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$75M Tortola Pier Park revealed to the public

- Government leases land for 48 years
A concept of what the Pier Park would look like. Photo: UIG
A large number of residents turned out for the meeting. Photo: VINO
A large number of residents turned out for the meeting. Photo: VINO
Hon. Vanterpool (left) and Darley speaking to residents last evening, June 27, 2012. Photo: VINO
Hon. Vanterpool (left) and Darley speaking to residents last evening, June 27, 2012. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - If everything goes according to plan, cruise ship passengers’ first impression of Road Town will be splendour of green, flurry of activities and the Territory’s way of live.

Last evening, June 27, 2012 at the cruise pier dock, residents were shown slides of how a four-acre plot of land, of concrete and grass, will be transformed into a destination.

Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool, and Hugh Darley of United Infrastructure Group (UIG) made disclosures on the mammoth project, which is estimated to cost $75M.

In breaking down the public and private partnership agreement, Hon. Vanterpool revealed that $25M will be earmarked for pier and excursion dock; $25M is allocated for land side development and $25M for community investment.

Tortola Ports Partners Ltd, United Infrastructure Group, Cashmen are the partners that will be working along the Virgin Islands Government, and according to Hon. Vanterpool they are a highly qualified and experienced team.

Interestingly, Government is not injecting any money but is leasing the land for 48 years with a buy out option at 15 and 30 year intervals. Furthermore, Hon. Vanterpool stressed that the “no one would manage the port but the Ports Authority and we are developing it in line with what is happening here.”

He stated, “At this time with this economy what we are presenting might be the best thing. We are going to reap the benefit, create business for our people, and they will benefit and after 48 years the project belongs to the Government of the BVI.”

The Communications and Works Minister also revealed that UIG is not doing the project for free and would not have come on board if the Government was not able to secure assurances from Disney and Norwegian cruise liners. According to Hon. Vanterpool, the VI will see an influx of passengers over the next 15 years and “an increase in overhead tax.”

“The guaranteed amount of passengers is 425,000 minimum passenger arrivals per year…and if the cruise lines do not produce those passengers, they will still have to pay the Government the overhead tax for the passengers which they had promised.”

In light of this, the revenue generated will allow Government to improve the ports at West End, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and the main cargo dock.

Meanwhile, Darley pledged that the Road Town port will be an A class one.

“Some ports see a decline of 80 percent coming off the peak season and way are going to change the way people see the BVI. We are going to build a destination within a destination. We want to inspire people to come off the cruise ship and for them to come back because they didn’t see enough of the BVI,” he charged.

Darley, who is fresh off a project in Jamaica, painted a picture of what a luxurious cruise liner which is compared to a 15 storied building would see as they approach the pier.

“The plan is not to build a city, it’s to build a village, it’s your front door. Terminal building will have guest service, a port office, restrooms, immigration and security. We are going to spend $25M improving the community throughout the life of the product; we will create a pedestrian space and will be putting a lot more trees in the heart of Road Town.”

The introduction of trolley cars to take visitors along the boardwalk and in Road Town is also part of the plan. In addition to that, carts and vendors will also be included in the destination product.

And in an effort to create ideal festive August Festival experience, a Ferris wheel will be built.

"The nostalgic Ferris Wheel festival theme and waterfront boardwalk greet visitors approaching by ship, introducing them to charming boutiques, arts and crafts, and waterfront entertainment. The old style village Chapel, surrounded by fragrant rose gardens, has its own story to tell. The Chapel now provides an idyllic spot in which to exchange vows or provide for family gatherings on the new waterfront boardwalk. Trolley cars stand by ready to carry passengers through the retail village and into Road Town to explore more of what Tortola has to offer. As visitors make their way further into Road Town´s main street shopping district, they can visit Tortola´s historic Post Office, and prison situated between two historic churches, and the Virgin Island´s Folk Museum,” Darley added.

The expansion of the pier is expected to be completed by December 2012 while further development of the land side and improvements to Road Town will be pursued over the next three years.

