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McAlpine ditches NDP on Prospect Reef Dev.

-UK firm pulls its promised $100 m investment while Premier Smith plays the blame game
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith has announced that the Prospect Reef Development Project is on hold. Photo: VINO/File
The VIP was blamed for not doing anything for the project while in power as it was started by the NDP Government during a previous term in government. Photo: VINO/File
The VIP was blamed for not doing anything for the project while in power as it was started by the NDP Government during a previous term in government. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Just about one year after Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith was upbeat about McAlpine’s touted $100ml assured investment for the Prospect Reef Development Project, his head has nodded to say that project is on hold as McAlpine is no longer interested.

“At the moment the Prospect Reef Development Plan is on hold,” he said at a press conference yesterday November 25, 2014 as he reminded reporters that his NDP government had gone through a process where “we had selected a company to continue the development but the company has not taken up that offer at the moment they are still waiting and to determine when to move forward.”

He further stated, “We are of course reviewing options to come to some decision very soon as to other directions.”

Premier Smith could not say if the government will have to be a bidding process. “I can’t tell you what will happen right now. The persons were looking at that they are not interested, they have not agreed to anything so we’ll just have to review that and work out future options,” he said.

These were the words of Premier Smith back on November 12, 2013, “The government is pleased that the selection is made and I am even more pleased to say that we are now in the process of finalizing the project development agreement.” He had blamed the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) for doing nothing for the project when they had taken office.

At that time he was unable to say what the direct cost for the project was but had said that McAlpine’s selection hinged on the monies they had proposed to put into the project. “…essentially, because of the proposal they made based on what they expect to put into the project in terms of finances and in terms of the structures and in terms of roads…,” Premier Smith said a year ago.

It was revealed at the press conference that McAlpine’s selection was made on October 24, 2013. The investment was deemed as very important to the National Democratic Party (NDP) government. According to Premier Smith, the proposal for the development of Prospect Reef has been on the table during the NDP’s time in office from 2003 – 2007.

He had further said McAlpine was hoping to develop the project over a three-year period to include villas, hotel suites, recreational and conference facilities, branded condominiums, office spaces and restaurants, among other things.

The UK company was among five that had submitted proposals. Premier said Government had decided to pursue two of the proposals, which resulted in McAlpine emerging the successful one.

A year ago the Premier had noted that the plan to develop Prospect Reef was never a small idea and the aim was to further enhance the local tourism industry. “In fact it was a significant undertaking based on a larger vision for the future of our tourism industry but after we left office this project wasn’t given priority and nothing materialized from this opportunity,” Premier Smith had stated.

But were these the very challenges that the VIP had seen while in power as it relates to the Prospect Reef Development Project that which resulted in the Premier on October 12, 2013 blaming them for not doing anything.

A year ago Premier Smith attempted to throw their weight on the VIP when he said that after the polls that time the VIP did nothing to develop the idea. In direct words he had said, “When my administration served from 2003-2007, on February 11, 2005, we concluded the agreement to purchase the resort from the Cripps Family for the purpose of establishing a world-class hospitality training centre and a full-service business hotel.”

“Back then, the decision to purchase Prospect Reef and transform it into a world-class hospitality training centre was not a small idea. In fact, it was a significant undertaking based on a larger vision for the future of our tourism industry. After we left office, this project was given no priority and nothing materialised from this opportunity. But, here we are once again set to transform this resort into a world-class four or five hotel facility to improve our tourism offering. And, we are ready to begin moving forward with this important project,” according to Premier Smith a year ago.

Is the VIP still to be blamed or is the NDP Government now seeing the light of day and will the blame game continue?

28 Responses to “ McAlpine ditches NDP on Prospect Reef Dev.”

  • thank god (26/11/2014, 08:40) Like (22) Dislike (20) Reply
    The Prospect Reef Resort should be used for educational and research purposes- it is a national asset- GOD WE GIVE THANKS FOR SAVING THIS COUNTRY FROM THE NDP who will sell us down the drain for a 40 pieces of silver
  • cay (26/11/2014, 08:52) Like (28) Dislike (10) Reply
    This joker still blaming vip.....for heaven sake
    • Scary Mary (27/11/2014, 10:12) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Exactly! I'd like to know exactly WHY the NDP did NOTHING with the resort after purchasing it on February 11, 2005. The NDP government allowed the resort to be sold out from under the time share owners and then turned around and purchased it, claiming the time share owner issue had nothing to do with them. In the end, those people lost their investment and the government swept it all under the rug.

      So from February 11, 2005 to August 20, 2007, the NDP did NOTHING to make their so called "important project" a priority. N O T H I N G!

      So tell us again how this whole mess became the VIP's fault? The government has no business being in the hotel industry and competing with our own hoteliers! It was a bad idea from conception. This is not Russia where everything is state owned and operated. This is the BVI, a free and supposedly democratic society!

