NDP To Hold Debates On Beef Island Bridge And Tourism

The opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) has expressed concern about what it calls the number of very serious challenges facing the territory and the lack of a systematic approach to address these problems, 11 months after general elections. The Legislators voiced their concern during a press conference Tuesday morning.

"We the...Members of the Opposition take our individual and collective responsibilities very seriously," said Leader Dr. the Honourable Orlando Smith. He said this was evidenced at last Friday's meeting of the Legislative Council, where they brought a number of questions and a motion highlighting a number of pressing issues facing this country. The opposition NDP Members raised matters such as the need for a cat scan machine at the hospital, the present power outages, the state of the territory's national tourism management, the national sewerage problem, the escalating price of fuel in the territory, the need for referendum legislation, sand mining in the territory, the growing concern about the increasing vehicular traffic in the territory, the tendering process and the status of the senior management at the BVI Ports Authority.

"Several of these problems are already becoming crises," Dr. Smith stated. "We call on the government to dialog with the people of the territory on its plans for addressing these problems." He said it is in this light that the National Democratic Party has organized two national debates scheduled to be held later this month. The first debate will be on the Beef Island Bridge project on April 13th and the second will be on tourism on April 20th. He said these are very important issues that are urgent and topical.

"The Beef Island Bridge Project - the cost of that bridge has been escalating rapidly since the inception of the project and we're concerned about that. Therefore, it's important that we discuss it so that the public know what's happening," the Opposition Leader stated. Dr. the Hon. Smith said the NDP is also concerned about the state of the tourist industry in the British Virgin Islands. He said apart from presenting their case in the House, they want to dialogue with the community and get the reaction of residents. Both debates will be covered live on radio and television. "We invite the entire community to take part in these very important debates," the NDP President said. He explained that as the opposition, their way of influencing legislation or anything that government does, is through public participation. He said by speaking on these matters in the House and by having debates, they hope to sway public opinion and hence affect the way government does business.