32 Responses to “$75M Tortola Pier Park revealed to the public”

  • sell (28/06/2012, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so who getting kick backs on this one???
  • bbc (28/06/2012, 09:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If they not fooling we just build the dang ting
    • Zachary (04/08/2012, 01:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I'm speechless. This can be a sueprb blog and very attractive too. Nice work! That's now not actually a lot coming from an newbie publisher like me, however it's all I may just say after diving into your posts. Nice grammar and vocabulary. Not like other blogs. You actually recognise what you?re talking about too. Such a lot that you made me want to discover more. Your blog has develop into a stepping stone for me, my friend.
  • she the cat mother (28/06/2012, 09:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Valid proof that we are going backwards giving away our bith rights to Disney..check with they did in JAMDOWN, Bahamas and the like..god send help
    • BVIslander (28/06/2012, 12:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I do not believe that we are given it away if we will be able to buy it back in a few years. However my concern is, if we are going to attract so many visitors to the territory because of this pier project, purchasing of land should only be for those who have acquired or have 'Belonger Status' (unless they are purchasing the land with someone who has Belonger status). I really believe that we must now begin leasing BVI land to foreigners instead of granting land ownership if we wish to keep much of the land in local hands.
    • Real Talk (28/06/2012, 12:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Show me anywhere in this article or anywhere in the plans where you see that this is a Disney project. Disney is one of the Cruise Lines that have agreed and guranteed a certain number of stops/visitors if this project is completed. VIP were the ones looking for Disney to take over our ports and Mark wisely quashed that MOU and are now dealing with a group of people that are experts in the field. So, please show me where it says Disney is doing this. You all get so comfortable and accustomed of lying so it comes like nothing.
      • @Real Talk (28/06/2012, 14:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Real Talk now you are talking mess! The previous MOU did nothing to give Disney control of the pier. All they had was preferential berthing for the money that they were spending. I am sure if you look at the details of this arrangement they still have preferential berthing, so please stop mis leading people.
  • BREAKING NEWS (28/06/2012, 10:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Surely ain't VIP!! They got enough already, now other people will get a chance to eat!!
  • bigger picture (28/06/2012, 11:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is nothing unique or special about this americanized, southern florida, generic, dense over-sized development. It will add to traffic, trash, beach crowding and distruction, and how much do we really get back? for the amount of money being spent (and not all from partners I assure you), basic island services could be upgraded or even sustainable like water, electricity, sewage. If there is no electricity how will the trolley run? where is the water coming from for all these businesses? This is such a travesty to what COULD have been done complete with relevant west indian architecture, jumbled roof-lines and quaint booths, cafes and restaurants.. This can be anywhere and probably is as a basic template for cruiseship docks. And the BVIlander is lead down the path of hope without reading the fineprint or looking at the consequences.. It is the beginning of the end for BVI and its uniqueness.
    • Real Talk (28/06/2012, 12:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Tell us what you suggest we build there and for the wider capital and wider BVI as it relates to Tourism and tell me how you suggest we pay for it since we cannot borrow a dime as we speak. I'm listening. It's good to bash, it's easy, simple, but not so easy when it comes to putting forward alternative and sensible solutions. So, please tell us, how you suggest we develop and who will pay for it.
  • bigger picture (28/06/2012, 11:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    and after leasing the land for 48 yrs, after realizing the development's short-comings, and rise in crime which will follow, depletion of resources etc. what will we have then... after 48 yrs??
    • Gaku (04/08/2012, 19:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Abnormal this post is totaly untreaeld to what I used to be looking google for, but it surely was once listed on the first page. I suppose your doing one thing right if Google likes you enough to position you at the first web page of a non related search.
  • BREAKING NEWS (28/06/2012, 14:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In about 10-15 years the lord coming for his World anyhow so in 48 years some will be in heaven and some in hell !!!
    • my two cents (28/06/2012, 22:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      hope people are not fooled by a concept but has anyone every thought that this is worst than biwater?
    • ಠ_ಠ (01/07/2012, 17:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Your comment is bad and you should feel bad.
  • dr. do lil (28/06/2012, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My god what a sell out the biggest contract I the history of the BVI biwater was 45 million this is 75 million and with biwater it was only 16 years this is for 48 years...goodness the NDP step up the selling of our birth right
