There is no escaping the influences of globalisation on Virgin Islands politics, commerce and community.
VI leaders, then, should not to ignore the improvement needs of the West End ferry dock. That facility is as critical to VI commerce and tourism as the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.
High traveller and tourist numbers flowing through the facility determine its importance as a critical port of entry. However, the West End dock requires expansion, modernisation and better customer functionality. An improved facility and ferry operation could conceivably increase the volume of traffic flowing through the terminal significantly, to the benefit of Tortola’s West End and wider VI commerce.
Anyone travelling to and from the United States using the West End terminal over the recent holidays would have experienced bottlenecks with ferry delays, cancellations and frustrated travellers.
Improving and developing the West End and Road Town ferry docks and the airport is critical to the VI’s long-term economic development. This is a tiny territory that depends on overseas trade for its very survival. In small island jurisdictions, ports of entry are arteries and airways, giving life to community, commerce and industry.
Ferry system
Another thought is this one: Like the USVI has done, government here may have to play a “stronger hand” in the ferry industry if VI tourism is to remain aggressively competitive. The USVI government recently acquired two multimillion-dollar ferries to boost tourism competitiveness, efficiency and functionality.
A VI that hopes to attract a discerning and global consumer already spoiled for choice cannot afford to have travellers to its shores holed up in St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, St. Martin or Antigua.
The VI must have the equal capability of accessing global markets, world capitals, major cities and massive population centres, just as any other Caribbean destination with the requisite air facilities and capabilities. That is not optional if this territory is to compete economically on an international scale and at a global level, now and in the future. Growing the economy is the only way to assure a good and prosperous future for the VI child and teenager.
Airport project
Okay. The Beef Island airport project is back in the news. The ideas of a global air facility and a cruise ship village funded largely through foreign investment bring out the worst in many residents and visitors. It appears there is no middle course in this, the most controversial national discussion in recent years. Only the Biwater debacle of 2010 and 2011 can be compared to the current swordplay.
The proposed development at Beef Island has been denigrated with comments such as, “It will never happen;” “this is pie in the sky;” and “the runway to nowhere.” All the anti-development rhetoric alludes to the displeasure of a significant cross section of the territory’s population in those developments. However, these are necessary developments in this observer’s view: They are meant to plug this territory into the 21st Century global marketplace.
Development model
It is agreed, however, that the airport and cruise pier developments must happen in sync with a wider national development model. There must be a politically bipartisan development prototype that begins to build the robust social and physical infrastructure required for the territory’s medium- and long-term welfare. This geography must compete in a big bad world ruled by an avant-garde paradigm called globalisation.
Interestingly, for the anti-airport and anti-cruise-village crowd, development is to be taken like a large dose of castor oil. The proposed Beef Island runway development is bitter medicine for many. It is to be taken with a teaspoonful of lime juice to ease the trauma. In this observer’s view, a redesigned and drastically improved airline facility remains crucial to this territory’s long-term economic viability. Similarly, cruise passengers should be welcomed at a state-of-the-art cruise village with a pier that can accommodate the largest ships.
In a recent online news story, a youthful VI politician reportedly displayed enormous courage: The savvy businessman and legal mind asserted with the supreme vim of a Winston Churchill that he would rather vacate his posting as a pillar of Her Majesty’s Government and member of Cabinet than see the airport project or cruise pier plan placed on the backburner.
What a thing! Talk about drawing a line in the sand!
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