Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye Rymer led a delegation through several areas of Road Town to assess the drainage situation ahead of Tropical Storm Tammy.

Honourable Rymer stated that the walkthrough was necessary to ensure that the appropriate man power was present and to identify all the areas of concern ahead of the weather that is expected to affect the Territory.

Honourable Rymer said, “As we are expecting extensive rain on the weekend, we are back looking at our drainage and our ghuts to ensure that they are cleared. Where we need to hire private contractors, we are doing so. We are out walking and looking at all the ghuts in the town area, and from there we will look at some other areas of concern. So today we are just out observing, making sure that we have enough people on the ground and making sure that our ways are clear.”

Director of the Public Works Department (PWD) Mr. Jeremy Hodge said while he was unable to be physically present on the tour, he hopes that this opens the door for formal policy development that will allow a better funded and streamlined process allowing the Public Works Department to comprehensively prepare for the Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Mr. Hodge said, “The passage of Tropical Storm Phillipe opened a window allowing my department to better mobilise to clean up after the tropical storm that brought several inches of water. The practice should allow for the PWD to be able to have the ability to carry out a significant cleaning of ghuts and drains than it normally would.”

The delegation included Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna Smith, OBE; Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Vincent Wheatley; Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. The Honourable Karl Dawson; Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro; Deputy Director at Public Works Department, Mr. Kurt Hodge and delegates from the private sector.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Photo 1: Photo of Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer

Photo 2 & 3: Minister Rymer discussing ongoing and upcoming works with members of the walkthrough delegation

(Photo credit: GIS/Ronnielle Frazer)