Director of Programme Delivery at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Shaina M. Smith-Archer delivers a presentation at the public meeting on the Fisheries Landing Site held at the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies in Baugher's Bay on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Photo: RDA/Facebook

The limited size of the land at Omar Hodge Wharf is creating significant construction and design challenges for the proposed Fisheries Landing Site, according to Director of Programme Delivery at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Shaina Smith-Archer. Photo: Facebook

Director of Programme Delivery at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Shaina Smith-Archer said the project team had sought to avoid disturbing the existing park located at the corner of the site. Photo: Facebook

Director of Programme Delivery at the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Shaina Smith-Archer also revealed that the RDA presented an update to the Premier on Tuesday regarding the preliminary design for the project. Photo: Facebook

Smith-Archer made the disclosure during a public meeting on the Fisheries Landing Site held at the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies in Baugher's Bay on Thursday, September 17, 2026. She said the project team had sought to avoid disturbing the existing park located at the corner of the site. 

“The biggest challenge we had from a construction standpoint, and even with the design, was because of the size of the land,” Smith-Archer explained.

She said the limited space had made it necessary for the project team to consider reclaiming land. However, the reclamation work has added considerably to the project’s overall budget.

“We’re going to have to reclaim, and as a result of that, that has taken up quite a bit of the budget as far as the overall project,” she said.

Premier was updated on the preliminary design 

Smith-Archer also revealed that the RDA presented an update to Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, regarding the preliminary design for the project. 

The design was developed after consideration of feedback received from stakeholders and an assessment of the physical and financial constraints affecting the development.

She said the team had identified the most suitable design option after taking into account the stakeholder feedback and the limitations of the site.

“We actually did a presentation this week, Tuesday, to the Premier to update him as far as where we were with the preliminary design, based on the stakeholder feedback that we had received, and given all the constraints where we had essentially landed,” Smith-Archer said.

The Fisheries Landing Site at Omar Hodge Wharf is expected to support the territory’s fishing industry by providing improved facilities for fishers and related activities. The proposed project scope includes a modern docking facility to accommodate vessels up to 45 feet, with fish cleaning stations, on-site ice vending, visitor and operational spaces, and easy public access, including a convenient pick-up and drop-off area.