Months of promises, no result | Vanterpool being held to account
The West End ferry dock was destroyed by the hurricane.
When parliament reconvenes tomorrow (June 28), Works Minister Mark Vanterpool will be made to justify why, after months of promises, an interim ferry terminal is not yet erected at West End, which is located in the First Electoral District.
First District Representative Andrew Fahie will be putting these and other questions to the Works Minister, whose performance some residents have described as unsatisfactory.
Based on the House of Assembly’s pre-prepared order paper, Fahie will specifically ask: “Could the Minister for Communications and Works please tell this Honourable House when the works will commence to erect the temporary facility at the port in West End so that the facility can be reopened, post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria?”
Vanterpool will also be made to say when ferries from the neighbouring US Virgin Islands and other places outside the BVI will resume operations from the West End-based port facility.
Losing revenue
In roughly two months, it will be a year since the dock was destroyed by the catastrophic hurricanes. And, with a virtually non-operational West End dock, the territory continues to lose potential revenue.
The West End dock plays a part in generating revenue from tourism, which government says it is trying to restore.
Vanterpool and his ministry has been promising to erect a semi-permanent structure at the West End but has not honoured any of their promised timelines.
One of the lastest update was given in March when Permanent Secretary in the aforementioned ministry, Anthony McMaster said the terminal would open in late April or early May.
The government had said it will spend some $4.2 million to build a more permanent structure at the West End dock. The structure should be built over a 15-month period.
Construction will be funded through the $65 million government has borrowed from the Caribbean Development Bank for recovery.
Premier, other ministers to be questioned
In the meantime, the parliamentary Opposition is also expected to pose fresh questions to Premier Dr D Orllando Smith on the reportedly defunct airline, BVI Airways.
Opposition members are also slated to put Health Minister Ronnie Skelton and the newly-elected leader for the National Democratic Party, Minister Myron Walwyn in the proverbial hot seat.
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Isn’t that the same as half pregnant?
So this will be done shortly before election?
Vanterpool is a real disappointment!!!!
Worst minister of ———- ever to grace the house of assembly.
That’s the cuban.
West End ferry terminal brings in three times as many tourists as the airport. Yet we talk about lavishing hundreds of millions on the airport, when we cannot even put in basic infrastructure in West End to get the tourist dollars flowing again.
West end should have been closed to the public just like St John until such time as they can build a permanent terminal building.
Certain things are not as easy as we talk. They take time.
Listen people everything will be done just in time for election don’t we see that’s what’s going to happen to fool people roads,schools and you name it but i wouldn’t be fooled that’s thier tricks every election
And after all that typing you will be fooled so why bother mentioning it.
That’s what you think I’m a registered voter i live in the 5 district and never voted
Before that Terminal Building is built the road leading to the Western side of the Island has to be repaired. Right now it is profitable to take the ferry in and out or Road Town for travelers from East, Central and south.
So far no has or is addressing the Road problem leading to the 1st district which is a disaster waiting to happen.
All your government is like this. Why blame the one person when the entire government dropped the ball with hurricane recovery? I would guess this is because half the government buildings were NOT insured….. BALL DROPPED
This is being irresponsible regardless of who was supposed to be responsible.There is no EXCUSE for being irresponsible.
That Minister was a f—— before flood and storms.