$75M Tortola Pier Park revealed to the public
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.
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