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‘The potholes are too deep’- Opposition Leader

- said the poor roads are damaging vehicles
Legislators and residents alike have been complaining about the many potholes in roads across the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has called on the government to find a way to 'erase' the many potholes on the roads in the Virgin Islands. Photo: YouTube
Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has called on the government to find a way to 'erase' the many potholes on the roads in the Virgin Islands. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) has called on the government to find a way to “erase” the many potholes on the roads in the Virgin Islands.

Hon Skelton also said the government should do what the Jr Minister for Tourism and Culture Hon Luce D. Hodge-Smith (R4) suggested, which is to have a team of people to constantly go out on the main roads to inspect and fix as necessary.

“And if you can’t throw asphalt then throw something in the holes. Let’s say it’s raining, you can’t throw asphalt. Throw something in the holes until you can throw something else,” Hon Skelton stated during the debate of the Virgin Islands Tourist Board Amendment Bill 2024, at the Continuation of the Nineteenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on September 20, 2024.

‘The potholes are destroying’ people’s cars- Hon Skelton

The Opposition Leader said he recently landed at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island and whilst travelling from East End he could not help but notice the many potholes, which he said “are too deep and they are destroying people’s cars front ends” and that it costs a lot of money to repair some of the vehicles.

“All the way down to the college there were these major potholes and when you get past there you realise that the government was doing something, and I thank you for doing something.”

Hon Skelton noted that West End also has bad roads as well as on Admin Drive and right in front of Republic Bank, where there is a huge pothole developing.

“We just need to erase those holes as they appear.”

The Opposition Leader said the Works Minister may be limited in some ways but Public Works needs to be given the resources to get the roads in better condition.

“I know long ago, Madam Speaker, supervisors in Public Works were assigned to different parts of the major roads. They go out and they do their investigation and they have a team of people and they go and fix what needs to be fixed,” Hon Skelton stated.

Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) had said in June 2024, that the plan is to do some interim repair work on roads until major works can be done once the required funding is received.

35 Responses to “‘The potholes are too deep’- Opposition Leader”

  • Kid Buu (23/09/2024, 10:37) Like (25) Dislike (5) Reply
    “We just need to erase those holes as they appear.”


    and that statement right there is the issue

    the roads need to completely redo and properly engineered. yall kike Hong Kong scholarship programs so much. get the Chinese to come and prepare a plan for these roads

    patching and moving on is a never-ending cycle and big old money pit throwing money at it every time something wrong. we need permanent solution even if its costly bcuz in the end paying to fix it temporarily or poorly will add up over time
    • @Kid Buu (23/09/2024, 12:53) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Do you really understand what you are asking for related to China to do? China who built roads, stadiums and other infrastructure in other parts of the region to the benefit of China in the use of their own material and labour force but no sustainability. Try rest China dung and leave it where it is for me please.
      • Lord, send help (24/09/2024, 09:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        I am not in favor of the Chinese coming under their terms, but right about now, anything beats the current situation. I am so mentally drained from driving on these roads with not even a temporary plan in sight. I know two persons who were injured as a result of these bloody pot holes. I am so sorry for the young lady who got in that accident at Pockwood Pond as a result of a huge pot hole. I just hope and pray that her injuries are not serious and that she is ok. When will it get better? When we had less, we did more. Modern day politics is a mess I tell you. Mind you, I am not affiliated with any one party, but I really favor Hon. K's personality. Wish him well, but get cracking on the roads please. Lives are at stake.
  • Arrion (23/09/2024, 10:39) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    I know the leaders of our islands have to travel the same roads we do. I couldn't figure out how they could not see it the same way we have been suffering on these obstacle courses. This is a start of putting new pavement down, which is wonderful, but the stupid drivers, now that new pavement has been put down, are driving like bats out of hell at full speed. People need to drive at the same speed that is posted, for everyone's safety. I am shocked at how many drivers are speeding past me and honking their horns to pass by and I am not a too slow driver. They will tear our roads up again with their stupidity.
    • Hmmmm (23/09/2024, 14:43) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      THEY USED GOVERNMENT VEHICLES, THEN TAX PAYERS MONEY SPEND TO FIX IT, THEY DONT'T CARE... THEY DONT FEEL IT
    • ma yute (24/09/2024, 16:57) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      how speeding on a so call proper fixed road will cause potholes, do you know what the speed limit is in town? 20mph i bet you the only time you drove that slow was when you we're doing your road test.
      all the government need to do is fix the drainage do sidewalks and pave the roads properly they will last years!
  • Hmmmm (23/09/2024, 10:55) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    When they start planting trees in them pot holes then they will start doing something about them. Like start with Banana Tree and Avocado
  • BuzzBvi (23/09/2024, 10:57) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Next time the Water Board dig another hole in the road they could put the dirt and debris they always leave behind in the potholes.
    • Hmmmm (23/09/2024, 16:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Normal thing...... half the time the men working are drunk so the rush and do the work to go to the bars...
  • WTF (23/09/2024, 11:07) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What? Like a public works department? What a novel idea!
  • facts (23/09/2024, 11:24) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every week I have Tyre issues!
    My car in shamble !
    The place is a wreck!
    • @facts (23/09/2024, 18:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      LOL, my mechanic loves me. My poor vehicle is going through road stress every day from 7:A.M to 6:P.M on the daily.
  • Sure (23/09/2024, 11:25) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Throw any old thing in those wholes. BVI whack-a-mole. Fix one, another will pop up, unless we wake up and start doing things properly.
  • pwd (23/09/2024, 12:35) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is obvious that PWD has no direction. It's on autopilot or is it that there is no resources to even throw a little asphalt in the pot holes so the car wheels can kick it back out by the end of the week. Where is your headline "major road works in sea cows bay".and "contract sign for major road works in east end". So they go around signing contracts knowing full well there is no money for these contracts. We need a COI for this. GOVERNOR where are you. This is gross maladministration intended to mislead the public.
  • Herbs Powa (23/09/2024, 12:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    When those thiefing companies dig up the roads they should pay to fix them back ASAP.
  • history teacher (23/09/2024, 12:56) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    how come no one is asking where is the money for the roads remember NDP had two loans for roads one from SS and the other from CDB
  • I CAN SEE AGAIN ???? (23/09/2024, 13:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you lord for restoring my sight Mr ALOOF " THOSE POTHOLES DIDN'T JUST POP UP OVERNIGHT / has the side effects of the COI worn off ? ? ?
  • See (23/09/2024, 13:45) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Morons in suits
  • tola (23/09/2024, 14:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmm
  • Informed (23/09/2024, 14:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please fit all the potholes. There should be none. We pay out car Tax and get nothing in return.
    The road construction is diabolical.
    Man hole covers are missing or they are not level with the road. They need to be dug up and installed with the road surface. These temp repairs have gone on for so long you dont know where the levels are supposed to be.

