Oct. 16, 2006 — Residents of Estate Williams Delight who have endured drainage and road problems for more than 25 years were asked Monday to wait just a little while longer.
"I am very disappointed with the government," said Felicita Gilbert, a 35-year resident of the community.
In a meeting Monday of the Housing, Sports and Veterans Affairs committee, officials told community residents that funds would be released soon to complete the project.
"I'm sick of it," Gilbert said. "I can't take it no more."
Residents who don't have cars can't leave their homes when it rains because of huge potholes and bad drainage that causes water to pool in the roads, Gilbert said.
Marjorie Benjamin, who has also lived in Williams Delight for 35 years, said she has seen other roads near her community repaired, but not hers. "You are asking for a vote — but what is there for us?" she asked the senators.
Victor Harry told senators they made "false promises." Residents have put up signs in their community saying "no road, no vote," he said.
The residents were not the only ones expressing frustration at the evening meeting, held at the Frederiksted Legislative Conference Room. Public Works Commissioner George Phillips not only expressed frustration because the appropriations needed to complete the roadwork has not been released by the Department of Management and Budget, but also at implications that "nothing was being done" to alleviate conditions in the community.
"I am here protecting my reputation tonight," Phillips said, reading a time line of events regarding the road improvements and other work completed by his department. Phillips, appointed commissioner in March 2005, said he understands the frustration but emphasized that the community's problems have been ongoing for more than 25 years.
The Senate identified funding for the flood-control project from interest earned on the debt-service reserve fund, Phillips said, noting that he requested funds be released from the Office of Management and Budget several times, to no avail. "I was told the funds were over-appropriated," he said. Unless the OMB director could say the funds are available, he said, the project would remain stalled.
"There is nothing I can do but wait," Phillips said.
Three major projects have been approved for the area. One has been completed and two are pending. Ira Mills, OMB director, told senators the status of the appropriations: one appropriated $2 million for the completion of the Williams Delight drainage-flood control project. These funds were allotted on Jan. 27 and fully expended by Aug. 30, Mills said.
Additionally, Mills said, to complete the water line and meter-installation project, another appropriation of $1.1 million to the V.I. Water and Power Authority was made from the General Fund in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. The sum remains available until expended.
As for the appropriation from the interest earned on debt-service reserve fund to complete the drainage work, Mills said it "should be available later this month." The fund has been replenished because the "PFA has reported that further earnings have been realized," and that has added to the fund, he said.
Tip Top Construction won the road-repair and drainage contract. The company received a conditional notice to proceed by the Department of Property and Procurement on Oct. 4, according to Horace W. Graham Jr., DPP's chief of contracts and procurement. The notice to proceed would allow Tip Top to begin the work while the contract is being approved, Graham said.
Gregory Willocks, WAPA's Chief engineer and director of water distribution, reported on the replacement of water lines and the installation of water meters to the community. He said the replacement by WAPA of water lines for the 300 homes is expected to take 5 to 6 months, after which the residents will become direct customers of WAPA and get charged for their water consumption. Presently the V.I. Housing Authority subsidizes water to the community.
Present at the meeting were Committee Chairman Sen. Juan Figueroa Serville, members Sens. Liston A. Davis and Pedro Encarnacion. Excused were Sens. Adlah Donastorg, Louis Hill and Celestino White Sr.. Also present were non-committee members, Sens. Craig Barshinger, Terrance "Positive" Nelson and Usie R. Richards.
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