The dissenting voices of the public, over the removal of the century-old tamarind trees, to accommodate the redevelopment of the Carter Rey Boulevard, or The Valley Main Road, are new silent.
Every eye is now focussed on the enormous amount of engineering, and mass excavation work, being done as forerunners to the actual road expansion in the middle of Anguilla. It is a short stretch of important road, but what is remarkable is the fact that the work is being done by a handful of talented, qualified and efficient Anguillian engineers – and other highly experienced persons.
They proudly represent the Government of Anguilla, through the Departments of Infrastructure and Communications, Information Technology and E-Government Services; the Statutory Bodies of the Water Authority and the Anguilla Electricity Company; and the private telecommunications companies of Flow and Digicel.
The impressive network of deep and wide manholes and trenches causes motorists and pedestrians crossing the area to be ever so careful. The dugouts are to facilitate the various cables and ducts now being laid to protect them from hurricanes and to create a more pleasing environment. For example, there will be no more utility poles – along the redeveloped road – bearing overhead electricity and telecommunication cables. These were not just unsightly in a prominent part of Anguilla, but in times of hurricanes caused traffic blocks and a tangled mess of wire and transformers when thrown down across the road.
Kudos to the Anguillian engineers, tucked away in their offices from public view drawing the design plans, those in the field executing them, as well as the contractors skilfully using their heavy excavation machines. They truly deserve much commendation. In the past, one would have seen the recruitment of expensive overseas engineers and contractors to do the work. This has saved millions of local scarce financial resources and presented an opportunity to showcase and utilise Anguillian expertise.
