The Ministry of Communication and Works is making moves to recommission and upgrade the previously inoperable waste water treatment plant at Burt Point.

In his statement at the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly, Minister for Communication and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer said that recommissioning the waste water treatment plant is a priority for his ministry due to the fact that the inoperable facility currently poses a threat to the marine environment.

 Honourable Rymer went on to say that pump trucks will soon be able to pump waste water at the Burt Point waste water treatment plant, which will eliminate the need for the trucks to do so at the Road Town station.

He said, “As part of the repairs and commissioning of the plant, we have incorporated a receiving station to allow the sewage pump trucks to dump at the Burt Point plant. This will eliminate the need for the pump trucks to continue to dump sewage in the heart of Road Town at the main pump station at the Roundabout.”

Minister Rymer continued, “As we seek to improve our city of Road Town, we have to put measures in place to enhance our aesthetics and the way that we operate, including at our pump station. Having these types of operations relocated to the soon-to-be commissioned plant at Burt Point will allow for monitoring and logging of pump trucks while avoiding the site of sewage being dumped in plain sight of tourists and residents alike.”

Honourable Rymer also noted that a total of one million, seven hundred and thirty-four thousand, three hundred and twenty-one dollars and seventy-seven cents ($1,734,321.77) has been expended on the two million, five hundred ninety-four thousand, three hundred seventeen dollars and eighty-six cent ($2,594,317.86) agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands via the Ministry of Communications and Works with BiWater International Limited.

The Minister for Works also stated that his ministry has engaged BiWater International Ltd. to procure the necessary equipment and material to replace the damaged equipment and material at the plant and indicated that the plant is anticipated to be completed and commissioned in August 2023.

Minister Rymer’s full statement can be viewed on the Government’s website at www.bvi.gov.vg.

The Ministry of Communications and Works continues to ensure the continued development and maintenance of public infrastructure in keeping with international standards so that public utilities are reliable and affordable in support of an enhanced community life for every resident and visitor in the Virgin Islands.