One of the new designs for the West End Ferry Terminal. Photo: RDA

The Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has come under attack from social commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline regarding the West End Ferry Terminal Project. Photo: RDA/Facebook

Social commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has expressed outrage that the West End Ferry Terminal Project has not yet been completed, neatly eight years after Hurricane Irma destroyed the facility. Photo: Facebook

He voiced his concerns during his programme "Honestly Speaking," which aired on ZBVI and Facebook on July 22, 2025.

Skelton-Cline stated that the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) intends to initiate a proposal for the West End Ferry Terminal and is calling for at least seven local firms to submit expressions of interest for a possible partnership with the design consultant, a German company named INROS LACKNER S.E.

The government of the Virgin Islands contracted INROS LACKNER S.E. to design and oversee the construction of the West End Ferry Terminal.

'High priority' project

Mr Skelton-Cline commented, “To complete revised designs for the new facility, we need to consider the dynamics of the territory as well as the available budget, which is $12 million. Please note that this West End project is of very high priority. Now, how long has this project been ongoing? It began before Hurricane Maria and even before that. Who is the minister responsible for the West End?”

He continued that it was unbelievable that after tendering, some costs reached $94 million, some even as high as $60 million.

According to Skelton-Cline, the German company serving as the design consultant is now asking seven reputable local firms to submit expressions of interest, which must be no less than 15 pages, outlining what they can offer as a potential partner.

He said this is the same German company whose designs the RDA is discarding due to prohibitive costs.

'Who is truly in charge?'- Skelton-Cline

Skelton-Cline expressed his frustration, saying, “Listen, I am upset about this. We continue to have little or no confidence in ourselves, in our people, in our contractors, and in our architects. My God, we have built so many structures in this country! To construct a small 2-by-4 facility down in West End—that should be manageable.”

He added, “There are still warehouses and four walls; we can easily accommodate immigration, customs, and whatever else we need inside. And we have $12 million to do it. It should only take five to complete what needs to be done properly. Hurricanes will come again in the future. If they blow it down, we’ll build another one. What’s so hard to understand?”

Skelton-Cline further stated, “Here we are, eight years after Hurricane Maria, still dragging our feet. And then you have the nerve to ask local contractors to get this done without outside assistance. You’ve already spent a significant amount of money on these designs, and who knows what else, and now you’re forcing this issue. Who, in God’s name, is sitting on the RDA board? Who is providing leadership to the RDA? Who is truly in charge? Where is the minister for this subject?”

The ferry terminal at West End was the busiest seaport in the Virgin Islands prior to the 2017 hurricanes: 40% of all arrivals into the Territory by sea were cleared in through West End. The destruction of the terminal has therefore affected travel between Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and the United States Virgin Islands. It has impacted both residents and visitors, whether arriving by ferry, water taxi, private yacht or charter yacht.