    Ive seen two holes this week filled in with concrete this week since the government has done nothing. One was like this prior to Irma and ive seen to a car and a truck damaged at the side of the road as a result of hitting the hole. Wheel searing assembly just gave way.

    There is just crickets from the Government and no acknowledgement of the pain the voters are feeling.

    There were rumors of a 36M invenstment into the Roads from an off island company. The Minister of works as asking to 100K to fix it.

    We dont need an airport expansion, or a west end ferry terminal at 62Mil until we get drivable Roads.

    Lets dig up the roads. Put Electric, Water, Sewage and Telephone under the roads. Design a propper drainage system for the roads. Then this investment will not just wash asaw to the bottom of Joes will as an example.

    The main failure of these road construction is there is no tar poured onto the roads prior to the Asphelt being installed so its not sticking to the concrete. The rain gets under it and lifts it off in sheets. Miss this step and money is just being wasted. I was a guy with a watering can when they installed the road fro Cane to Rudys bar in one day. THis is the fastest ive seen any road like this be constructed in my life.
    Same distance in st thomas took 4 years.



  • Imagin (23/09/2024, 14:43) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just imagine Ronnie Lives town and can see that the potholes in East too big and the member who drives on the road every day cannot see that. God help us,
  • Strupes (23/09/2024, 15:06) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    Stop the china hate, dont you realize they want to turn black people against china & whoever else is the competition for their own advantage???

    Its only one set of people that colonized Africa & had our ancestors down here in chains, whipping & pouring boiling water on them and trafficking them for profit. The same people who claim to be saints today. In comparison what did china ever do. Stop slurping up the propoganda they pour out to confuse us. At this time we were supposed to have Chinese taught in schools or at-least Philippine language to empower the next generation.

    Boy we are forever brain washed & stockholm syndromed under the hand of the real racist, to the point where we transform into racist against asian people who never enslaved anyone based on skin color.

    we cant have global language taught because the Uk is in charge and in the same breath they say they want the best for us.
  • .... (23/09/2024, 16:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    ever where u look sh** water running day and night in the road them no wonder pot wholes being made..da patch east they just do just wait till the sh** water from them (two twins that holds high position in government ) hit that patch of road again like nah

