‘Tortola Pier Park’ – a new village to boost tourism
BVI News Staff - Thursday, June 28th, 2012 at 9:12 AM
An artiste's impression of the Pier Park at the Road Town Waterfront
A large turnout of residents converged at the cruise ship dock on June 27 to hear about a public private investment that is geared towards creating “Tortola Pier Park”, a destination within a destination that is expected to impress cruise passengers.
Hugh Darley of the Idea/UIG Company presented conceptual drawings of the plan to make the cruiseship pier the focal part of Road Town and to transform Waterfront into a bustling marketplace.
He told the gathering that the concept of the pier park is to present the sights and sounds of a traditional August festival to cruise guests when they disembark the ship. Among the infrastructure of the new pier would be a ferris wheel. Mention was also made of a having trolley cars to take visitors along the boardwalk and in Road Town to ensure that as much of the businesses are visited.
The plan includes among other things a terminal building, performance stage, waterfront swimming pool, and a carousel.
“We want to tell your story, to encourage more people to visit to desire to come. We are going to build a destination within a destination. We want to inspire people to come off the cruise ship and inspire people to come back, because they didn’t see enough of the BVI…. The ferris wheel is like your energy, it’s like the August festival is going on every day. I don’t care if anyone ever rides it, it’s the idea that you’re selling. The plan is not to build a city, it’s to build a village, it’s your front door,” Darley announced.
He added that the company will be extending the pier to make it larger and longer. In the end he said that the territory will be accepting calls from the Disney Dream class ships that are expected to make the territory a primary stop. He said that the new pier would be moving the Virgin Islands from B class to A class, as the Disney Dream Class are more high end vessels.
Minister for Communications and Works Mark Vanterpool stated that government via the Ports Authority will be providing the land to the company for the project. He said that the land will be leased for 48 years with government having various buy-out options before that time. The company on the other hand is expected to invest $75m.
Vanterpool noted that $25m will be used for the pier and excursion dock, $25m for landside development, and $25m towards community investment. He said that the company and its team were researched and found to be experienced. However, it was noted that government is hoping to get public input before finalising the project.
Minister Vanterpool said that in return for their investment the company will share in the revenue. He stressed that this is not a loan, and that government is not guaranteeing anything.
He added: “They are not doing it for free, they are not doing it because they love us, they are doing it because there is a financial return and we will benefit from it.”
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16 Comments
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Are we really going to give Disney a 48yr lease to develop a “destination within a destination” on our hard fought for land.Will we stand by and let Hugh Darley of the Idea/UIG Company go ahead with his plan to make the cruiseship pier the focal part of Road Town and to transform our Waterfront.As he said he wants to build a village on our front door which he will even let us possibly buy it back before 48yrs is done!!! CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY .Remember Noel Lloyd fought so hard to overturn a previous such agreement what are we thinking? Is this government so desperate they will sell off our prime real estate to foreigners.Wake up BVI we dont want or need a virtually gated village on our Capitals waterfront.Taxi folk watch close as cruise ship passengers will no longer need rides once they can spend their day within this planned all facility destination dock sunning in the pool and shopping in newly created bustling marketplace and riding the wheel. Just like those hotels in other islands where the guests don’t leave the compound!!! Wake up BVI before we find ourselves locked out from our own dock- oh yes that has already happened it used to be a nice place to fish until us locals were gated out-remember and act now .
Don’t study this Dickson Igwe character. I don’t know where he come out, but he is no BVIslander and therefore has no say in this. This is “we” thing and the great and heroic Noel Lloyd is spinning in he grave all now.
Not even a $5.00 from a drink will the BVI now gain from these herds of sheeple from the cruise ships. Plus our waterfront will no longer be fronting on water, therefore will not be waterfront at all.
WHY do we feel we have to give away ALL just for visitors to like us? Haven’t people been visiting and staying, even in little locally-run guest-houses and villas for decades? And sailing our once pristine waters? Isn’t this what really put the BVI on the map?
I could tell yuh, when they finish eat off all theirs own, they coming for ours.
I think it is a good idea it will attract more tourists and cruise ships. And my time we get a park. come on were a caribbean island not even a water park we have so it is a great idea.
People always screaming when a new project is established- airport- airline- etc- BI WATER was a most foolish and stupid idea- and VIP paid the price- this cruise ship pier is something the people will certainly benefit from- so VIP supporters – just shut it
McDonald’s not allowed in BVI but Disneyland is??
Wont work unless the government helps to move the nearby businesses into these new fascilites
This is the most ridiculous project talked about to date, and there have been many.
The cruise ships have all but stopped coming here for so many reasons, Fix these problems first, then develop something nice to welcome our visiting guests,
When all this happen? Mark is coming every week with a new project, this is funny…The color rendering is totally out of scale, the real lot is like half the size of the one shown in here…And the ship looks almost the size of VG…lol
we sold out as far as i see
when vip did the samething with biwater, it was wrong…now ndp doing it with another company, it is right…this is called double standards
that is putting strain on the existing problems we have.
Not a local company is it?
Sovereignty no concern here?
Whats up?
Eveyone one wants to have this and have that but they dont want to spend any money, the people who are taking the risks must and should have a say.
Nice but the ferris wheel should be on the other side ( closer to the land) so that locals can enjoy it too, without getting in the way of tourist.
the sea blast goin ruin this. This is not reflective of the bvi
nice but has anyone every thought about a water theme park?
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