People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) Leader Mark H. Vanterpool, left, has flip-flopped on his controversial proposal to convert the Ralph T. O’Neal Central Administration Complex into a commercial and boutique hotel space. Photo: Facebook/VINO/File

It was a Virgin Islands Party Government under the founding Chairman, the late Chief Minister H Lavity Stoutt, who fought for the Central Administration Complex with zero help of any kind from the United Kingdom. Photo: GIS/File

Currently, the Government of the Virgin Islands is paying over $ 13 million a month in rent. It also rented space from one of Mr Vanterpool’s properties long before he became a political candidate for the 2027 general elections.

However, in a press release issued yesterday, October 21, 2026, Mr Vanterpool did a U-turn, noting that residents expressing strong national pride in the Central Administration Complex and its importance to the Virgin Islands prompted him to “reconsider his proposal to convert the building into commercial and boutique hotel space”.

U-Turn by Vanterpool

In a dramatic move, the PLM has now withdrawn that proposal and supports the return of government offices to the Complex, according to the press release.

There was no support in the country for Mr Vanterpool's proposal, as in every country around the world there is a ‘seat of government.’  

Mr Vanterpool admitted that the public’s reaction made clear that residents’ attachment to the building extends beyond its practical use. They regard it as an important national institution whose role as the central home of government should be preserved.

Know your history

It was a Virgin Islands Party Government under the founding Chairman, the late Chief Minister H Lavity Stoutt, who fought for the Central Administration Complex with zero help of any kind from the United Kingdom.

Instead, funds were given for a prison when funds were sought for the Administration Complex and a College. One social commentator stated, “Even as small as this issue may seem, it remains critical that we have our people leading the country who understand our political culture, how we have fought and built our own structures and why we place value on our Ministries returning to the complex”.