‘Brace for more trouble when cruise pier re-opens’ – Concerned residents
The BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) recently announced that the newly extended Cruise Pier will be re-opened on April 29, 2015 and that one cruise line alone is expected to bring over 4, 000 passengers to the territory.
“In January 2014, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line signed preferential berthing agreements with the BVI Ports Authority, to put into force an annual guarantee of 350,000 and 75,000 passengers respectively. Norwegian’s Getaway will bring over 4,000 passengers to the Territory’s shores on April 29,” a press release from the BVIPA had stated.
Confusion
As it relates to Virgin Gorda, Mr D. Vanterpool said, “We want you come with your camera on a Wednesday especially when they have cruise ships in. Up here is nothing but confusion, the tourists all over the place trying to get taxi, the traffic is a mess.
“The Baths is so crowded that so many incidents happen and don’t be reported in the news especially with tourists having to be rescued from the sea, its literal madness and it is only going to get worse when you see that cruise pier re-opens and they said more ships will be coming,” said Mr Vanterpool.
Lydia O’Neal shared that as a person in the hospitality arena she feels it is time government stop being concerned only about Tortola. “They operate like when the ships come at the dock at Tortola the tourists tour Tortola and go back to their ship but most of the tourists coming off those ships come to Virgin Gorda and the ferries are overcrowded, so many charters come up here, it’s hard to find residents among the tourists because they outnumber us. It’s a mad sight to see, you just come when two or even one ship in, come over here and you will see what we are concerned about,” she told this news site.
VI not ready for increased tourists
The concerns from Mr James Jno Robinson of Jost Van Dyke almost mirrored those raised by residents of Virgin Gorda. “They need to put something to have a better situation when tourist comes. With more ships the problems will be ten times more and the infrastructure is not in place. We, I mean the BVI, not ready yet for such an influx of people on the islands. Only time will tell what we are saying now. There is no rush to the rescue situation right now.”
When Mr Jno Robinson spoke of there being no ‘rush to the rescue”, he explained that parallel to the expansion of the cruise pier there should have been the formulation of strategies to deal with issues of safety first for the people residing in the territory and also the tourists.
“[Claude] Cline needs to look at this, Minister needs to look at this, our very quiet Tourist Board Director, who I dare say lives at Virgin Gorda, needs to look at this and if they have please let us know how you guys going to deal with this effectively.”
Lifeguards a must
One man at Jost Van Dyke said he had made it a personal commitment to spend hours at the most flocked beaches on the islands and recognised the need for lifeguards. “Don’t call my name because they can’t pay me for my services. I save no less than 20 persons so far from that raging sea up here since this year start.”
He said the most recent rescue was last Wednesday, March 18, 2015. “I had a run to make and it was like God telling me to leave my thing and run down to the beach. I hear this voice clear in my head like it was real. I tell you I got scared and rushed out there and low and behold two guys struggling out in the water there.
“One went to rescue the other and they both got caught up and they were too tired to fight anymore. You don’t hear about the amount of incidents that happen at these beaches. They need to have lifeguards; it’s not something to consider it’s a must. Make it mandatory that hotels, villas, and the owners of beach front businesses pay into government some monies for lifeguards and put lifeguards out at them beaches… they say my tongue black so I am not going say nothing more than that but trouble coming when the cruise pier open back at Tortola,” the concerned resident of Jost Van Dyke told this news site.
All those who spoke with this news site were, nevertheless, high in praise for the newly extended cruise pier and said it means well for the economy of the territory as a tourist destination but said the oversights could be painful and costly.
“Mehson, it serious, things will happen all because they (government) not in tune with what happens on JVD and VG when them tourists flood these two islands. They have no clue and I know people have been raising it time and time again with them but they like feel before they act, seriousness going happen.”
Efforts to secure a comment from Director of the BVI Tourist Board Ms Sharon Flax-Mars proved futile.
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17 Responses to “‘Brace for more trouble when cruise pier re-opens’ – Concerned residents”
Ah set of £$^ing moo moo in this place!
- Ports Project
- Revamping of Education
- Sewage works in Road Town and East End FINALLY
- Roads and drainage works being completed
- Entire road network to be resurfaced with proper sidewalks and drains which has already started
- New Peebles Hospital opened
- VG Mini-Hospital to break ground in a few weeks
- BVIEC phase V underway - VIP had four years and couldn't get it off the ground
Need I say more? Let us put VIP 2007-2011 record up against NDP's 2011-present. 4 years vs 3 years and NDP still light years ahead. The voters of the BVI are not stupid, trust that.
drivers just sit there and own the road. Selfishness has no colour.