Donald de Castro submits alternative Road Harbour port development proposal to minister
Donald de Castro - Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
August 10, 2012
Hon, Mark Vanterpool
Minister Communications and Works
Government of the Virgin Islands
Road Town, Tortola
Virgin Islands, VG 1110
Dear Mr. Vanterpool,
I hereby submit my proposal for the development of the Road Harbour port as an alternative to the present proposal presently being pursued by your ministry.
I do hope that you and your associates will take a very close look at this proposal and see the merits therein.
I am,
Respectfully yours,
Donald E. de Castro
Port Development Proposal
By Donald E. de Castro
August 10, 2012
Now that the UK has intervened I do hope that we will one day get the truth surrounding the whole fiasco of the original proposal. Always remember facts and statistics may change, however, the truth always remain the same.
Here is my proposal that I am submitting to the government for its consideration. While we do need port improvements within this territory, misdirection and urgency will not have benefit this territory or its people. Anything that needs to be done in a hurry will only be to the detriment of this country and its people. So with the Pier Port Project put on hold, we should now take our time and make sure that any future plans in this area are properly scrutinized so that all Virgin Islanders/Belongers are taken into consideration and not just a select few.
The government and others closely connected to them are only looking at one aspect of the port development in the Road Town area, pertaining to Cruise Ships. They have shown no concern to the small or poor man or the overall needs of the territory; their only considerations are those who can and will benefit from the endeavor. In contrast to this approach, my proposal for the development of the Road Town port will require long term intelligent thinking and planning for the overall benefit of Virgin Islanders/Belongers and other residents. My proposal is as follows.
1. Cargo Dock. The Port of Purcell has now out grown itself, and there is no room for expansion. So at this time, I want to suggest once again what I suggested in 1961. Since food, building material and other commodities will always be coming into the country; serious consideration should be given to relocating the cargo dock to Jean Hill. With the reclamation of several acres between Jean Hill and ZBVI, we can have a cargo dock twice the size of what we presently have.
2. Cruise Ship Dock. The Port Purcell site can then be developed into a great cruise ship port with shop and other commercial enterprises owned by belongers and, in the case that belongers are unable to occupy all the available space, qualified no-belongers. As this dock is already solid land, the need for expensive reinforcement will not be necessary. In converting the Port Purcell port to a cruise ship port, the government through the Port will be the landlord as they will be the one constructing the buildings for rent.
3. Small Cruise Ships & Mega Yachts. The present cruise ship dock can then remain as it is to accommodate the small cruise ships that will continue to come. Then emphasis can be placed on attracting mega yachts to Tortola using the same pier.
4. Administration Complex Annex. The government can then build another office building in order to centralize more of its department and agencies and, thereby, saving millions of dollars in rent. With this annex completed, government would have released many private buildings including store front spaces to the private sector, which is so badly in need retail space in order to start up a business or expand.
These projects will take a few years, but we can do them with proper planning and cooperation between the government and the people without foreign investment and foreign takeover of our country leading to the demise of generations all because we hurried. We must always keep in mind what our fore fathers went through; therefore we have a moral and legal responsibility that not to put our children and grandchildren in a financial situation that they will never get out of.
And while these projects are going on and the small cruise ships and mega yachts are coming, we will be able to improve our infrastructure so that when the mega ships come we are ready, willing and able to accommodate them in a manner that will make us all and the generations that will follow us proud for years to come. Let know one fool, you the small ships will continue to come and once proper birthing facilities and the right products are available and the price, they will return.
As I write this I see that the government is advertising for tenders to construct something that they have already decided upon and most likely have already pre-selected a developer; this must be the case, considering the August 16 deadline, eliminating anyone that is not connected with this government from putting another proposal together.
and of course eliminates anyone that is not connected with this government from putting another proposal together. They seem to have the same mentality of Mitt Romney and the Republican Party of the U.S and the rich must get richer and the poor must get poorer.
Finally, I must touch on the issue of departure tax. I have been hearing people referring to this tax as a head tax. I find both names to be offensive so I have said on my radio show more than once we need to change the name and call it a Port Improvement/Environmental Tax. This way 50% will go to Port Development and 50% to the protection of the environment of the sea ports and airports. I am positive that our visitors would feel much better contributing to that kind of a fund rather than saying to themselves. “I just spent all my money in the Virgin Islands and now I have to pay to leave”.
