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VG water woes embarrassing to me - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool

- water problems on the sister island continue even as VG Easter Festival weekend is upon us
On the eve of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival this weekend, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said he was embarrassed about the water situation on Virgin Gorda and called the issue of water in the territory his biggest challenge as Minister. Photo: VINO/File
Minister Vanterpool said hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours there will be a much better situation in Virgin Gorda. Photo: VINO/File
Minister Vanterpool said hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours there will be a much better situation in Virgin Gorda. Photo: VINO/File
He was speaking on Wednesday March 23, 2016 during the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly as the budget debates continued. Photo: VINO/File
He was speaking on Wednesday March 23, 2016 during the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly as the budget debates continued. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - On the eve of the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival this weekend, Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said he was embarrassed about the water situation on Virgin Gorda and called the issue of water in the territory his biggest challenge as Minister.

He was speaking on Wednesday March 23, 2016 during the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly as the budget debates continued.

A vexing issue

“Madam Speaker, water is a vexing issue and it has been the most challenging issue in my management in the Ministry of Communications and Works. ..not the Tortola Pier Park or the cruise ship development that has been my most challenging issue. It is the issue of water,” he said.

“I had hoped that we could have had water to many more places in the territory on a consistent basis. To be honest Madam Speaker, as Minister I am very embarrassed by the situation in Virgin Gorda at this point in time,” Minister Vanterpool continued.

He also said he is embarrassed the Government has not been able to address the issue in other parts of the country.

The Minister noted that they are not givng up and the "team" is working very hard to to remedy the situation.

“It has various aspects to it...I’ve been on the line last night and early this morning and during the day to try to attend to what I consider an emergency situation on Virgin Gorda."

He said hopefully in the next 24 to 48 hours there will be a much better water situation in Virgin Gorda, where the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival gets started this weekend with the Food and Fungi Fest today March 26, 2016.

“The old plant that was there it’s on its way out. We gave a new contract to rebuild it and to provide water at a much better rate. They have begun to engage in it but the old plant is breaking down faster than we expected,” said the Minister.

VG water situation 'baffling'

Minister Vanterpool said he remains baffled that his Ministry still cannot get the water situation in Virgin Gorda rectified and spoke of sending a barge filled with 100,000 gallons of water to supply residents of the sister island for a period of between 12 and 24 hours.

“It is an area that I have to admit to the public that I am not satisfied with. I cannot say that we are satisfied but our team is working on it,” he said, adding that hopefully the territory’s water woes would come to an end in about six months time.

The Minister further said it is troubling to know that the Government paid $100 million for water over the five years from 2011 to 2015. He said during that same period the Government collected $24 million for water. “We have lost $76 million between production of water and what we collected for that water,” he said.

