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More $$ needed? Ports project delayed again!

- new December date for completion seen as a ‘nice Christmas gift’
The deadline for completion of the cruise pier and land-side development at Wickham's Cay I has been shifted from October to December, 2015. Photo: Provided
'The delay in the completion of the dock itself is not going to impact significantly on the arrival of ships,' stated Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool on the almost two months delay of the initially set opening date for the Land Side Cruise Pier Project (LSCPP).
'The delay in the completion of the dock itself is not going to impact significantly on the arrival of ships,' stated Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool on the almost two months delay of the initially set opening date for the Land Side Cruise Pier Project (LSCPP).
Deputy Managing Director of Corporate Services at the Financial Services Commission, Mrs Jennifer Potter-Questelles is currently acting as the Chairman of the BVIPA following the departure of Mr J. Edward deCastro. Photo: oysterbvi.com
Deputy Managing Director of Corporate Services at the Financial Services Commission, Mrs Jennifer Potter-Questelles is currently acting as the Chairman of the BVIPA following the departure of Mr J. Edward deCastro. Photo: oysterbvi.com
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - “The delay in the completion of the dock itself is not going to impact significantly on the arrival of ships,” stated Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool on the almost two months delay of the initially set opening date for the cruise pier and land side development at Wickham's Cay I.

“I am sure there will be some financial aspects [that will] be affected but it’s not going to be significant from our point of view,” stated Hon Vanterpool.

So far the Government of the Virgin Islands has chalked up in excess of $50m in loan for the project and with the further delay one questions whether there would be the need to seek more money to realise the new targeted completion date.

Hon Vanterpool was at the time fielding questions from members of the media following the signing of a renewal contract with Aqua Design (BVI) Ltd for water production on the sister island of Virgin Gorda. This took place yesterday October 8, 2015 in the office of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith.

Honourable Vanterpool comfortably said that work on the landside development of the Cruise Pier Project is progressing nicely; suffice to say that the project has been hit with yet another snag in its time-line for completion.

It was previously made public that at the end of October 2015 the cruise pier and land side development project would have been complete and ready for a grand opening which would have featured the arrival of at least two large cruise ships. However, while not giving any reasons for the shift in the opening date to December 22, 2015 Hon Vanterpool stated, “On that day we’ll have the first arrival of the new (Disney Dream) with four thousand passengers approximately and on that day also on the other side of the dock we’ll be having a new ship coming, MSC company, this is also a four thousand passenger ship.”

'Nice Christmas gift'

The Works Minister said his government is looking forward to the opening as a ‘nice Christmas gift’.

This project has been one that has been hit with widespread challenges, including financing, frequent delays to some contractors not laying off and not paying workers in a timely manner.

As of recent, the management of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA), under which the project falls, has also been a subject of discussion as to its modus-operandi. During this period, the BVIPA lost a long serving board chairman in the person of Mr J. Edward deCastro.

Commenting on the departure of the Chairman of the Board of the BVI Ports Authority, Hon Vanterpool said Mr deCastro’s contract came to an end in September 2015 and he opted not to renew it.

“We have the Deputy acting at the moment and Cabinet in the not so distant future would be appointing a new Chairman to the board,” said Hon Vanterpool.

The Deputy Chairman of the BVIPA is Deputy Managing Director of Corporate Services at the Financial Services Commission, Jennifer Potter-Questelles.

