Photo: City Manager, Mrs Janice Braithwaite-Edwards. Photo: BVI News

Nearly 15 vendors at Craft Alive Village found themselves locked out of their businesses this morning April 1 for overdue rent — some balances stretching back years and topping $10,000. The lockout follows months of warnings from the city, with officials saying tenants had been given ample opportunity to settle their debts.

“We locked them out because we had written to them since February this year, advising them that they needed to make some sort of movement on their outstanding balances,” said City Manager Janice Braithwaite-Edwards in an interview with JTV. “Unfortunately, the movement that was made by some people was not enough.”

Braithwaite-Edwards explained that some tenants had attempted to make payments, but the amounts were insufficient to sustain their businesses in the long term. She stressed that the goal was not eviction but financial accountability.

“We needed to ensure that they paid something a little bit more substantial than they have been paying,” she said.

The city’s decision, while controversial, appears to have had an immediate effect.

“Today, we had quite a few tenants come to the office because, based on the fact that they were locked out, they could not do business. And so, therefore, they made the necessary amendments so they could reopen their shops,” Braithwaite-Edwards noted.

Vendors were reportedly asked to sign agreements committing to continued payments until their debts were completely cleared.

The lockout is the latest chapter in a long-standing struggle at Craft Alive. Vendors have voiced frustrations over declining foot traffic and changing tourism patterns since the development of the nearby Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park. Many argue that the government has done little to redirect visitors to the village, leaving them at an economic disadvantage.

Back in 2016, then-Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool revealed in the House of Assembly that rental collections at Craft Alive had been dismal. During a two-month period, only $29,140 was collected out of a total $192,150 owed. At the time, nearly every business at the village was behind on payments.

Efforts to boost foot traffic have included proposals for a boardwalk linking the Pier Park to Craft Alive, but progress has been slow. Meanwhile, vendors say they continue to struggle.

The city manager hinted that further actions may be taken if vendors fail to remain compliant.

“If we are not satisfied, then during the middle of April, we may be called to do something similar,” she warned.

For now, those vendors who have made payments will be allowed back into their stalls. But with Craft Alive’s financial woes stretching back years, today’s lockout serves as a stark reminder that, for some, time may be running out.

On what should have been a bustling day for tourism in the British Virgin Islands, the usually vibrant Craft Alive Village stood eerily quiet. Despite two major cruise liners docked at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, nearly 15 vendors found themselves locked out of their businesses today, April 1, due to years of unpaid rent.

The vendors, many of whom have operated in the Craft Alive Village for over a decade, reportedly owe back rent spanning between 10 to 12 years. The lockout left the typically welcoming shopping area subdued, as shuttered stalls and empty kiosks replaced the usual energy of tourists searching for souvenirs and keepsakes.

The situation highlights a long-standing challenge for Craft Alive vendors, who have struggled to meet rental obligations amid declining foot traffic and economic difficulties. Government records indicate that these financial strains have persisted for years.

Back in 2016, then-Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool presented a report to the House of Assembly detailing rental payments at the Craft Alive Village. The document revealed that, between January 15 and March 16 of that year, only $29,140 of the $192,150 due in rent had been collected. It also showed that all but one of the 61 businesses in the village were behind on payments, with many vendors failing to make any contributions during that period.

Vendors at the time attributed the downturn to shifting tourism dynamics following the opening of Tortola Pier Park. Before its construction, cruise passengers would often walk through Road Town and stop at Craft Alive before venturing further into the territory. However, many visitors are now shuttled directly from the pier park, significantly reducing foot traffic to the village.

Efforts to address the decline included proposals for a boardwalk connecting the Pier Park to Craft Alive, which was anticipated to help redirect cruise visitors to the struggling vendors. However, progress on the boardwalk has been slow, with no clear timeline on its completion.

Today’s lockout has reignited frustration among vendors, many of whom have repeatedly sought government intervention to help stimulate business. Some have suggested enhanced marketing, signage, and tourism initiatives to drive visitors to the village, arguing that their unique products offer a shopping experience distinct from that of the larger retail outlets at the pier park.

As the vendors remain shut out of their businesses, the future of Craft Alive Village remains uncertain. Whether the government will offer a path to resolution or vendors will be forced to vacate their long-standing establishments remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the struggles facing the village are far from new—and without intervention, its survival remains at risk.

A power outage affecting areas from Fat Hogs Bay to Long Swamp on Tortola will continue for a few more hours today, due to damage to high-voltage infrastructure, according to the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

BVIEC stated that the damage was caused by a member of the public and was extensive enough that it could not be repaired earlier. The corporation said efforts are underway to restore power and that repairs will be completed later today.

No further details were provided regarding the cause of the damage or the individual involved.

BVIEC assured residents that crews are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

An estimated time for full power restoration has not yet been provided.