  • -------------------------- (28/06/2012, 17:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    PLEEEEZE PLEEEZE NDP DO NOT DO THIS TO OUR COUNTRY
    • same old thing (28/06/2012, 22:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      OMG!!! Jeeze um bread people the saying is true, history does repeat its self and under the NDP for this is Bates Hill returning to haunt us, were are the talk show host and the noel Lyons
      • Protest (29/06/2012, 07:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        All ttalk show host could do is talk, we need to band together and protest like noel llyod did. What happen to all the ppl who ran for election and did not win. I see a lot them only had mouth for election. What Noel Llyod did was in vain, because we sold out far more than Wicham's cay. I hope we know many white people have said all of us are idiots including our governments. They are laughing at us. How many times have government said the locals would benefit , it would create jobs, it would generate money. How many times would we believe this lie because for decades we have been still bawling ,locals and caribbean brethren alike. This Government has disappointed me and im more greatly disappointed in my people. They don't see that they are just doing things to get back in and fool the idiots of the BVI. The Government are telling us we real idiots if we don't see that they don't give a damn about us. How can we have BVI pride when our birth rights are being sold left, right and center . Being vitcimized and can't survive. All like that BVI pride show, all of us should have boycotted because that is saying to the politians we all well and fine with in the injustice. To get back BVI pride deal with the real damn issues then we have something to be proud about.
  • ... (28/06/2012, 20:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The only thing that's missing is Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse.
  • stupid (28/06/2012, 20:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do not do it! One thing I really don't like with the NDP government they only think about money, money, money. What about our values? What about all that the people before us fought for? Now you going to go and give it away. Get them out of office!
  • vip (28/06/2012, 21:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ndp is now doing the samething with these guys that they said was wrong with biwater
  • 2015 come fast (29/06/2012, 06:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bvi sold the invaders have returned
  • Diaspora (30/06/2012, 13:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Haste makes waste. Why are we rushing to lease 4 acres of prime real estate for 48 years to venture capitalists. Most of the US coastline is builtout. And these venture capitalists are trolling the shores of desperate, developing nations looking for opportunities to invest. Most do not have interest of either the countries or the people at heart. Their prime interest is to get a high return on their investment. Poor, weak, emerging., developing, desperate and finacially-challenged countries are rich target of opportunities for these venture capitalists. History repeats itself. Did we learn anything from the Bate-Hill fiasco or even the recent controversial BI-Water deal. At least the BI-Water deal is only for 16 years; this proposed giveaway is three times as long---48years. Back to Bate-Hill. In this deal Wickhams Cay and most of Anegada were being lease for 99 years to create a country within a country. But it took the fearless, unselfish, sacrificising agitation of national hero Noel Lloyd and PAM to reverse the giveaway. The proposal supposedly has the option of buying out the venture capitalists in either 15 or 30 years. But at what cost? Will it be at an extravagant cost? Moreover, what is the opportunity cost of this giveaway? How much will this lease add to our GDP? How much will it improve our standard of living and quality of lige? How much local participation is guaranteed? Will these venture capitalists be the de factor operators of the Port? Yes, the minister said that port will remain in local hands with dejure power. But the real power is de facto power. There are so many questions on the value of this deal to the interest and benefit of Virgin Islanders. Is this the type of attractions that are needed to draw tourists? It seems like a carnival atmosphere with the ferris wheel...etc. The tourism and travel industry is driven and is dependent on pristine natural attractions such as beaches, coral reefs, yachting,tropical forests, rare and exotic flora and fauna, ruins, quality hotel accomodations, historical sites....etc. These are the attractions that we should be focusing on. Yes, the port needs to be developed to attract larger ships. Further, there needs to be on shore entertainment at the cruise ship dock. But improving the port and providing on shore entertainment can be done locally. We do not need to give away prime and scarce real estate to do so. Wecannot and should not be seriously entertaining every lame brain idea that comes along. We need to show these venture capitalists that are pitching these ideas that we are small and poor but we will not fall for any scheme that is not in our national interest or takes away our birthright. Put a stay on the execution of this one sided and ill conceived project. The Premier needs to step up and put a stop to this madness. Take charge doc or you too will go down with ship. Be strong and lead from the front, not the rear
  • taxpayer (30/06/2012, 13:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is disturbing to me is that those who are selling us down the drain are not rooted in the BVI.
  • Jose (04/08/2012, 11:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
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