Video: Government Press Conference

[Updated with PDF] Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban, Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch, BLDC Board Chairwoman Lovitta Foggo, and BLDC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dias are holding a press conference this afternoon [Aug 24] on the St. David’s Draft Community Plan. We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below.

Update 8.24pm: Minister of Public Works Lt/Col David Burch Statement

Good afternoon,

The Ministry of Public Works and its Quangos are working, and will continue to work, together to ensure the provision of better infrastructure and services for the community.

Currently, we are working to complete the East End water Infrastructure upgrade by the end of this year. This project will see the replacement of dated and obsolete water supply pumps and piping. It will also see the upgrade and expansion of sewage collection which will enable the St. Georges sewage outfall to be closed, a significant improvement for the entire country.

This St. David’s Community Plan is another important step where collaboration between Government departments, Quangos and stakeholders enables us to build a stronger community upon which to attract and maintain businesses and investments in St. David’s.

This Community Plan highlights St. David’s strengths as well as recommendations for improvements. One key item within the plan is the community’s overwhelming desire for a new grocery store. The Draft Plan highlights this economic and social opportunity, and how stakeholders and entrepreneurs should be looking to work together to fill this community need.

We are already seeing improvements in St. David’s …. the water-wastewater infrastructure project I mentioned earlier, a new community garden recently opened at Little Head Park, and the memorial rock and plaque at Annie’s Bay installed recently by the St. David’s Historical Society.

Additionally, there have been other ongoing efforts to integrate and enhance the St. David’s community such as removing old military fencing where it is no longer necessary, removing certain signs, cleaning up areas which were becoming dumping grounds, and other efforts to beautify areas within St. David’s.

It is hoped that this St. David’s Community Plan will be actively used and continuously updated so that it evolves and reflects the community’s changing priorities over time.

I too encourage everyone to come to Triton House over the next 2 weeks to view the Draft Plan or to read it online, and to provide your comments and feedback.

I would like to thank all those involved in developing this plan, particularly Ms. Julie Marshall, Senior Planning Officer in the Department of Planning who is seconded to BLDC to produce the plan.

BLDC, under the leadership of Chair of the Board MP Lovitta Foggo and interim CEO Andrew Dias are committed to strengthening the ties between themselves and the people of St. David’s.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban Statement

Good afternoon,

Thank you for joining us today to launch the Draft Community Plan for St. David’s, which is significant as this is Bermuda’s first community plan.

When preparing Community Plans, we aim to identify what communities most cherish about their areas, their needs and desires, and what they would like to see improved within their community.

As such, this Plan does not showcase conceptual developments but is the foundation on which current and future initiatives should be based.

Before proceeding any further, I must recognise the collaborative efforts of the Department of Planning and the Bermuda Land Development Company, which created the St. David’s Community Plan over the last eight months. Thank you for a job well done!

Within the Plan, you will see that it reflects the St. David’s community’s feedback from two Community Surveys and all the recommendations provided by St. David’s residents and those who work or visit St. David’s.

And so, I want to thank the St. David’s community and the local stakeholders for their commitment and effort in sharing their thoughts on this Draft Plan. You have all provided very useful comments and recommendations.

This Community Plan indicates those stakeholders who may be involved in the various initiatives. It also includes goals, objectives, and action items to guide the provision of community improvements and development over the next 5 to 10 years.

I encourage the Community, Stakeholders and interested parties to visit the Southside BLDC office to view the Plan and supporting material and provide your feedback. Let us know your thoughts and what you want to be added or changed. Moving forward, with this information, all stakeholders and entrepreneurs should be using this Plan as a tool or guideline as to what this Community wants, needs, or would like to see.

Thank you.

The St. David’s Draft Community Plan follows below [PDF here]:

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