BVI News

Fraser to grill Premier on Pier Park tenant evictions, rent abatement

File photo of the Tortola Pier Park in Road Town.

Third District Representative Julian Fraser is expected to question Premier Andrew Fahie on a number of issues concerning tenants at the Cyril Romney Tortola Pier Park when the House of Assembly (HOA) convenes today, March 10.

According to the order paper for the sitting, Fraser believes that Premier Fahie, who has responsibility for the BVI Ports Authority and by extension the Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park and its policies, is most certainly in a position to address economic concerns at the facility, especially those involving the tenants.

“With the adverse effects brought on by COVID-19 especially to our tourism product, we are all aware that merchants, particularly those at the Pier Park were stripped almost bare of revenue for practically all of 2020 and 2021 and are reaching out,” Fraser’s pre-prepared statements to the House reads.

On this basis, Fraser is expected to ask Premier Fahie whether he intends to meet with the representatives of the 31 concerned tenants of the Pier Park as they have requested in their letter to him since March 2021.

He is also expected to ask the territory’s leader and Finance Minister whether he thinks it is fair to merchants at the Pier Park to be issued with eviction notices and further, if he is aware of the notices issued and how many were issued.

According to the order paper, Fraser is also expected to ask Premier Fahie if, “given that the meeting requested a year ago with [the Premier] was to reinforce the request for the abatement of rent during [the] COVID-19 pandemic to date as was explained in the letter, doesn’t he think if the meeting had taken place the evictions would have been averted?”

The government in June 2020 granted vendors at the Craft Alive Village in Road Town a six-month moratorium on rent payments after months of closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Shares

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

15 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. we need fraser in power says:

    Fraser is a good match for Andrew

    Like 5
    Dislike 2
  2. is this the real issue says:

    Why are we no longer hearing about the misuse of millions when the Pier Park was being built.

    Like 12
    Dislike 3
    • Cato says:

      Who wants to hear the same thing over and over. That’s in the pass. We want to hear what will be done to avoid such happening in the future with other projects.

      Like 12
      Dislike 3
    • @is this the real issue says:

      You see a Pier Park out there right? Bringing in millions! STFU we tired of the Airplane and Pier Park Story when so much more have been squandered in less than 3 years!

    • Hugh Darley says:

      When do we receive our $2 Million Dollars for the design of Pier park and for alignment of both Berthing Agreements with Disney and NCL. Please get the government to pay us for the project we created for the people of the BVI. Is every government corrupt? No party has reached out to address our debt.

  3. in need says:

    Am just interesting in acquiring a piece of government land.

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  4. concern says:

    However, someone should be held accountable for the misuse of the funds used to pilot this project.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  5. hmm says:

    so someone looking out for people whose businesses were closed a business that was making a profit. but no one was looking out for expat who were not working and still had all bills to pay plus work permit fees plus additional NHI , SSB and Inland revenue fee for letters. why couldn’t they waiver work permit fees for 2020 for those who were laid off??

    Like 13
  6. Please says:

    Who is going to grill the Premier on what is happening about the speaker and his fine? Shouldnt the committee have reported by now. No accountability

    Like 14
  7. What!!!! says:

    Many Pier Park and Craft Alive tenants have not paid rent long before Covid shut downs.
    What is done NOTHING.
    I wish I could live in my apartment rent free for years.

    Like 19
  8. Island peep says:

    And I hear that the shareholders of the Pier Park still got paid a dividend, while people were evicted and suffered from no business.

Leave a Comment

Shares