Local partnerships enshrined in pier project negotiations – Hon. Vanterpool
“As a government, we’re going to be here to look out for our people at every corner and every step,” Hon. Vanterpool stated on a recent broadcast of the NDP Radio programme aired on a local radio station.
He asserted that the agreement that will be made is in the interest of the people of the Virgin Islands so if anybody [is contrary to this], the government will have to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
The Works Minister made the assertion after a caller contended that someone claiming to be a partner in the Tortola Pier Park group (TPP) had been telling persons that anyone wishing to work around the cruise ship dock in any capacity had to come to him.
The caller also requested that the government should ‘come clean’ and inform the public about what was going on as the project would affect people like him ‘terribly’.
While Hon. Vanterpool could not recall the names of the members of the group as the caller had requested, he denied that the claims made by the person were factual and stated, “I hope that’s not the case, but if it is, we don’t have the agreement yet… but however it’s done, we know that the understanding has been that [there will be a] partnership between the Port Authority and this group and therefore there is no individual who can determine those kinds of things, I don’t expect…”
The Works Minister further stated that he wanted to make very clear upfront that “the cruise ship operations and the businesses around it… we want to ensure that our local people are supported in it and that they participate in it.”
He cited an example as being the ferry boat business as it relates to the cruise ship operations and stated that the government would not in ‘any way possible’ allow anyone else to take this from the people of the Virgin Islands as the ferry boat business belongs to the people.
Premier, Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith said the agreement, once concluded, will be subject to review by “an expert who deals with looking at reviewing agreements such as these, to ensure that we are getting the best value for money and to make sure that everything that is being done is fair and above board.”
Premier Smith explained that during the negotiations, which are subject to review, it is expected that there will be some local partnership involved.
He added that even though this was previously a part of the requirement, it was agreed by the TPP that local partnerships would be part of the process but that local partnership has not been established as yet. “To the best of our knowledge nobody, (local partner) has not been selected,” Premier Smith added.
Hon. Vanterpool said that based on one of the ‘cries’ heard from the public about getting more local participation during the initial stages of the development of the cruise ship dock, it was ensured in the tender document that this would be a requirement.
He said it was hoped that local investment in the project would be as wide as possible but indicated that this would be left to the negotiations that would be forthcoming.
He added that one of the other things being discussed was, rather than the cruise ship dock lease being as long as it was proposed to be before, it should instead be a shorter period of time.
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40 Responses to “Local partnerships enshrined in pier project negotiations – Hon. Vanterpool”
now we know why an untrained unexperienced person is the director of the Port Authority.
I have the RIGHT to oppose any deal that my government who represents me chooses to make that is not in the best interest of MY future and that of my children, that was not made in a democratic and transparent procurement process