HoA approves Cruise Pier loan motion amid Opposition silence
However, during the debate today in the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on the motion the two-man Opposition made no contribution.
It is noted that the House of Assembly has met for the second time without a Leader of the Opposition yet in place as the impasse continues between the two members of the Opposition: Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
Cost overruns
In making a case for the loan, subject Minister for the project Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) explained that it was natural with projects of such magnitude that there is the occasional cost overrun.
"This project...though we looked at it being in the region of $51 million or $52 million, any project of this size will have additional overruns and additional things that we didn't envisage we would want to put in," he said.
The Works Minister noted that some $2.5 million was spent on some new bollards, noting that with the bollards that were there before the ropes of the ships would have been interfering with the movement of passengers.
Hon Vanterpool said too that, because of the size of ships that will be using the pier, safety groups suggested that the mooring dolphins that were originally used needed to be stronger and in a better cluster and therefore another few millions were spent to upgrade them.
Employment opportunities
The Minister said that there will be opportunities for employment as a result of the development. "There will be jobs and opportunities to be tour guides at these sites and to explain what they are about," he said.
According to the Minister, the groups from Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line said the most important thing that their guests want is an explanation of the history of the Virgin Islands and all of the culture here that is different from anywhere else they might have visited.
"Therefore it is important for us to couch these opportunities and develop them and create new employment opportunities for the territory," he said.
We must invest what is necessary
Territorial representative on the Government benches Honourable Archibald C. Christian said that the investment by government is a necessary one as private individuals are making smaller investments into specialised tour boats to enhance the visitor experience to these shores.
"So Madam Speaker we have to invest what is necessary to ensure that the cruise pier development is completed and in that regard I am in support of the motion," said Honourable Christian.
Completion of port project a boon to Ninth District
Lending his support to the motion, Representative for the Ninth District Dr The Honourable Hubert O'Neal called his district the centre of tourism in the territory and that the enhancement of the pier is important for his district.
He said he would always consider ways of improving tourism especially during the slow months between May and November each year.
"It affects the economy of my district of Virgin Gorda in particular. Now that the pier is being expanded are we are seeing larger ships and more tourism arrival it means that tourism should improve during be summer months of each year," he said. He added that he is experiencing increases in arrivals to places in Virgin Gorda.
Tourism in the Second District will also benefit
Speaking in support of the motion, Second District Representative Honourable Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull also noted the importance of his district to the territory in terms of tourism and stressed the impact the completed cruise pier project will have on that district.
"I am in complete support of the borrowing of the 15 million [dollars] to complete this project for what it would for the Second District," said Hon Turnbull.
The remarks by the newcomers to the HoA were also their very first contribution towards a motion in Parliament after being elected to office in the general elections of June 8, 2015.
Meanwhile, the additional $15M will be borrowed by the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) from First Caribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited. This is in addition to the $35M the BVIPA took out last year to finance the controversial ports development project.
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23 Responses to “HoA approves Cruise Pier loan motion amid Opposition silence”
And we still need an audit to see where this money is going. That is a basic request of any responsible government.
A vote for NDP is a vote for the right to thief so ram goat m**k go bot dem down daddy. All the money is yours wid you sweet talk, HELLO!
I laughing after the people of the BVI baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Ayo tek DAT in ayo R@$$$$$$$! A vote for NDP to put the country more in debt on ayo back.
Soon every man, woman, and child will have to cock up to make a living to survive in dis damn place.
Dem NDP boys laughing at ayo and you know what, I don't hate dem because dis is what ago wanted. More debt and more tax to pay while thrushes flying out and a supermarket running wild wid our tax dollars and a education monster catering for the so call big boys.
I hope he cater for them when the all end up in Balsom Gut also.