Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Gov’t addressing RT infrastructure for cruise visitors – Dr. Titley-O’Neal

- says VI in ‘catch-22’ with pier extension
Government is reportedly in the process of addressing the infrastructural needs required to address the influx of passengers expected once the cruise ship pier has been extended in Road Town. Photo: VINO
Dr CassanderTitley-O’Neal said, “In terms of the issues that you are talking about, when it comes to traffic congestion, not having enough adequate access for pedestrians within Road Harbour… those issues were raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment. Government is in the process of evaluating how we can address these needs by building infrastructure to accommodate this.” Photo: VINO
Dr CassanderTitley-O’Neal said, “In terms of the issues that you are talking about, when it comes to traffic congestion, not having enough adequate access for pedestrians within Road Harbour… those issues were raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment. Government is in the process of evaluating how we can address these needs by building infrastructure to accommodate this.” Photo: VINO
Julio S. Henry poses a question to Dr Titley-O'Neal during her presentation. Photo: VINO
Julio S. Henry poses a question to Dr Titley-O'Neal during her presentation. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Government is reportedly in the process of addressing the infrastructural needs required to address the influx of passengers expected once the cruise ship pier has been extended in Road Town.

This was revealed by Executive Director of Environmental Systems Dr Cassander Titly-O’Neal on August 20, 2013 as part of the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cruise Pier Development Project.

In response to a question posed, Dr Titley-O’Neal said, “In terms of the issues that you are talking about, when it comes to traffic congestion, not having enough adequate access for pedestrians within Road Harbour… those issues were raised in the Environmental Impact Assessment. Government is in the process of evaluating how we can address these needs by building infrastructure to accommodate this.”

While noting that the cruise pier is already in place, she added, “they have to do something in order to accommodate the passengers.”

The Executive Director reasoned that if the passengers couldn’t be accommodated they would simply go somewhere else which would leave the Territory in a sort of ‘catch-22’ situation.

“The pier is already here. Building it somewhere else right now would carry up the cost. It is going to take longer. You need to have that pier completed within a specific time so that you can meet the ships so that they use you for their next port of call for the next cruise season,” she continued.

It was also revealed that recommendations had also come in the EIA for the inclusion of other destinations for tourists such as Cane Garden Bay and also for the building of restrooms and other facilities to accommodate cruise passengers.

“BVI Ports Authority, they have been working on a plan [regarding] what other markets could possibly be opened to carry cruise ship passengers… so they are aware of it, in terms of carrying it to other places,” she said.

6 Responses to “Gov’t addressing RT infrastructure for cruise visitors – Dr. Titley-O’Neal”

  • JACK BE STILL (26/08/2013, 14:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seems like she is the new lobby for the project that's why they hired her company!!!
  • miya (26/08/2013, 15:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a trick because they purposely wait until it was too late so they could rush off the dock.
  • dog (26/08/2013, 18:34) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    accommodation of crowds of passengers has always been an issue. We see it weekly in season when 2000 people arrive for a few hours and they flood beaches and roads. Did it ever occur to the government that BVI is limited because of its size, geography and infrastructure and that it cannot be what they ideally want it to be. It's like building a 10,000 ft mansion on a quarter acre.(unless you make it a sky scraper which some do) You only have what you have. So it would make sense to concentrate on what image you want and what can be comfortable for both passenger and people. overkill would ruin the place for generations to come.
    • rattie (26/08/2013, 19:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      ...just that, go home and ponder how things like that can happen in year 2013..
    • pat (27/08/2013, 10:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      the mega-ships are carrying 4000 passengers and 1500 crew. Let's get 2 of them in the harbour at the same time.
  • zoe (27/08/2013, 09:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Incompetence and corruption has replaced best work practices. Stick around for a while and you will get a taste of what "Soon Come" really means.



Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.