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Former Communications and Works Minister, Mark Vanterpool says he has no regrets about using funding intended for the East End and Long Look sewerage project to help build Tortola Pier Park, defending the decision as an investment in jobs and economic activity.
Vanterpool, now leader of the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) served as Minister for Communications and Works during the National Democratic Party's (NDP) eight years in office. His ministry led the Pier Park development.
Speaking on the People’s Mic Podcast on Sunday, Vanterpool said the sewerage project had faced difficulties because the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which was expected to fund most of it, required further studies and changes to pipe sizes.
“The issue that we were confronted when we got there... was that the CDB group who was going to fund most of that project, felt that the project needed restudying and the pipes needed resizing,” Vanterpool said.
He explained that the time elapsed since the project was developed meant it needed to be reassessed, making execution difficult.
“But at the end of the day, I had no regrets for using some of that funding, for helping to build the Cruise Pier,” he stated.
“The cruise pier was necessary to create revenue for the Territory and create jobs and economic activity in the Virgin Islands.”
Vanterpool’s defence comes against recent criticism from Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who linked the former NDP government’s spending priorities to the Territory’s ongoing water crisis.
As reported on October 5, Wheatley said the NDP administration prioritised the hospital and Pier Park while making virtually no investment in water distribution. He argued that money diverted from infrastructure, including sewerage, contributed to the problems residents now face.
The Premier also questioned spending between $80 million and $90 million on Pier Park when private investment might have been available, saying the ageing water distribution network needed replacement.
Vanterpool maintained that Pier Park had delivered substantial economic benefits, claiming it had added more than $100 million to the BVI’s gross domestic product.
“We have added more than $100 million to the GDP of the BVI, through the Tortola Pier Park project,” he said.
He described the decision as one taken by the NDP government with strong support from then Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith.
Addressing criticism of the project’s cost, Vanterpool acknowledged that the original estimates differed substantially from the eventual development. He said the buildings and dock initially proposed were unsuitable for the intended project.
According to Vanterpool, further studies and advice from professionals familiar with the cruise ships the Territory intended to attract resulted in revised estimates and designs.
He maintained that a subsequent study found the project delivered good value for the money spent.
Vanterpool, now leader of the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) served as Minister for Communications and Works during the National Democratic Party's (NDP) eight years in office. His ministry led the Pier Park development.
Speaking on the People’s Mic Podcast on Sunday, Vanterpool said the sewerage project had faced difficulties because the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which was expected to fund most of it, required further studies and changes to pipe sizes.
“The issue that we were confronted when we got there... was that the CDB group who was going to fund most of that project, felt that the project needed restudying and the pipes needed resizing,” Vanterpool said.
He explained that the time elapsed since the project was developed meant it needed to be reassessed, making execution difficult.
“But at the end of the day, I had no regrets for using some of that funding, for helping to build the Cruise Pier,” he stated.
“The cruise pier was necessary to create revenue for the Territory and create jobs and economic activity in the Virgin Islands.”
Vanterpool’s defence comes against recent criticism from Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who linked the former NDP government’s spending priorities to the Territory’s ongoing water crisis.
As reported on October 5, Wheatley said the NDP administration prioritised the hospital and Pier Park while making virtually no investment in water distribution. He argued that money diverted from infrastructure, including sewerage, contributed to the problems residents now face.
The Premier also questioned spending between $80 million and $90 million on Pier Park when private investment might have been available, saying the ageing water distribution network needed replacement.
Vanterpool maintained that Pier Park had delivered substantial economic benefits, claiming it had added more than $100 million to the BVI’s gross domestic product.
“We have added more than $100 million to the GDP of the BVI, through the Tortola Pier Park project,” he said.
He described the decision as one taken by the NDP government with strong support from then Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith.
Addressing criticism of the project’s cost, Vanterpool acknowledged that the original estimates differed substantially from the eventual development. He said the buildings and dock initially proposed were unsuitable for the intended project.
According to Vanterpool, further studies and advice from professionals familiar with the cruise ships the Territory intended to attract resulted in revised estimates and designs.
He maintained that a subsequent study found the project delivered good value for the money spent.
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