Former PS Julian Willock said a debate on the controversial airport expansion project is needed. Photo: VINO/File

Mr Julian Willock said no one can argue that the expanding of the cruise pier was not needed but it was the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding the project that cast a dark cloud over it. Photo: VINO/File

Mr Willock was the featured guest on Ms Shania M. Smith’s live television call in programme Vigilate Dialogues, televised last night July 14, 2016 on CBN Channel 51. The two discussed in brief a number of topical issues, factors important to the tourism sector.

For Mr Willock, a diehard Virgin Islander, it is obligatory of governments to pay direct interest in things that matter most for the territory’s development, hence his keen attention on especially two aspects vital to tourism, the airport and cruise pier expansions.

Expand airport on Anegada?

Following questions posed to him by Ms Smith, Willock said, “The airport project, I think that’s another interesting debate…. We have to do something about airlift and I think we need to have a debate as to what that is, whether it is expanding the runway. Other ideas have come forward about building a new airport or expansion on another island, for example Anegada. That is something that needs to be looked at in terms of its economics.”

The point of investing in another airline also came up for discussion when Willock alluded to the hefty amount invested in BVI Airways by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Government. “I just see that the government has invested $7M in an airline, so I don’t know if that is considered a local airline…. But $7M is hefty to invest in an airline.”

Opposition Leader and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) recently asked what Willock described as critical and important questions as it relates to the $7M airline investment.

“I think I read something two days ago where he was saying the answers he got from our Premier was misleading. So we need to have a serious look at that agreement and we need to have a robust debate based on facts and figures about the airport and whether we need it, whether we can sustain it,” Mr Willock, the Chairman of consultancy firm, Advance Marketing and Professional Services, suggested.

Airport needed but public lacking information

He also said it is his gut feeling that the expansion of the airport is a needed one but on the distaff side the public has not been provided with enough information as to why it’s needed and how it’s going to increase the tourism product of the VI, and whether there is a market for direct flights from certain countries to the VI.

Speaking of the Cruise Pier Development Project, Willock had thumbs up for it while noting that he has not found anyone opposed to the project in itself but rather the issues surrounding the cost. “Most of the people who have looked at it know that it cannot and should not have cost $82.9ml and counting and remember it’s still an incomplete project.”

According to Willock, the monies spent so far on the project has soured its good will even though it’s a very needed project. “Even going back ten years, the party in power at that time, the Virgin Islands Party, had made provisions for an expansion. It may not have been as elaborate as what is there now but all governments knew that we needed to do something if we were going to maintain our place in the tourism sector, especially cruise tourism which is critical to our development.”