December deadline maintained for $82M Fort Island stelling

Civil engineer attached to the Transport and Harbour Department, Eric Morris said that works on
the construction of the Fort Island stelling in Region Three is about 54 per cent complete.
Morris noted that based on the pace of work, the stelling is on track for its December deadline.
He revealed that the project is being undertaken by IB Contracting Services. He said that upon
completion, the $82M stelling will spur economic activity on the island. This, he said is because
farming and fishing are the main sources of income. The civil engineer noted that with the
pandemic slowing up economies worldwide, the stelling will benefit the 95 persons who reside
of Fort Island and over 200 persons from the catchment areas.
He pointed out that aside from that, several persons from the island are employed, assisting with
the construction of the stelling. When Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill visited the
island back in September, long-time resident of the island, Pretty Debideen, had expressed
confidence that the stelling would benefit residents.
“When the stelling is done, persons can go out there and sell at the stelling and they (will) get a
daily income… When the stelling build and if the ferry will be landing here, it would encourage
more tourism. Persons would take the ferry to come here and whatever we have to sell here, you
will showcase it to get it sell,” Debideen had said.
She continued, “The stelling was the backbone of Fort Island years ago where all the residents
used to go out there … you used to get your cow milk and boil corn and that is what I want to
bring back since we will be having a new stelling.”
Edghill had visited the project to get a first-hand look at the nature of work to be undertaken.
During his stop, the Public Works Minister assured residents that government will continue to
work to improve their quality of lives.