(Photo Credit: File )
Starting next week, Government intends to commence public consultations on the plan to regularize drag racing as an accepted motor sport in the Territory.
This interest to make drag racing, which is currently an underground activity mainstream has been a pushed by the Premier for close to ten years, dating back to the tenure as Minister for Education and Culture. The promise was repeated on the 2019 campaign trail and now Hon. Fahie said it is moving forward.
In making the announcement in the House of Assembly on November 19 during the budget address, Hon. Fahie said, “Many people in the Territory are fans of drag racing, but it is unsafe for this pastime to take place on our public roads…Within the next week, we will call a public forum with all our youth and interested persons to turn this into a sport of safety and fun, as it has the potential, if conducted in a responsible manner, to generate employment opportunities and attract revenues.”
In noting that this can be a revenue generator the Premier announced, “Motorsports can then be added to our tourism product. We will discuss sites where Government land is available and turn our fears into opportunities.”
Back in 2010, while Hon. Fahie oversaw a contract of approximately $96,500 which was awarded to New Direction Consultancy to examine the feasibility and draft the legislation for drag racing.
At that time, a series of public meetings were held to gather opinion on the establishment of drag car racing in the Territory at various locations. Then in April the following year Hon. Fahie informed the House of Assembly that the feasibility study showed that drag racing was feasible in the BVI. That study was part one of the contract.
Additionally, a poll, was taken at that time on the public’s interest in seeing drag racing become a recognize activity and the results showed that 60.6 percent of the sample poll between the age of 25-50 were in favour and 39.6 percent of the polled were against drag racing.
The second part of the contract required the drafting of the legislation and regulations that would govern drag racing in the Territory; and Hon. Fahie said that the consultant commenced drafting.
At the time, the push to regulate drag racing was seen as the answer to the uncontrolled underground drag racing activity that was taking place late at nights in places like the airport stretch of road in Beef Island.
As he mentioned the situation during the April 18, 2011 sitting of the House of Assembly Hon. Fahie said: “Although police continue to warn against street racing people continue to drive and spectators continue to witness races in close proximity. Should we continue to ignore this and bother police with this when they have other serious crimes to look into?”
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Prayers
Of all the important thing this little Islands needs...it this the best we could come up with ????? consultation for Drag Racing. The Devil is really busy in this place, when you meet for your consultation please ask yourselves GENIUSES does Peoples Hospital have equipped doctors or specialist to deal with the injuries associated with Drag Racing ??????
Vincent
The Bvi has the doctors to deal with it yes
PROGRESS
LETS GET THIS THING STARTED, THIS ALSO IS A STREAM OF REVENUE FOR OUR COUNTRY.
LG
i would like to see the projections for revenue, elsewhere in the world you have to be in a major metropolitan area to be able to make any profits. most other places drag strips close down due to lack of interest. i think this should be left for private enterprise to fund.
Concerned Resident
When this preposterous idea was brought up almost ten years ago, the first thing I, and many friends and acquaintances, thought was; “let’s get the new hospital open first [the hospital was nowhere near being opened at the time this idea was first mentioned to the public] and make darn sure the new hospital has a well-equipped trauma center up and running!!!” The only place on Tortola with a long enough “straightaway” to actually facilitate drag racing is at the airport. This means the road would have to be closed and the races would have to start after the last flight each night has landed, cleared Immigration and Customs, and all passengers have left the airport facility. But wouldn’t that then prevent the employees of the airport, as well as anyone dining or just enjoying an evening in Trellis Bay, from being able to drive (SAFELY!) on the only road out of the airport/Trellis area to return home after their shift at the airport or an evening at Trellis Bay? According to this article, Hon. Fahie stated in an announcement during the budget address at the House of Assembly on 19 November that “within the next week, we will call a public forum with all our youth and interested persons to turn this into a sport of safety and fun” - let me comment here that our “youth” cannot participate in the actual races unless they possess a valid driver’s license!!! These “youths” would only be able to participate as spectators. And Hon. Fahie continues by saying “it has the potential, if conducted in a responsible manner, to generate employment opportunities and attract revenues.” I am VERY curious about this statement - generate employment??? For whom?? The girls who drop the flag to start the race?? Attract revenues?? For whom? The food vendors who choose to attend? - but I cannot think of any other revenues! I am seriously asking Hon. Fahie to specify the employment that will be generated and the revenues that will be attracted. I am truly baffled. I am honestly not being sarcastic or disrespectful when I ask these questions. I am genuinely asking for an explanation (and the justification) of this concept. I hope I am not alone in my thought process! Thank you.