The following is an open letter to Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering and Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie.

 

Dear Sirs:

I am writing with regard to Sopers Hole and the economic impact this beautiful harbour could have in support of the Virgin Islands.

I have lived in Sopers Hole for 20 years, spending close to half of my time here. I love the islands and this beautiful harbour. As the prior owner of a sailing boat, now a power boat, a member of the Loyal West End Yacht Club, and a frequent visitor to local shops and restaurants, I have gotten to know this area, the owners and visitors well.

This nearly enclosed, deep and protected harbour is beautiful. It could become one of the finest harbours in the Caribbean, a destination favoured and sought by boats worldwide.

In the past, too often while sitting on our deck, I watched ferries ignore the channel markers and fail to obey the no-wake mandate. (One notable exception, the catamaran ferry now travelling between Jost Van Dyke and Sopers Hole, has behaved beautifully.) But even with a slow entrance, ferries displace water and this leads to a succession of waves that, to varying degrees, provide uncomfortable berthing at moorings in the harbour. From conversations with many captains, I know that frequent ferries are why visitor boats often try to avoid the harbour or remain for at most one night. This is especially true for boats in the western wide entrance area, which has few to no mooring balls.

Another problem is the space that must be devoted to ferry entrance, turning and departures. Ferries greatly limit the possibility of building docks and stern-to-docking facilities on the north shore. A much larger number of boats could berth comfortably in Sopers Hole if ferries were moved and the space they require were made available.

 

Beacon article

A decade or so ago, the Beacon published a story about what I thought was an agreement to move the ferry dock to developed land in the bay just east of Frenchmans Cay (on new land, opposite the police station). This did not occur. I was led to understand that this was in part because of the cost of a needed breakwater. Clear advantages were the increased parking, space, and a more direct location for boats travelling from St. Thomas to Road Town. It would create a longer route for the JVD ferries, but the opportunity for more convenient parking and the chance to build a facility with more space and attendant advantages should not be dismissed.

With the need now to rebuild the VI, I am suggesting that new consideration be given to this older proposal. It offers the chance to make Sopers Hole the jewel of the Caribbean. It alone would attract more visits for longer times to what could become the Caribbean’s finest harbour. This would bring substantially more income to the VI from boaters and visitors for years ahead. It would stimulate private investment to restore the damaged shops and restaurants as well as build facilities undreamed of heretofore.