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.”