28 Responses to “More $$ needed? Ports project delayed again!”

  • NO!!!! (09/10/2015, 11:09) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    MONEY MISSING! WE WANT PROPER ACCOUNTING FOR THIS PROJECT!
  • Fire works (09/10/2015, 11:11) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them out there jack hammering walls every day
  • fahie (09/10/2015, 11:11) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Again?
  • john public (09/10/2015, 11:13) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell us why Ed quit first!
  • The Prophet (09/10/2015, 11:24) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is crystal clear to me that the Port Authority will become a major financial burden on the Central Government as the land side development will be no different to Craft Alive. The doubling of the Port staff and the significant increases in salaries will not help the situation either. The only person who seems not to be concerned about what is taking place around him is the Minister of Finance.
    • THE ACCOUNTANT (09/10/2015, 18:38) Like (21) Dislike (6) Reply
      I agree with you Prophet. Are we willing to turn a blind eye on the significant increases in salaries for those officers t on secondment and the salaries of their recently hired friends. The bottom has fell out but we still sending the bucket to the well.
  • Ques (09/10/2015, 11:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    How come the landslide is going along well and the most important part of the word has a snag, the dock? Hope all monies was spent where it was suppose to go and no hanky pinky slip out. Something seems to be wrong. Maybe it is time for kick and balances.
  • cost (09/10/2015, 11:46) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    I believe the agreement with the cruise ship companies is that not having the cruise ship pier done by a specified date means less departure tax to be paid, so revenue is lost. Moreover, this is not the first delay, so the question then is how many more delays to come. This affects the credibility of the government, and may also impact future contracts cruise ship companies may consider. It really boggles the mind how the BVI government seems so cavalier about deadlines and oblivious to the consequences associated with failing to meet them. It's as if they don't really care....
  • smoke (09/10/2015, 11:49) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why was the chairman in such a hurry to leave? Something seems to be not right at the ports authority. In the end we will wait and see.
  • i from here (09/10/2015, 11:52) Like (33) Dislike (2) Reply
    Look it got some news on Cline that will drop soon that will have some people jaws on the ground and some people won’t be surprise, simply because they were warned!

    Fasten your seat belts people!
    • trergdffdg (09/10/2015, 13:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      you said the same thing on bvinews did you?
    • wize up (09/10/2015, 21:07) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply

      @ I from here: are you tell the people of this territory to get ready for Detroit part 2(Virgin Islands style) staring C>>>>> as himself.... in Detroit part 1 that Mayor still doing jail time( watch the story on American Greed)

  • Guest (09/10/2015, 15:16) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    stop pocketing the money and there will be enough to finish the projects. These officials doesn't think about the nation and it's people. They only think about themselves and how they will be richer. I would be embarrassed if I am the one heading this project. Projects here in tortola is something.. hospital took 10 years and now this and people walking with their head up high like nobody's watching.
  • wize up (09/10/2015, 16:22) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    claud ran the ship head-on in to the reef(ting 2 talk)....where the money gone & in whose pocket(big house on the hill and restaurants on the cruise ship dock)...can U say insider-trading
  • People are daft (09/10/2015, 16:23) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on people- you knew all those millions for advertising at the last election had to come from somewhere- STUPES
  • Yah! (09/10/2015, 21:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    And this is a surprise to whom?
  • Iatolaha (09/10/2015, 21:29) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is really needed for this project is aForensic AUDiT. I wouldbetmy bottom dollar that something is seriously WRONG with this project. What I also believe is that there is no perfect CRIME
    • +++ (09/10/2015, 23:11) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      But that would require support from the governor and minister of finance. We all know they don't want to dig around even it is the LAW and was requested. Plus there was no reason for these buildings to be so big and tall. They could be Miami or PR. They are generic and mean nothing in design. It is all way too big, a monument to egos involved.
      • dog (10/10/2015, 11:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        agreed. they are sterile boxes with no character. They could have done a little village with less money.
  • Lens (09/10/2015, 21:49) Like (0) Dislike (17) Reply
    I feel empathy for our people. Projects of this magnitude always have budget over-runs. I guess all who talking mess never built a house to know that the finishing always takes the most money. For all y'all information Claude Cline can get a job just about anywhere.
    • wize up (10/10/2015, 08:05) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ lens: can he work in Detroit?...we know he have a job in Duff's Bottom: a private project is far different to government/public projects: what an individual does with their private funds is a bit different than what our elected officials are allowing to happen with our tax money: have you ever heard about accountability: large sums of were borrowed for that project: I know of other larger project in the Caribbean that cost far less than what we have spent on that cruise project.....

  • Lion mouth (11/10/2015, 12:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Noone is going jail it so is free for all look sexy and he'll
    hire you and hes having sex with them on trip they go saying them is Christian well well wow
  • bad boy (11/10/2015, 13:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP took 36 m from sc to built sidewalk when there is no water at the public library to drink what a shame school children using the library cannot have any water the library needs to be renovated by Mr Malone no ac working the place moldy and collecting big rent every month ting to talk shame ndp


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