.png)
Hon Vanterpool took 'unnecessary heat' for Pier Park project – Premier Smith
He was delivering remarks on Tuesday February 16, 2016 during the opening ceremony for Tortola Pier Park, one half of the controversial cruise pier development project for which it was revealed cost some $82.9 million and work is still ongoing.
“I want now to commend the Minister for Communications and Works the Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool for delivering on this project. He has taken a lot of unnecessary heat for this but he steadfastly kept his eye on the prize,” he said.
Minister accused of perverting the process
Former project developer Hugh E. Darley had accused Minister Vanterpool of steering him away from certain persons during the initial stages of the project.
Darley, the President of I D E A Inc., accused the Minister of not delivering value to the people, saying that the people did not get value for money.
“The Minister (Hon Vanterpool) pulled all the strings and told us who to talk to, who to meet with. I was forbidden to speak with anyone in the Opposition. It was always done in private,” Darley said, adding that over the two years he lived on Tortola he has purchased “many meals for many people,” during those meetings.
Darley made allegations of overspending of up to $10 million on the project and that the project cost was ballooning over and above what had been originally estimated. He said the project was first estimated to cost about $45 million but noted that it was going to cost over $70 million. This was before the Minister revealed that the project was $82.9 million and possibly higher as it was not finished.
The Minister at a previous press conference said that he was never involved in any corruption and that he is very comfortable with the project, even though acknowledging that mistakes have been made.
Further, Minister Vanterpool admitted in the House of Assembly of February 4, 2016 while being grilled by First District Representative and Member of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie that he failed to update the public properly with information regarding the ports project and said he was going to do so from thereon.
Unsurpassed anywhere!
There have been criticisms of the scaled back Tortola Pier Park project in that there is nothing unique about it. One critic of the project said: "This whole project is just a bunch of mirage crayon coloured buildings and huts with no concrete theme nor story."
However, the Premier said that having travelled far and wide on business and for pleasure he could say without fear of contradiction that Tortola Pier Park is unsurpassed anywhere.
He said that there is no other destination offering the quality and variety that the Virgin Islands is offering to cruise passengers.
He said too that Tortola Pier Park is the first opportunity for the territory to create a lasting impression on its visitors.
The Premier acknowledged that there is a need to level the playing field for merchants both inside and outside the Tortola Pier Park, a clear reference to the vendors at Crafts Alive and others around the territory who expressed concern that with the Pier Park the cruise passenger dollars may not be evenly spread among all merchants.
.png)
Follow Us On
26 Responses to “Hon Vanterpool took 'unnecessary heat' for Pier Park project – Premier Smith”
On another note, the project is being hailed as the best in the Caribbean. But at what cost? $82.9+. Could the project have been constructed for much less and attained the same result? How does the cost of this project compared with the cost of a similar project of the same scope at other locales? We spend more per capita to construct the facility yet attain the same result as other locales who spent less per capita. How much has the BVI spent relative to other locales to bring a cruise passenger to the BVI?
Moreover, the Premier is promising that he will lower the playing field between merchants in the Port Pier area and merchants outside. The duty free concessions for merchants outside the Port Pier should have occurred at the same time. Is the whole Road Town area going to be designated a duty free zone? Are the merchants outside of the Port Pier area going to be slaughtered to incentivize the merchants within the Port Pier area? Are locals going to be permitted to shop within the Port Pier area?
If an internationally recognized accounting firm is not engaged to carry out a full audit and financial investigation into the expenditure of the $82.0 million, then I would engage the UK government, FCO and the Opposition in that order.
Then a day or two later Doc throws a bone back to Mark saying he taking heat without merit.
They never take blame. The truth coming out heard a source is coming from UK not under Governors guidance but governor is aware of what's coming that's why he staying quiet and letting his former buddies the ministers dig a deeper hole.
Haven't you all noticed the Cuban distancing himself from the others. His white friends done told him of the Coming!
If this is your position, maybe you need to “revisit” Indonesia, in particular-Bali, to truly experience how the blend between cruise tourism, architecture, and culture is spectacularly done. Every component boldly magnifies who they are as a People- their story, their beauty, their evolution, and their vision.
For this type of money we are spending, Why can't we get more?
Mark Fuhrman was the star witness in the OJ Simpson case and even with compelling evidence,OJ was acquitted.
Always consider your source.
At best Darley can only make you folks out to be coons of a different kind in Paradise.
This graphic says it all. Captain sleeping at the wheel.
Try take you case to court and get justice there boss. Really out of place!!! Talking about buying many meals for people!!! Dude please.