On international airports, cruise ship villages, and state of the art ferry terminals
Dickson Igwe - Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Dickson Igwe
There is no escaping the influences of globalization on Virgin Islands politics, commerce, and community.
The beginning of this medley cum commercial story is an admonition to Virgin Island’s leaders not to ignore the improvement needs of the West End Ferry Dock. That facility is as critical to Virgin Islands commerce and tourism, as is the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport.
High traveler and tourist numbers flowing through the facility determine the importance of the West End Ferry terminal as a critical port of entry. However, the West End Ferry Dock requires expansion, modernization, and better customer functionality. An improved facility and ferry operation could conceivably increase the volume of traffic flowing through the terminal significantly, to the benefit of the West End of Tortola in particular, and wider BVI commerce.
And anyone traveling to and from the US Mainland, using the West End Ferry Terminal, over the Christmas 2012 holidays, would have experienced bottlenecks. With ferry delays, cancellations, and frustrated travelers.
Improving and developing the West End Ferry Dock, Road Town ferry Dock and the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport is essential and even critical to the long term economic development of these Lesser Antilles. This is a tiny country that depends on overseas trade for its very survival. On small island jurisdictions, ports of entry are arteries and airways, giving life to community, commerce and industry.
Another thought is this one: like the United States Virgin Islands have done, Government here may have to play a ‘stronger hand’ in the ferry industry if BVI tourism is to remain aggressively competitive. The USVI Government recently acquired two multimillion dollar ferries to boost tourism competitiveness, efficiency, and functionality.
A British Virgin Islands that hopes to attract a discerning and global consumer already spoiled for choice, a Virgin archipelago that possesses a world class and pristine geography, comprising the best sailing and diving; and the most remote and idyllic beaches to be found anywhere, cannot afford to have travelers to its shores holed up in St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, and Antigua.
The British Virgin Islands must have the equal capability of accessing global markets, world capitals, major cities, and massive population centers, just as any other Caribbean destination with the requisite air facilities and capabilities. That is not an option if this country is to compete economically on an international scale and at a global level, now and in the future. Growing the economy is the only way a good and prosperous future for the Virgin Islands child and teenager is assured.
OK. The Beef Island Airport project is back in the news. The idea of a global air facility, and a proposed cruise ship pier, and cruise village -the pier project a themed one, with substantive foreign investment- brings out the worst in many Virgin Islanders, residents, and visitors. It appears there is no middle course in this, the most controversial national discussion in recent years. Only the BI- WATER debacle of 2010- 2011 can be compared to the current swordplay.
With comments denigrating the proposed development at Beef Island such as: ‘’ it will never happen,’’ or, ‘’this is pie in the sky,’’ and, ‘’ the runway to nowhere.’’ All the anti development rhetoric are allusions to the displeasure of a significant cross section of the country’s population in those developments. However, these are necessary developments in this Observer’s view, meant to plug this country into the 21st Century global marketplace.
It is agreed that the airport and cruise pier developments must happen in sync with a wider national development model. There must be a politically bipartisan development prototype, one that that begins to build the robust and thoughtful, social and physical infrastructure, required for the medium and long term welfare of these Virgin Islands. A geography that must compete in a big bad world ruled by an avant garde paradigm called globalization.
Interestingly, for the anti airport and anti cruise village crowd, development is to be taken like a large dose CASTOR OIL. The proposed Beef Island runway development is bitter medicine for many. It is to be taken with a teaspoonful of lime juice to ease the trauma. In this Observers view, a redesigned and drastically improved airline facility remains crucial to this country’s long term economic viability. Just as it will be, welcoming cruise passengers at a state of the art cruise village with pier that can accommodate the largest ships.
In a recent online media story, a youthful Virgin Islands politician reportedly displayed enormous courage: tremendous bravery. The savvy businessman, and legal mind, asserted with the SUPREME VIM, of a WINSTON CHURCHILL, that he would rather vacate his posting as a pillar of Her Majesty’s Government and member of Cabinet, than see the airport project or cruise pier plan, placed on the back burner.
What a thing! And talk about drawing a line in the sand!
To be continued
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16 Comments
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Virgin Gorda Airport? Residents Welcomes Seaborne, and also supports their old friend of many years Air Sunshine. At last the “regular” customer can fly out of VG.
It would be nice if someone could for I guess $100.00 to $300.00 paint the ladies wash room. And put in a lock on the toilet door.
Imagine all the big talk about Gov. etc. all we need here for the ladies ( perhaps the gents too ) is some paint and a door lock. This toilet door has had no lock for as far as I can remember – long -.
Also for about perhaps $1,000.00 someone can remove the ruin of the last house “Flying Iguana” a sore sight to see on landing.
With another few dollars they can plant a few flowers and the airport would look half way to normal – we don’t need any “state of the art” a bit of paint and a lock on the toilet door and the removal of the ruins would be a great enough improvement for 2013.
Insightful article. Prioritizing and managing projects by both governments has been terrible. For me it is not that I don’t welcome these projects, but it is my lack of confidence in the government accomplishing them is where my apprehension lies. Could this be the view of some of the naysayers but they are expressing themselves as oppose to some of these projects? I wish us well.
That being said I believe our tourist board should be more creative and understand that spending more money does not mean more visitors. ST. Thomas have millions of visitors annually and have direct flights from the USA , can we tap into this? Maybe our tourist board should work with the USVI Tourist board and jointly encourage visitors to the USVI to spend some time in the BVI as well; Our Villas and hotels can work with hotels/agencies in ST. Thomas and the US to create packages for visitors to spend time in the BVI. ST. Thomas is our competitor yes but we can’t compete with them at this point so why not join them and make it a WIN WIN endeavor?
