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‘I made no promises of gifts nor was I offered any’ - Hugh E. Darley

- said there was no attempt @ inducement on either side; would like to speak with Government to ‘set things straight & complete cruise pier project’
Former Project Developer of the Cruise Pier Development Project Hugh E. Darley denied that he made or received any promise of gifts in exchange for approval for his company to develop the project and said that his benefitting from the project would have come over time through the equity that he had. Photo: Trip Advisor
The Tortola Pier Park is still incomplete despite several missed deadlines. The NDP Government recently said it would be 'officially' opened on February 16, 2016 when construction is expected to be complete. There have been criticisms over that new announced deadline with many not optimistic that it is possible with the amount of interior work yet to be done on buildings. Photo: VINO
The Tortola Pier Park is still incomplete despite several missed deadlines. The NDP Government recently said it would be 'officially' opened on February 16, 2016 when construction is expected to be complete. There have been criticisms over that new announced deadline with many not optimistic that it is possible with the amount of interior work yet to be done on buildings. Photo: VINO
Mr Hugh E. Darley has accused the NDP Government of not honouring its side of the agreement regarding the use of his designs for the Ports Project. Photo: BVIPA
Mr Hugh E. Darley has accused the NDP Government of not honouring its side of the agreement regarding the use of his designs for the Ports Project. Photo: BVIPA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Former Project Developer of the Cruise Pier Development Project Hugh E. Darley denied that he made or received any promise of gifts in exchange for approval for his company to develop the project and said that his benefitting from the project would have come over time through the equity that he had.

“There were no promises made between any parties as the Port Priority was very important for Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines. They must have priority berths to compete with Carnival and Royal Caribbean. As an owner my reward was to come over time,” he said in an exclusive interview with this news site yesterday December 23, 2015.

He said that he owned 20% of the project and “if I ran the project well as designed would have profited from the revenue streams as would the government.” He said that in 30 years, they would have handed over ownership to the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) and they would have not invested one dollar.

“I was to be paid a developers fee of $2,000,000 for delivery of the documents and guarantees with Disney and NCL. We completed our obligations on August 19th 2013. When Jim Triplett of UIG did not close on the financing for the TPP Obligation I lost my equity but had already turned over the documents. I asked the government to hold payment to Jim Triplett as he did not perform and pay IDEA for the drawings but the BVIPA paid Jim Triplett $1.7 million in a guarantee they signed with UIG that did not involve IDEA,” he explained.

According to him, the government entered into conversations with IDEA to keep the project alive and asked that they at their cost manage the process with Dion Stoutt between October 1st and December 31st.

“They then promised to enter an agreement with IDEA for $25,000 per month as a licensing fee yet we had to also act as art director as Dion Stoutt had no experience with such projects. IDEA entered into the license agreement on January 6th 2014. The BVIPA paid us for four months then ended our relationship,” he said.

Darley said that other than the free lunches that he bought persons, there was no money, no promises of jobs, no promises of scholarships for students once project approved. “However, I negotiated with Disney to provide for training via the Disney Institute as part of their priority berthing agreement,” he disclosed.

Asked whether he had given Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool or Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering or Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith anything in exchange for the project, Darley said “Nothing was asked or given.”

He disclosed, however, that IDEA did provide conceptual drawings for the airport bridge solution and for the Brandy Wine Road Improvements.

I was not hired nor fired

He said that either he or a representative was to be an equity owner, and sit on the TPP Board and assist in operating the port. “It is important for the people to know I was an owner and brought the project to government, I was not hired and I was not fired. I have an agreement that the BVIPA did not honour. I expect to hear from Dr. Pickering and would like to come to an agreement with them to help complete the project and set things straight.”

Mr Darley had also said in a previous exclusive interview that he has been contemplating a lawsuit against the NDP Government for allegedly not honouring their side of the agreement regarding the use of his designs for the Ports Project. 

“I created the project and I brought the cruise lines to the BVI government. The government never paid me for my participation. They were supposed to pay me a licencing agreement for the use of my drawings because we did not close on our financial deal. I sought legal action against the government but because of the cost to sue the BVI government it may be cost prohibitive right now. I have to wait till the project opens and then I will reassess the possibility of suing them for what they used of my drawings,” he had said on December 20, 2015.

26 Responses to “‘I made no promises of gifts nor was I offered any’ - Hugh E. Darley”

  • resident (24/12/2015, 09:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lord send help. This thing called money.
    • Yes (24/12/2015, 12:23) Like (51) Dislike (5) Reply
      Now he beginning to lose me belief. In the first article he spoke of the numerous free lunches and stuff he paid for. That's the beginning of wining and dining. I believe he padded lily and now looking for the returns.

      This what happen when you make deal with the devil. You always get cheated. Everyone who voted for NDP look they crying now. Same thing. Laugh and cry live in same hut
    • the rock (25/12/2015, 07:19) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      who is this rudy poo, daley u are not getting the millions of tax payers money, go back where u came from, we can handle our own affairs, get out of here u scumbage!
  • Concerned (24/12/2015, 10:06) Like (15) Dislike (18) Reply
    why is this man getting so much airtime? he is becoming sickening now. Now you saying you was nit hired nor fired!! Make your mind up cause you now sound like a disgruntled old man looking fame.
  • Virgin Islands (24/12/2015, 10:08) Like (22) Dislike (7) Reply
    Not this guy again.....

