NDP fires back @ Willy T; Cease & Desist letter; Gov't lied about license
The person who holds the trade license for the famous William Thornton aka ‘Willy T’, a floating restaurant and bar, is Mrs Heather L. Anderson, a belonger of the Virgin Islands. Her husband Ewan C. Anderson is the manager of the business.
It was two days ago, after a meeting with Premier Smith and Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Archibald C. Christian (AL), that Willy T was chased out from the area of the south-west of Norman Island, off the Bight area where it has moored since 1984, some 34 years.
At that time, in 1984, there was no development on Norman Island and it was still in local hands- the Creque family.
NDP & misinformation continues
After the manager Mr Anderson broke the news on how he was booted out after spending over half a million dollars on a new vessel following the destruction of his previous boat by Hurricane Irma, Dr Smith fired back.
In a press statement issued late Friday May 11, 2018, the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government claimed that Willy T's seabed license “had expired.” However, that was misinformation [another lie] as Mr Anderson, in another exclusive with our newsroom, produced a receipt from the National Parks Trust (NPT) where he paid for 1 year to moor his boat in that area.
In the Government Information Service (GIS) statement, Dr Smith and his Administration also claimed that there was “a number of environmental and other operational issues.”
When asked about this, Mr Anderson dismissed the claim and said some two years ago the Conservation and Fisheries Department came over and made some recommendations and all concerns were addressed.” He said the new boat has a sewerage system and a holding tank and he has already contracted a vendor to clear the holding tank weekly and dump the waste in the Nanny Cay Sewerage Treatment plant.
It is important to note that some 90% of all yachts and power boats around the Virgin Islands (VI) do not have any holding tanks; however, Willy T does.
Cease & desist from operating at Norman Island- Letter from Trade Dept
Mr Anderson, who has for decades been in the VI where all of his children are born, said he is surprised by the harassment, as it was just yesterday he and his wife were sent a letter dated May 11, 2018 from the Trade Department demanding that he “cease and desist from operating Willy T at the area of the Bights off Norman Island.” He said: “I was told that there will be a development in the area and I was in the way.”
He admitted that this “hurts after some 34 years”. The businessman mentioned that he has had calls from “the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) to come there and operate as it could be for me an easy move, as my new vessel meets all US standards, including the US Coast Guard”. In addition, he has had calls from other Caribbean islands as far as St Lucia and “I am exploring all options,” he said with a smile.
Mr Anderson added “I love the BVI and want to continue doing business here” however, “this treatment is not encouraging”.
Norman Island and the Pirates Bight Restaurant and Bar are owned by American millionaire businessman and Belonger Dr Henry G. Jarecki, who also serves on the H. Lavity Stoutt College Board.
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64 Responses to “NDP fires back @ Willy T; Cease & Desist letter; Gov't lied about license ”
In fact, in the future let's all use our rights to that beach as much as we can with private parties. Nobody can stop use of the beach !
And just to clarify, Jarecki is not a belonger, he is an honorary belonger. I wouldn’t know how you obtain that status, but would guess it saves a bit of stamp duty when you are buying an island, leaving some spare cash.
Lines to be empty when they arrive back to Port to drop if the vessel. Sewage is a Island wife problem not just the Willy T’s its Definitely a main contributor to killing the reefs around the BVI’s
Greed is destroying the BVI.
The really sad thing is that the Willy T is the only real melting pot in the BVI. It is frequented by black locals, white locals, black expats, white expats and tourists. It is unique and has become a loved landmark for residents and visitors alike. Pirates however, is too expensive for most and is only attractive to those that can afford it.
. Start Fresh and everybody should boycott The Pirates Bight! Take a BIGHT out of Henrys wallet !
here, where if you have lots of money you won't be messed with. of course banks are always that way, and
especially international banks. buy an island which is part of a country and you can be a citizen too. it does
cost though, though not as much as the usual purchase price. deals can be made. ask a few British and
American folks who own islands in the Caribbean. pip pip.
i wonder if anyone remembers the presentation that was put forward for the "proposed" developement of the Island when he bought it....... i bet it is a different plan now....probably looking to cash in an sell off plots of land for millions at a time.
the guy has no morals. the government is bllnded by his wealth. i wonder what he has to hold over the governemnt to be able to influance them in such a way.......welcome back to our Island of........."dirty little secrets". !! boycott Norman island i say. park on the beach ...set up bbq.s and make use of our birth rights to use this public beach...as our own. ! a natural belonger/bvislander is being kicked out while an honoury belonger pulls all the strings...disgusting. ndp..lost my vote for sure and i think you will loose alot more.
hhm..willy t ?? deffnately "unjustified and discriminatory." cant imagine this would have happened if anyone with a last name of Stoutt, skelton or Penn were the owners of Willy T eh ? shocking.
Government already ownes the Sea Bed.. So Jarecki wants to sell lots on the Bight at 2 million an acre?? Are Mooring balls are going next folks. Is Oil Nut Bay West coming and we will be kept out of The Bight, altogether?
Why no one addresses this issue? They had money to get another boat, but have done nothing with the wreck?