We need to get this ferry issue under control first……Set times need to be established to accommodate incoming and outgoing flights in St. Thomas. Schedules should be monitored and appropriate consequences when breached. That mentality of taking each other and visitors for granted needs to stop. Welcome me on board, smile , be helpful, have uniforms, a clean and well maintained ferry; I would feel much better spending my money if I am acknowledged and send off with “ Good morning, Good afternoon and Goodnight….. hell I would even take have a nice day.
We talk about tourism being an economic pillar then you travel through West End and the service is as bad as it can get with some of these ferry businesses- I was treated like a convict this Christmas by a sour puss of a woman working for one of these ferries at Red Hook- maybe if I were a white expat I might have been better handled
So what he is correct.
During the past year, I have feasted on Dr. Igwe ‘s commentaries, along with a host of other commentators and “bloggers.” The opinions and ideas were sometimes controversial yet always informative and thought-provoking. And this last 2012 commentary was no exception. And I’m eagerly looking forward to more in 2013. Now just a few thoughts on this week’s commentary.
Globilization aside, tourism, 1/2 of the two-legged economic stool, appears to be the mainstay of the BVI’s economy for the foreseeable future. The BVI is tiny with a dearth of natural resources. And there is no major economy on the horizon to either replace or add a third leg to the unbalanced economic stool. It look as if tourism is the one that the BVI for now has to take to the dance.
Thus, the BVI must improve, strengthen and fully develop the tourism product. Maintaining and sustaining its high standard of living and quality of life heavily depend on it. Further, an effectively working transportation system is a core factor in developing the tourism product. Two core elements in the transportation system are are airlift and sealift.
Consequently, these two components must be well coordinated and closely linked. This coordination may or may not include extending TBL. As I stated in the past, I have questions about passenger loading, and available seat miles justifying the large extension cost. Another concern is the opportunity cost of the extension.
On the other hand, the sealift sector, especially the West End terminal, needs work. The passenger ferries operating between the USVI and BVI are not luxurious experiences; they are just a ride from A to B. They need to be much more with significant quality service improvement. Serious consideration should be given to employing STT as conduit for getting tourists in and out of the BVI. This will entail upgrade of the West End terminal, coordinated ferry scheduling, as well as improved ferry service.
Moreover, to enhance the tourist product, the BVI must improve its attractions, protect its fragile environmental asset, construct more facilities to support the industry, eg, pier improvements…….etc.
He’s not a doctor
Are you saying he is not a medical doctor? Does he hold a Phd? And if he has neither why has there been no correction to the numerous references? Is this just a matter of semantics?
He don’t have a phd
If the west end ferry terminal is important it should be improved however why have a great new facility and have tourist already unhappy by the poor condition of the ferry’s and the poor unprofessional operation. A new pristine terminal won’t solve problem. The only professional ferry service in the BVI is Speedy why doesn’t the government contract with them to deliver a professional schedule and service.
Undoubtedly, globilization the omnipresent and omnipotent process, force, condition or age is extending its tentacles and enveloping the globe. It is changing the culture, economy, politics, and environment in many locales.
Accordingly, the BVI in planning for economic growth and development should include it, along with trade, foreign direct investment, infrastructure development, human capital investment, prioritization of scarce resources…etc.
The BVI like other territorities and countries across the globe has limited resources. Consequently, effective planning is critical and vital to optimize limited resources. As such critical needs should be planned and prioritized over wants.
Clearly, tourism is one-half the BVI’ s economic twin tower. And transportation (road network, air, sea, public transportation) is critical to its continued growth development and sustainability. Thus, its transportation must be planned and developed as a system, not as discrete components. Moreover, additional facilities are needed to facilitate the growth of shore and sea-based tourism.
Further, I take a different view on residents expressing their views on BI-Water, TBL extension and port pier project. They were expressing their opinions and engaging in the discussion. This participation is what democracy about. They expressing their opinions did not bring out the worst in them.
Dr. Igwe, as usual an informative piece.
Dickson, its the ferry services that need attention rather than the terminal.
THE FERRY SERVICE TO/FROM ST THOMAS IS JOKE. FOR TWO MAIN PROVIDERS SMITHS, NATIVE SON THEY DON’T CARE. HAVE NO ETHICS, JUST WANT YOUR MONEY. “SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ” TELL THAT TO YOUR AIRLINE REP. WHEN YOU MISS YOUR FLIGHT. BOTH ARE A DISGRACE TO THE BVI
To put the Airport development and the West End Ferry dock development in the same sense of urgency seems to me to be total foolishness. The West End Ferry terminal, is a total disgrace to the BVI. The existing TBL Airport is not. Its actually very nice.
@ tourist, The TBL Airport has been the recipient of much needed improvement which was required. Conversely, the West End Ferry terminal has been neglected. For your information, both are vital arteries through which tourists and visitors flow into the BVI.
It is a fallacy to place singular focus on one area at the expense and detriment of the other. They can extend the runway in order to accommodate the Airbus and other Jumbo ariliners but if the rates are not competitive, travelers will continue to fly into St.Thomas and take the ferry to the BVI.
I travel to the BVI three or four times a year. I have come by Ferry from St. Thomas, and by plane to the Airport. The Airport experience is nice, very clean, and the customs and immigration people are very pleasant, and smile. Coming into West End is the exact opposite experience. IMHO, the West End issue is of “critical” nature. The airport is not.
he like to be in thing sah
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