “that’s how things are done in the West”.
One woman stood to simply say, “People going past on the ferries, tourists coming in and the first thing they see is this mountain of cars and it doesn’t look very good for Tortola.”
Another resident spoke up saying he bought his property because of the view and tranquillity, and now he has a clear view of the dump.
“I love where I live, peaceful, somewhat gated, but this has to go. We just need to say this this is gonna move tomorrow and then that’s it…that cannot stay there,” he told the panel.
He continued saying he was appalled this even happened during Christmas and without residents being informed calling it “disrespectful”.
“It just has to move and move now, that’s the only reasonable answer I can accept,” he stated.
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15 Responses to “'It has to move now!'- Havers residents blast new site for derelict vehicles”
Fix the roars too!