19 Responses to “VG water woes embarrassing to me - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool”

  • Just saying.... (26/03/2016, 10:32) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    So step down then and give it to marlon penn
  • Oh Mark. (26/03/2016, 10:45) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its your job to make good things happen for your people.. Do your job.
  • Disgrace (26/03/2016, 10:49) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is time MARK and the PS remove from their positions . This country is out of control we need help fast before we sink bottom. The biggest mistake this country did is to put back this government power. They only doing things for the whites , relatives and families the rest have to survive how they can. I wonder how they sleep at night knowing that people can not get the basic need especially water. PEOPLE is time to march to the complex and let the PREMIER know that we are not satisfy the way the country is going maybe that will wake them up we just can not sit and blog any more time for action.
  • I'm unpaid (26/03/2016, 11:10) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell MVW. I'm broke,:I need pay for village performance in August. Maybe he thinks everyone got paid.
  • Yes (26/03/2016, 11:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    They spoke about Mark of the Beast.....never understood it till now lol. Wicked people talkin trash....failure to succeed through action but full of mouth. Scripture says the devil himself is filled with the knowledge of god so he will always know what to say when using people as a vessel, it is the ACTIONS that speak gods work.
  • Diaspora (26/03/2016, 11:54) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    "To be honest Madam Speaker, as Minister I am very embarrassed by the situation in Virgin Gorda at this point in time,” Minister Vanterpool continued. You should be embarrassed. Clearly, you are in over your head in high water, cannot swim and drowning and needs to be reecued. Dr, family ties not withstanding, needs to rescue you from failing forward and upward. But he lacks the stones to do it. Actions has unintended consequences. Bi-Water is not a perfect contract. But instead of trying to make it work to deliver safety and quality potable water to customers, too much effort was misplace to make it fail. The sad thing is that customers are paying for the poor leadership and managements. Surprise that Lorna let him embarassed himself like this.
    • Eagle and Buffalo (27/03/2016, 10:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mark has admitted that he is not up to the task. And it is time to rescue him from embarrassing himself further at the expense of residents. If there were a choice among electricity, sewage, telephone, telecommunications, water . transportation .....etc and only one can be shown, what would be the choice? Mark is in a Peter Principle situation, i.e., he has been promoted to a level of incompetence. As another blogger asked, if Mark were not Dr. Smith's brother-in-law, would he still be employed as MCW? Family and politics mixing at the expense of residents needs. Leadership and management are opposite sides of the same coin but Mark has failed at both. Are there any major MCW projects that have come in time and at or under budget? And most of the few small projects that were completed were of poor quality, i.e., the repaving of the James Walter Francis Carriageway among others. Rescue Mark from himself. Mark needs to do Dr. Smith a favour and resign. His resigning will necessitate a cabinet reshuffling. Move Ronnie to MCW. Lets soar on the wings of eagles and jump off the cliff as buffaloes.
  • Bernie Sanders (26/03/2016, 12:50) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am been consistent with my message we need a Political Revolution in the BVI,if we don't march on the Governor,this Government will bury us alive..TT MAn should be ashame when a woman tell him she ain't bathe for days ,this is what leadership come too ,serious health hazard around now..No water nothing is clean ,you can't do nothing with out water,some body please wake up our sleeping Premier ,his workers is making us look bad on the international levei.. Imagine VG the biggest tourist destination in the BVI and no water,we were better off years back..
    • Yes (26/03/2016, 23:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      She told him that she didn't bathe because he...........................................................
  • wtf? (26/03/2016, 13:23) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Emergency? It's been this way for over a year. Every day, no water. We need a real leader to go find out exactly what the problems are, price out how much to fix them, monitor the repairs, and then pay the price when it is completed (not before). Mismanagement is an understatement here. It's more like No Management. Everyone in govt seems surprised about this. How is it possible when every Tom, Dick and Harry has 2 cellphones on their hip, and on Facebook all day at work that no one knows about this years long problem? Ignoring it does not make it go away! Step up, take charge and be a leader...someone please!
  • Charley Rose (26/03/2016, 13:36) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    It is time to have a day of prayer for the Government so that we can have healing in the land, then and only then will the issues of this country will be solved. Without Godliness there will not be any solution to the problems. God is not sleeping. He is watching over this country, so let us don't fool ourselves. What will be will be.
    • @Charles Rose. (26/03/2016, 20:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      So why yourGod don't send some flood or plaque to wipe out those wicked churches and leaders. Thats a good start.
  • shame on he (26/03/2016, 15:08) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    He had 4 years to run new pipes to all the villages, but instead, he was there playing hanky panky with biwater. The money that was wasted or missing from that cruise project could've well fix our water woes.
  • wow (26/03/2016, 18:05) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The minister should be ashamed to even admit this
  • affected (26/03/2016, 19:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark. Mark. Oh. Mark u make us SHAME WITH SHIT
    From V G with out any love
  • yo see (26/03/2016, 23:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dem need 2 stop t0u$%^# up de people dem chayren.
  • One Term. (27/03/2016, 09:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    All those people who saying a government needs two terms. This is my question to you all. Is it two terms to destroy. Is it two terms for them to get rich or two terms to show their real colours?..I hardly see a second term better than the first. Men have become lovers of themselves, selfish, heartless and greedy..
  • VG Resident (27/03/2016, 09:51) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply

    Maybe if they didn't steal the money from the pier park, we would have used that money to repair our water issues. Money is lord and savior.

  • The Letter of the Day Is... (28/03/2016, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    First the premier was baffled. Now Mark's baffled and I have to admit I'm baffled too. I'm baffled as to why these people who are making the decisions are baffled when the things they should be overseeing isn't working out. It makes me wonder if we got it wrong. Maybe the "B" in "BVI" stands for "Baffled" and not "British."

    Well at least we're only bewildered because we've been blindsided *wink* and it's a good thing aren't befuddled else we'd be blighted.


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