    Come on guys.... the initial story was hard hitting, but now it is becoming apparent what this is all about.. You all beating a dead horse now....
  • Xxx (24/12/2015, 10:12) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    So you thing anyone will go on record admitting that they took or offered gifts come on we not fool fool
  • ...... (24/12/2015, 10:20) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply
    2 Million dollars, 20% ownership, ownership for 30 years........... I understand that there is some shadiness going on, but are you silly VINO bloggers really upset that we backed out of a deal like this????? REALLY? I understand that dude wants his money, I would too. But please, he is not coming objectively. He wants his cheddar and that's why he's squealing like a pig... He seems honest I must admit though. But guy just seeing all this money floating around and he ain't getting his. Fair enough I guess... Everybody eating and he isn't. I would be mad too.... lol.
  • VIP Activist (24/12/2015, 10:26) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    This Man Hugh Darley have a trade license? DID HE PAY TAXES AND Social Security? Who is he working for with all this Media Attention? This same man wanted the Taxi drivers to park by the festival grounds and hospital and use train to get the tourist there..So want he talking about is bull..He wanted the trains to stop by his buddy Tobias to get some Pain Killers lol..
  • This Man is a Nut Case (24/12/2015, 10:41) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    I've heard enough of the man now, can we please move ahead with christmas.
    The logics does not add up and appears to be a bitter looser. he wasnt hire or fired.
    What the hell does that means?

    Again he here calling down all our contractors. He just need to go back miami and look
    a job. Bout he sueing government, why he dont go ahead and sue.
  • just asking... (24/12/2015, 10:44) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Look for me vino like you trying to cover up for NDP who called ayo again?
    • please (24/12/2015, 12:27) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      VINO, covering up for NDP? Now that concept is just down right silly... A cock would grow teeth first.
  • Cgal (24/12/2015, 10:51) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lawd aw Mussy..... Cocoa bey pon yaz.....Sen help
  • crazy (24/12/2015, 11:11) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    So first he is saying the project is corrupt and needs investigation, now he is saying it was above board but he just doesn't like how he was treated? WTF?
  • gateman (24/12/2015, 11:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    To much cook spoil the pot good idea making our port shine and out standing I.love it and it, s. going bring revenue to tola and. Jobs
  • wow (24/12/2015, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    May I remind you who commented above that this website is internationally accessible and you look very illiterate.
    • @ SHM (24/12/2015, 17:42) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      If you were more observant ...sorry... Let me put it in your language...a better maco... You would have noted we have free speech in the BVI...so stop making comments you know absolutely nothing about. nice
  • Political Observer (24/12/2015, 11:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Enough already. The more you gab the more doubt you cast on your story. One has to know when to hold and when to fold. Sometimes less gabing is better. Who if they are not under oath ( and even then, they will lie) will broadcast to the world that they took a bribe or offer a bribe? Think it is against the law. Further, if the port used the man's design, they should pay a fair and reasonable price for it. How much should have been or be negotiated. Moreover, if he wants to sue the government, quit yapping and do it. Finally, the project had/ has too may clouds swirling over it. The government should want and the Governor should commission a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to get every thing out in the open so that the electorate know what the real story is. The Governor refused to commission a COI in the past so he may be hesitant to go back on prior decision. But he needs to do the right thing. Decide must decide.
    • But loop (25/12/2015, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He came personally and had a look see. He said it looked like a shopping mall .it was ugly. Nuff said. His design was not used,according to him.
    • Boo (26/12/2015, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He himself said that his design was not used. Nice that he came and saw for himself and made a recorded and public announcement about the fact that it looks like a mall, unlike his designs. Clearly he stated his disappointment and demonstrated his pain about the rejection of his designs.
  • DON Q (24/12/2015, 13:25) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    When will there be a commission of inquiry into the Ports project?
  • wize up (24/12/2015, 13:44) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    it is surely amazing how this white boy is given so much air time and we have persons here concerned about social issues such as NHI and minimum wage and can't get this much time to voice their concerns on any news site: this is private members business and white boy here belittling the Virgin Islands and its people and getting a free ride via local media( its all poltical)....when maduro was chatting about these issues he was not given this much air time; up comes white boy and he all over every media house in BVI ( all of a sudden most people standing at attention).. the locals been talking the very same thing for months now!!!!)
  • S.R. (24/12/2015, 17:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Time will tell who has the last laugh. Who laughs last, laughs best. But it won't be a laughing matter when the taxpayer has to foot the bill.
  • wondering (24/12/2015, 19:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wondering if he going speak at the Rotary Luncheon while he here. Who behind him
    beside Tobias, what about Edmund and the other jokers? I guess he couldn't get on
    Dougie and Donald radio shows.

    If here was like down island, he would have been escorted off island long time.
  • dog (25/12/2015, 19:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "He disclosed... that IDEA did provide conceptual drawings for the airport bridge solution and for the Brandy Wine Road Improvements."
    I wonder how getting them involved with other projects made government think they could move forward without permits or permission, let alone not telling the people they were involved. The designs are awful. This is contract creep with bad design and opportunism.


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