OpEd by TCI Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development Hon. Jamell Robinson
Speaking on behalf of The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development which is responsible for various infrastructure works across the TCI, it is deemed necessary to correct, and clarify and to enlighten the General Public on a number of misconceptions in circulation as it relates to the work of my Ministry and the development of critical infrastructure.
Before I delve into this, I would like to thank the hard-working team at our Public Works Department (PWD) and by extension the Ministry of Infrastructure for your dedication and tireless efforts in securing the health and safety of the public, particularly over the long holiday weekend.
We acknowledge and understand the concerns of the public in relation the critical infrastructure needs of the country. This being the primary reason that TCIG has committed to investing over $400 Million dollars in our Airport, Seaport, and Transportation Infrastructure in the years to come, to improve the lives and livelihood of Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Across the Turks and Caicos Islands the aforementioned works are at the various stages within the project management cycle i.e. Being tendered; Awarded and Contracted; Commenced; or Completed. On average from 2012-2023 the TCIG Capital Program spent approximately $18-million dollars annually.
In the last fiscal year, we spent over $28 Million i.e a $10 million dollar or at least a 35% increase on the last decade’s average while simultaneously awarding some $38.8-million dollars in new Capital projects. These will be implemented this fiscal year.
The notion that we should immediately reinstate a drainage management program within the PWD is unreasonable and impractical. It should be noted that, the program was never discontinued and the personnel within the Maintenance Division arrange the periodic cleaning of the drains year-round.
It should also be noted, that having cleared drains isn’t the only factor to be considered in determining the likelihood of flooding in any one area, the intensity of the rainfall event is also a relevant factor. Every drainage system has a filtration capacity, i.e. how quickly it can get water off the land. This is made up of wells, drainage networks, and pumps. Any drainage system has the ability to be overwhelmed if the rainfall event is intense enough or long enough. A prime example of this is the severe flooding at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport a few years ago, which many did not envisage was possible to occur.
As a former National Disaster Coordinator, I recall the days when Downtown Providenciales encountered flooding for days on end after significant rain events. At present, Downtown Providenciles is cleared in a matter of hours in many instances, or at the very least the majority of roads in the area become passable within 12-24 hours.
We have come a long way and we will continue to improve our drainage system, which is why we have again prioritized a $4-million dollar drainage Improvement Project to be retendered this year with the hopes of finding a successful bidder. With Climate Change we are likely to receive more intense weather events that has the capacity to overwhelm any drainage system.
Our job is to ensure that we make enough improvements that can easily handle the regular occurrences of weather events while minimizing the time and the level of flooding afterward. Through the Caribbean Development Bank in conjunction with my Government, the following studies and workshops have been commissioned:
· Development of a Transportation Master Plan. This study has been completed and the final report is pending. Information generated from this study was utilized in the tendering and awarding of the over $4 million dollars works to be commenced shortly in Phase1 of the expansion of the Millennium Highway into a 4-lane dual carriageway and the resurfacing of Leeward Highway from Suzie Turn to Scotia Bank, eastbound and westbound;
· Development of the Climate Change Resilience Management Study. This looks at the infrastructure needs of Salt Cay, Front Street, Grand Turk, and Five Cays, Providenciales in relation to these noted vulnerable areas becoming more Climate Change Resilient. The scoping and costing for each solution is being finalized;
· National Workshop to Implement the Application of the Climate Resilience Index in the Road Transport Sector conducted May 29th-30th, 2024. The purpose of the workshop was to examine the Roads Sector Resilience Tool; discuss risk hotspots and potential investment projects; and verify preliminary findings of the Consultancy team.
It is said that if you want to know a person’s priority, simply look at what they spend money on. It is only fair to compare our administration to the former in relation to budgeted amounts for our final fiscal years when it comes to Infrastructure Maintenance i.e. comparing Apples to Apples.
The previous government budgeted $589,096 for the maintenance of roads and drains. My Government budgeted $2,030,964. An over $1.4 Million dollar increase. The previous Government budgeted $80,000 for the maintenance of generators, my Government budgeted $300,738, an over $220K increase.
The previous Government budgeted $800,000 for the maintenance of schools, my Government budgeted $1,800,000, a $1 Million dollar increase. The previous Government budgeted $620,000 for the maintenance of Buildings, my Government budgeted $1,705,000, an over $1 Million dollar increase. The previous Government did not budget for the maintenance of Shelters, my Government budgeted $745,000.
The previous Government budgeted $4,184,000 for the rental of buildings, my Government budgeted $5,341,504, an over $1.1 Million dollar increase. My Government introduced the Works/Community Enhancement Program and has budgeted over $3 million dollars for it this fiscal year.
Overall, from the recurrent budget alone we have invested and budgeted more than $8.5 million dollars more in the maintenance and enhancement of our infrastructure compared to the Former Administration. For Capital roads alone, to date, we have completed, commenced, or awarded over $13 Million solely in road improvement works across the country with more than $7 Million to be tendered or re-tendered within this fiscal year.
That’s a 20-Million-dollar commitment that will only increase once we’ve completed the 25-year Infrastructure Pipeline as stated by our Premier. This compared to the former administration that failed to prioritize the paving of Aviation Drive, Academy Way (The road behind Smart), or the old airport road in Grand Turk where the Memorial site of our National Hero resides.
The very roads they used to highlight what PWD should have fixed. The road to progress can sometimes be long and slow. However, all those that are God fearing lovers of these Turks and Caicos Islands can see the evident signs of that hard work and progress and they will only see more in 2024.
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