  • PT 109 (23/09/2024, 19:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Kid Buu we need to keep the Chinese out of the BVI.
  • E.Leonard (23/09/2024, 22:00) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The ‘Hole’ story is a universal vexing problem and a public nuisance, especially for motorists. Potholes can contribute to accidents, increase vehicle owners operating cost, among other issues. Nonetheless, the problem is not insurmountable . Here are some suggestions:
    a) PWD should declare pothole repair as a top priority.
    b) As temporary measure,PWD should adopt ‘ the throw and go’ process. Fill potholes with cold mix pothole mix.
    c) Create pothole inspectors, ie, inspectors should drive roads daily on Tortola, Anegada,VG, and JVD and report potholes to a designate work Reception Center ( WRC) where a work order will created.
    d) Establish pothole repair ‘Tiger Teams.’ The job of Tiger Teams would be different from Throw and Go Team. A Tiger Team will be assigned a pickup truck, a concrete saw, shovels, picks, brooms, blower, compactor, traffic control devices, asphalt mix or cement, etc. The crew will square up the hole with concrete saw, clean out debris, fill hole with asphalt and compact. It is important that the pothole repair hole is squared up. The Tiger Teams will receive work orders from the Work Reception Center .
    e) The Public should be provided with a number to which to report potholes.
    f) A 48-72-hour maximum time should be assigned for completing a reported pothole.
    • Cuz (24/09/2024, 07:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Cuz, if the solution is this simple, my question to MCW/PWD is why the territory has to endure the potholes nightmare? Ok. PWD let’s get to it. Some more questions for Cuz:

      1. What is the reason and importance for ‘squaring up’ pothole before filling?
      2. Why potholes pop up in our roads so quickly and what can be done to prevent and reduce the number of potholes?
      • E. Leonard (24/09/2024, 15:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Cuz, top of the morning!!! I will tackled your second question first. Potholes are not avoidable regardless of the quality of the design, construction, maintenance or type of material used, etc. The best of pavement will deteriorate over time. Nevertheless,,potholes can be managed effectively if they are addressed when they first appear. This requires an aggressive, robust preventative maintenance and repair program. Potholes starts as cracks and if not address, they become potholes, a public costly nuisance and if potholes are not addressed, they become craters. PWD should have a ‘ crack sealing’ program as part of its maixtenance program, keeping water from infiltrating into the surface course, base , etc, creating greater road problems. The American Public Works Association ( APWA) defines the cause of potholes as:, “Potholes occur mainly due to inadequacies in design and construction and insufficient maintenance and repair.”’

        Moreover, let’s look at ‘squaring up’ potholes beyond the impacted area. Squaring up does not mean the area has to be a square. Why pothole repaired area needs to squared up? Squaring up keeps the repaired materials from sliding out when traffic rolls over it. If the potholes are cleaned out and filled with material, when traffic rolls over it , the material tends to slide out.
    • Josiahsbay (24/09/2024, 10:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      What you suggest will come to naught if there isn't a road infrastructure plan for the territory. Every day in the VI, a road should be maintained, planned, or fixed. The deterioration and wear are constant so should be the maintenance.
      • E. Leonard (24/09/2024, 12:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Josiahsbay, agree that at this juncture, the VI should have a well-developed,,structured and functional road network Master Plan, along with Master Plans for other infrastructure, ie, water utilities, power, etc. Additionally, the VI should also have a robust, functional preventative maintenance programme for its road network. Such a programme would enable roads to attain their design lifecycles and improve their functionality. The territory may not be there yet; nonetheless, it should be able to perform basic maintenance and repair while it work on a higher level of maintenance and repair., design, construction, etc.
    • Return Home (24/09/2024, 10:19) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      E. Leonard, ah yu migrated when things slow and bad. Things have change drastically economically and socially. Ah yu only cum back now to visit family. Yall need to return to help the territory continue its progress, employing the skills acquired abroad.. You seem to have some knowledge of, experience with or both with roads. Just curious where did you get the experience. I thought you were a sailor, a swabbie? Your suggestions seems like a simple action plan which could bring some relief it they were put in place today. Return Home, mehson.!
      • E.Leonard (24/09/2024, 15:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Return Home, “ thought you were a sailor, a swabbie?” The Navy is the nation’s defender and its tagline is ‘ Forge by the Sea.’ Nonetheless, the Navy protects from on the sea, under the sea, in the air, and on land ( at home and abroad.)
    • @E. Leonard (24/09/2024, 22:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      To E. Leonard, I like the plan/suggestions you laid to address the pothole nightmare. It telLs how, what, when, where,,why, etc. My question is why the people whose job it is to take care of potholes struggle at getting things done? Was it lack of support, lack of priority, lack of resources, lack of commitment, lack of experience, etc. ?
  • development (24/09/2024, 11:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Firstly where is the Asphalt machine the factory to make asphalt and the workers, now who has the best engineer that know of building roads come up with a plan on what to be done and how to build roads with good drainage and side walks, I seeing roads that are below the ground and the drains leaning away from the ghuts and the sea and further more how can you put asphalt on top of concrete it would never hold or bond the roller is to light to compact the asphalt to accommodate these heavy vehicles in this modern day world .
  • Manjack (24/09/2024, 19:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI is creating a new musical genre call Bra- ga dam dam, bra-ga dam dam, bra-ga dam dam…….
  • Really? (26/09/2024, 07:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s how when on the other side people are FULL aid solutions, but when they have the chance to make the difference they make excuses and do nothing. Ronnie you own a concrete company. You stand to make millions on the extensive road repair project should it go the way you want. I am convinced NONE of you care about ANY of us!


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