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Infrastructure deficiency in West Basseterre is being addressed, ‘Patches’ hails Byron-Nisbett’s persistence

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, March 20, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Minister of Public Infrastructure et al, the Hon Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd has said infrastructure deficiency in West Basseterre is being addressed, and has commended Team Unity’s Caretaker for St. Christopher Three Senator the Hon Akilah Byron Nisbett for her persistence in ensuring West Basseterre is not left behind as the country develops. 

Addressing a huge turnout at Team Unity’s Community Consultations held at the St. Johnston Community Centre in West Basseterre Tuesday evening March 19, the Hon Liburd said that when Senator Byron-Nisbett saw road developments in other parts of the island, she asked him when Constituency Number Three will have its roads done.

The minister said that of the about three miles stretch of roads in the Boyd’s area,  243,000sq feet will be paved in the lower portion of Boyd’s Housing Project in the first phase, at a cost of almost $4 million.

“We are also going to address the drainage,” said Minister Liburd. “The drainage for the water that comes from the Fairview Inn area, goes down to the Bronte Welsh Primary School, and we will throw that water into the ghaut because it is important that when we build roads we also provide the drainage so the water can run away.”

Minister Liburd noted: “The former administration never built drains to take away the water. They built soakaway pits so the water runs into a soakaway pit and that breeds mosquitos and germs. We are going to address the drainage in Lime Kiln, and we are also going to address that dirt road next to Manhattan Gardens and build out the roads in Number Three.”

When Team Unity Administration took office in 2015 there was nothing at the Boyd’s playfield but weeds and grass, there were no lights, no seating, no bathrooms or courts, and no fencing. The Team Unity Administration started a project in 2017 at Boyd’s Playfield and today second division football matches are being played there.

The playground area was designed and implemented late last year, and during 2019 the boundary fencing at the southern western sides of the compound at Boyd’s will be undertaken, and according to the minister the estimates are currently under review at the Public Works Department. The bathroom on the section with the basketball court and children play area is almost completed as is a gazebo which has benches and other amenities, and most of the equipment in children’s play area are already installed.

“Next to the Cotton Thomas School is the Patsy Allers Playfield which will be upgraded shortly,” said Minister Liburd. “The drawings and all the designs are already completed, I am advised, and I know that your Caretaker Representative the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, even outside of office has already approached and formed partnership with the corporate community and she will start the repair works on the bathrooms and other facilities over there at the Patsy Allers.”

Minister Liburd posed: “Imagine she has done that outside of government, could you imagine when she gets into government? Could you imagine that?”

The Community Consultations, which are part of Team Unity Administration’s fourth anniversary celebrations, are being held under the theme ‘Making dreams a reality in every community!’ Present at the consultations included Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, Senior Minister the Hon Vance Amory, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Hon Lindsay Grant, the Hon Vincent Byron, the Hon Wendy Phipps, Ambassador Michael Powell, and Ambassador Sydney Osborne.

The next Team Unity Administration’s Community Consultations will be held in St. Christopher Two (Central Basseterre) at the McKnight Community Centre on Tuesday March 26.