      Sell the place, get our money back and stop trying to cast blame for your own mistakes and failure to put your plans in motion when you had the opportunity. You've done NOTHING with it in the three years you've been in power! It has languished for nearly 9 years now. Get it gone, Lord knows knows the treasury needs the money!
  • chad (26/11/2014, 09:00) Like (33) Dislike (8) Reply
    Sounds like mcalpine didn't want to share the pie with none of those greedy NDPs.
  • facts check (26/11/2014, 09:17) Like (24) Dislike (7) Reply
    Another sign that there is no confidence in the ndp
    • @facts (26/11/2014, 19:25) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      Another sign that there is no confidence in bvi. Who wants to pay $100m tourist investment and come to this mess, dirty streets, corruption rife, no water, sometimes electric, rude taxi drivers, can't get skilled/polite staff.........This place ruin your brand man.
      • time will tell (27/11/2014, 07:29) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        Finally!!! Someone with a clue instead of joining these bunch of clowns and blaming a political party. The people in this country need to pull their socks up and start with themselves. We must better ourselves first and improve the industry. Gov't cannot do it all. The only thing you missed out is that tourists experience all you said after a hell of a journey to get here. Yet some people think we don't need a better airport to ease that frustration to tourists!!!
  • cay (26/11/2014, 10:37) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    What's new here!
  • No Kick back (26/11/2014, 11:08) Like (19) Dislike (4) Reply
    I bet there was no kick back that is why it fell through- corruption is rife in this country- Guvna wek up
  • Hotel Industry (26/11/2014, 12:42) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    NDP wan bring in dem w---e friends dem to bring down the local hotel industry- soon we will have no more local hotels in the BVI- Marias can breathe easy for now-
  • qc (26/11/2014, 12:42) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    Look I keep asking what the ndp will campaign on. Biwater biwater biwater ha ha poor dem
  • Dulcina (26/11/2014, 13:25) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    A blessing in disguise for NDP and for the VI,no doubt.
    This investment co. not the right one at this time so until....we trust





  • who to blame (26/11/2014, 15:10) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    i would say at least the NDP has come and say what they were doing, Mr VIP was trying to sell off prospect reef with out telling the people, but that did not work, but he got Bi water and Digicel to collect on.
    • wize up (26/11/2014, 17:06) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      hi who to blame I agree with you; the VIP party loves the locals so much yet brought BI-water here and kill-off ocean conversion(locally owned business)...the VIP party loves the BV Islanders so much yet brought in Digiel and kill-off CCT(locally owned business)...both NDP & VIP are the same set of muck
  • mother hen (26/11/2014, 15:46) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Next year the people will vote out the NDP but the problems will remain
    • wize up (26/11/2014, 17:12) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      mother hen; only if more of us can see things that way; rather than picking sides(ndp/vip) at the end of the day its about what is best for the future of our islands....NDP-VIP "six-of-one"; "half-dozen-of-the-other"...at the ending of the day we are going have the same problem come 2015 regardless of ndp/vip.......pick you poison!!!!!
  • wize up (26/11/2014, 17:01) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    this National Dose of Poison(aka N.D.P) is bent on turn my beloved Virgin Islands into a play-ground for the rich white-folk; what will happen to our grandchildren and their children down the road...what is the mad-rush!!!!!
  • Jacperlance (26/11/2014, 19:25) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I get upset when people talk about Biwater and what the cost will be for us but if we look at it logistically we are the ones that will benefit in the long run. I think that those who should know better is just playing politics with this biwater issue and trying to pull a wool over our head making us believe that biwater will be a millstone around our neck. It is my understanding that biwater was given a 15 year lease, five years had already elapsed so with two government term that 15 years will almost be up. Look at the plant that biwate set up at paraquita bay it is second to none here in the VI. Look at the pumping station they are constructing at Burt point. According to the Hon. Minister of Works, that will take care of all our sewage and I was made to understand that after the sewage is recycled water will be channelled back to paraquita bay to be used by the farmers. Now when 15 years is up all that biwater do here will be the property of the government. So what do we expect, don't we have to pay biwater for these things? We only have 15 years to do it, it's like a 15 year loan with interest so therefore out repayment within 15 year must be expected to be substantial and at the end it's all ours. So let's not be fooled we have to pay to earn, it's like you paying the bank for your house and after 25 to 30 years it's all yours. Now if after 15 years all that biwater set up here it's going to be ours, who else must guarantee the loan, it must be the government. So let's not be fooled by those who know better and just trying to relay the wrong message for political game. With all that is going on here there is nothing more blatant and wicked than that cruise pier development(it nothing but a family affair).
    • @jackperlance (27/11/2014, 12:06) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Solid points, with few exceptions. 1) The government did not guarantee any loan for biwater. 2) biwater water is cheaper than any other water plant on Tortola. 3) water from the sewage treatment plant at burt point will not be going to paraquita bay. The NDP has one objective, and that is to kill biwater.
  • Lawd (26/11/2014, 19:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Anybody here see the state of st thomas? Who da hell wan bring big hotel franchise here and fast food franchise here that will kill all progress and culture of the bvi. All the money being spent on franchise can be invested in local opportunities to build them up where they need to be
  • Anonymous (26/11/2014, 19:50) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    People should not fear the government, government should fear the people. Unfortunately a myriad of conspiracies have been plotted against all of you and robbed you of your common sense through fear. Now in your scramble you all scream and cry at the feet of those who pose as your leaders in order to remedy the chaos that now plagues your country. Remind those pigs how they obtained their power and make sure they understand it was US who put them there..... There are no courts in this country for men like these politicians and their cronies. Their demise is imminent! WE DO NOT FORGIVE, WE DO NOT FORGET!
  • wet well (26/11/2014, 23:52) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    doc needs to go back to his medical practice he has wasted his time in politics and it showing
  • cross (27/11/2014, 08:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We needs lots of prayer for the bvi
  • China calling (27/11/2014, 13:41) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dem chinese waiting in the wings, all projects need funding. No money in the house. The future, one party funded by China, other party by Taiwan, more BVIslanders out of work with no $. Chinese fixn the roads and cut the bush. Premier (the bald guy) will be a chinese puppet. All culture be gone you watch.
  • Yep (27/11/2014, 14:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    @china calling...... Just like St Kitts you absolutely right. We barely use pictures of our locan faces when we do ads and such now.


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