I will support a lower tax for legal residents.
Donald E. de Castro
Donald deCastro
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12 Comments
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Mr. Decastro excellent idea.
My Government listen to this one please; follow what Mr DE Castro says. I never thought about it, such and excellent idea. Downtown Road Town don’t have to have everything it’s clustered enough already. And please spend the loan given by England wisely and don’t allow them to make you shame. Stop any wasteful spending and use the moneys wisely. This is not a put down; we put you there to do a better job please do it.
Good ideas. We really should rename that tax as well for true.
Local must get involve after all it is the locals who made it posible for tent city residents to be able to squat..Donald might not be on point with his entire proposal but he certainly is on track. More locals need to assist to help fine tune his proposal. We need to preserve, protect & defend the little which we have left.
So have a meeting with De castro. His shop is on Main Street. We also need zoning to prevent 6 story buildings around the pier development and a contract with the cruise line industry.
Why do some islands limit the amount of cruiseships per day? I think they need us more than we need them, where are they going to take the people, around in circles? Disney wants to make Tortola port look like a small town carney, what other island port looks like that mess they previewed to us?? Wake up, the cruise ship industry wants to use us, but keep all the money. Get real people, there is nothing in it for the BVI. They are interested in THIER OWN BACK POCKET, NOT YOURS!!! no wonder every ponzi scheme gets most BVIlanders to “believe”.
stupid and boringggggggggggggg
Normally, I disagree with almost everything Donald has to say. But, today, I have to give him his props. This plan makes a lot of sense. This is long term planning and I think our elected officials should really sit and take a hard look at it. We cannot continue putting out little fires, and ignoring the huge one smoldering in the back ground. Eventually, that big blaze will be upon us and there will be no water to put it out. We need to start thinking long term sustainability and Donald’s plan speaks to just that.
But that plan of Donald’s is putting out a little fire. Who did Donald consult with before putting forward a plan? How the F ou going develop the port without any consultation from the industry, build it, then ask them to come? Assishness to the highest degree which is why BVI continue to slide backwards. We always support ignorance just because it’s homegrown. This is local born and bred phukry! the cruise industry is not like building apartments and office space, build and they will come. They have certain things they want and if not there they won’t come, then what? We going eat the concrete? Where in port purcell a cruise ship can come in comfortably? It too small for cargo but big enough for 2 ships to dock? Whatever he smoking should be off the market asap.
What small cruise ships is deCastro talking about?? lmao!
In addition to my comment above. The cruise lines already confirmed they will be moving smaller ships on other routes and using larger ones for the Caribbean. A vital part of decastro’s proposal that is missing is confirmation from cruise lines that they will still come here with smaller ships. He is guessing to say the least. why would lines send small ships here when they already sending bigger ones? I dont get it? They will do it just because bvi cna’t handle the big ones? lol
Now Mr Decastro, I must say this is a sensible submission, I can’t argue with that. But let’s get back to reality! The BVI cannot dictate to the cruise lines that they should come here because we want them to. Unfortunately it’s the other way around, we need them more than they need us and until you realize that, you will be in trouble. Not saying that we sell our souls to them, but that at least we recognize the fact that we have to meet them half-way at least.
If these ships and agents are telling us that with the new caribbean fleet they have certain demands, you can’t ignore them, do your own thing and still expect them to come. Mr. deCastro what is missing from your plan are ‘gurantees’. Yes, we will build it ourselves and yes, it will be cheaper. But where is the gurantee of revenue from your proposed venture? Say what you want about the current proposal for the cruise pier, but when pen put to paper, the VI will reap financial benefits from the onset and consistently for 15yrs..that’s NET GAIN OUT THE BOX! You and many others can talk all you want but can you get around the table with the big boys and make demands? Can you give any guarantees? If you can’t guarantee it will work and/or make money for the Territory it will be a white elephant just like the green houses. These were built off emotion and not practicality. No study was done, it was just put there, millions gone, and is now people want to ‘plan’ how it should be used.
So while I applaud your sensible, calm approach. This is 2012 and we cannot afford to continue being stubborn and hard headed. ALl of a sudden everybody got a plan, but with tent city out there over 15yrs, everybody remained quiet. As soon as a company spend their money, do research, spend time consulting and negotiating on our behalf with the lines and now stand to make some money, all of a sudden locals interested. That is so amazing.
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