UPDATE: No immediate danger with cables in water-BVIEC
Residents in the area had contacted Virgin Islands News Online to express their concerns about the state of the road and the suspected danger that the exposed cables could pose. They had also called on the relevant authorities to take actions to ensure the sections of the road allegedly dug up by a resident were fixed. As a result of the damage to the surface of the road, underground cables belonging to BVIEC were exposed and constantly immersed in a pool of water.
The residents claimed to have reported their concerns to BVIEC and Public Works Department but to no satisfaction.
Since senior officials of BVIEC were alerted of the issue by this news site, they have reportedly stepped in to avoid any potential danger. Giving an update on inspections made yesterday June 26, 2013, Deputy General Manager of BVIEC, Mr Henry O. Creque told Virgin Islands News Online that a team was deployed “immediately” to assess the situation.
He said while the exposed pipe with electrical cables poses no immediate danger it can be potentially hazardous. "We have to make people feel safe and while we know, as it is now, it’s not immediately dangerous it is important that we secure it to avert any potential danger."
Mr Creque anticipates having the cables well secured within approximately seven days but made it clear that BVIEC will not be concreting the entire section of the road that was broken but only the part where the cables are exposed.
The concerned residents said they were grateful for the response of BVIEC but suggested management re-enforce operational guidelines, which will see junior staff keeping management informed in a timely manner. "We did speak to other staff there but it’s obvious that they didn't log the complaint and ensure that it was in the hands of management. We can't take these things lightly," noted a resident.
They are now hoping a similar response would be forthcoming from Public Works Department and the alleged defaulting resident.
See previous article posted June 27, 2013
Hodge’s Creek residents upset about damaged road
- say PWD seems powerless to get alleged defaulting resident to repair road
Residents of Hodge's Creek residing along the road leading to Dead Man’s apartment have expressed frustration about a bad patch on the main road in the area, which was allegedly dug up some six months ago by a resident to have electricity and water accessed to his newly built three story apartment.
The road was damaged in three places and, according to residents, things could get “pretty scary” especially since water and electricity are no friends and the area is one that experiences a frequent flow of traffic. As a result of the destruction of the road, an underground electrical cable has been left exposed and is always flooded with water, the residents told Virgin Islands News Online.
Over the past two days this news agency made several attempts to secure a comment from Public Works Department (PWD) but to no avail. The most recent attempt to speak with Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr Gary Penn, was met with unanswered calls to his mobile and, according to the Government switchboard receptionist; none of the phones in that office were in operation.
Deputy General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Mr Henry O. Creque told this news site when contacted that he communicated with one of the concerned residents consequent of being alerted to the problem last night, June 25, 2013. He promised to investigate the matter with urgency.
General Manager of BVIEC, Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham was also contacted and he told this news site he was not aware of the situation but promised to look into it with urgency.
“We, the residents, have been patient enough and heard enough of the ‘I will cast it tomorrow or Monday’ stories,” a resident told Virgin Islands News Online.
The persons filing the complaint have all asked not to be named since they do want the matter to escalate into a conflict. They said the relevant authorities; Public Works Department in particular, have been contacted by several persons about the condition of the road that continues to deteriorate every day.
“As you can see, the electrical pipes, which were covered under the dirt, have been exposed and now sit in a pool of water. Several attempts have been made to alert the electricity department who has done nothing to help rectify this hazard,” said one concerned resident.
The residents also said they had expressed their concerns to the homeowner who they said continues to fill the two ditches with dirt only to be washed away by rain and the continuous flow of water from the area. “This situation is not only frustrating but annoying; mostly because it has been months and Public Works seem not to care about the destruction of this road even after many complaints. The hurricane season is approaching and if no action is taken to have this situation rectified many residents of the area, including myself, will not be able to drive uphill to get to our homes,” another resident argued.
Residents are appealing to the homeowner and Public Works Department to get the situation rectified as they said it is an annoyance, discomfort and dangerous to persons’ lives. It is by law that once an individual has to “cut” a public road to allow access for utilities to their property, it is their obligation to have it fixed within 2 days. Written consent has to be given and permissions have to be signed.
“My question is why Public Works Department has not done anything about this road when they have been informed of the situation and why was the home owner allowed to remain so negligent in his duty to repair the ditches which has caused the road to shift in position,” a resident stated.
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33 Responses to “UPDATE: No immediate danger with cables in water-BVIEC”
The water constantly running off the hill is the con******r that live up there sewerage water that he pump out in the night, and now that the rain coming if the police or health dept go up there in an non government vehicle they will catch him with he pump pumping, the goos is to loose.
Public works has gone to the dogs...every man jack is doing as they please some people have not reproved t works for weeks…what a mess and the head is just a big bull sh$#%r and that is a fact!!!