Former Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool has defended the Cruise Pier Development Project against longstanding criticism, arguing that the facility delivered economic benefits and value for money while proposing a new phase of waterfront development that could include hotel towers near the cruise pier.

Speaking on The Morning Facts with Cindy Rosan on May 21, Vanterpool said the project, which was developed during his tenure as minister responsible for ports, has proven its worth through increased visitor arrivals, economic activity and revenue generation.

“The port got value for money,” Vanterpool said, citing independent evaluations conducted after construction was completed.

The Cruise Pier Development Project, which opened in 2015, expanded the territory’s capacity to accommodate large cruise ships and included the construction of the Tortola Pier Park commercial complex. The project became one of the most debated public infrastructure developments in Virgin Islands history after its cost rose beyond original estimates and questions were raised about procurement and oversight.

Vanterpool rejected suggestions that the project failed to justify its final cost, arguing that changes made during construction were necessary to create a more resilient and functional facility.

According to Vanterpool, the original proposal would not have adequately accommodated modern cruise vessels and included structures that would have been less resistant to hurricanes. He said the decision was made to redesign elements of the project, including constructing reinforced concrete and steel buildings and expanding docking capacity.

“We decided we were going to build a dock that can hold two ships that are there now,” he said.

Vanterpool said independent assessments commissioned after completion concluded that the project represented value for money and generated substantial economic returns for the Territory through tourism-related spending.

“The estimated benefit to the territory in terms of gross domestic product was over $100 million that the cruise pier would produce every year,” he said.

He also noted that the financing used to construct the facility is nearing repayment.

“I am very pleased with the cruise pier,” Vanterpool said.

While defending the development, Vanterpool argued that additional investment is needed to maximize the potential of the waterfront district. He revealed that he recently discussed new development concepts for the area, including the possibility of constructing hotel accommodations near the cruise pier.

Among the ideas he said have been proposed is a twin-tower hotel development on opposite sides of the waterfront, including one tower near the cruise pier and another in the Village Cay area.

“I prefer to build eventually what they call a tower hotel,” Vanterpool said, adding that he recently shared the concept with officials involved in discussions about the future of the area.

The proposal, he said, would build on existing tourism infrastructure and create additional accommodations within walking distance of the cruise terminal and Road Town’s commercial district.

Vanterpool said the Cruise Pier Development Project should ultimately be evaluated by its long-term economic contribution to the Virgin Islands rather than the political controversy that surrounded its construction.

“Are the constituents of the territory, the residents, benefiting economically from it? Yes,” he said. “The loan that we borrowed to build it is almost finished, and the territory continues to benefit from it.”

 Former Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool has defended Honourable Lorna G. Smith’s decision to join the Virgin Islands Party-led government following the 2023 general election, saying the move was her own and that the Territory benefited from her experience and expertise.

Speaking on The Morning Facts with Cindy Rosan on May 21, Vanterpool rejected suggestions that he influenced his sister’s decision to support the Virgin Islands Party administration after she was elected as an at-large representative on the National Democratic Party ticket.

“Honourable Lorna Smith, if you know my sister, my dear sister, if you know her, she’s a very intelligent person,” Vanterpool said. “She is a very clear-minded person of the direction she wants to go, and she makes her own decisions.”

Smith’s decision in April 2023 altered the political balance of the House of Assembly after no party secured an outright majority in the general election. The Virgin Islands Party won six seats, one short of the seven required to form a government. Shortly after the election, Smith agreed to support the Virgin Islands Party administration led by Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley and was subsequently appointed Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade. The move generated significant public debate because she had campaigned as a National Democratic Party candidate and is married to former Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, founder of the National Democratic Party.

Vanterpool said the controversy surrounding the decision has overshadowed what he views as its benefits for the Territory.

“Was it the right decision? I will stand here and say, I think it was,” he said. “The territory needed her expertise in what she was doing.”

He argued that Smith’s decades of experience in public administration, financial services and economic development would have had a greater impact from within government than from the opposition benches.

“I didn’t think the territory would benefit from that expertise as well from the backbench or from an opposition side,” Vanterpool said. “What she did benefited the territory, and it continues to benefit the territory.”

The former Fourth District representative also dismissed claims that he played a role in persuading Smith to support the government.

“It was her decision,” Vanterpool said. “I don’t want people to think that she’s a very intelligent person who makes her own decisions as to what she should do. She made a decision, and I support it.”

Smith herself previously stated that neither her husband, former Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, nor others made the decision for her, emphasizing that it was a choice she reached independently after post-election discussions.

While acknowledging that some voters disagreed with the move, Vanterpool said elected officials must ultimately focus on governing rather than political divisions.

“People will always have opposition to that kind of thing because people hold on to the party subject and all those issues when an election is over,” he said. “Let’s see how we can make the country better.”

Vanterpool maintained that Smith’s decision should be judged by its impact on the Territory rather than the political controversy it generated.

“I will not flinch by saying that I think she made the right decision,” he said. “What she did benefited the territory.”

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