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People's Leadership Movement (PLM) leader Mark Vanterpool is urging the Government to abandon plans to return ministries and departments to the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex and convert the prime Road Town property into a commercial hub featuring a small-business mall, conference facilities and hotel rooms.
Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme Monday night, September 28, Vanterpool argued that placing hundreds of public officers inside the complex would create congestion, concentrate security risks and do little to stimulate economic activity in the capital after normal working hours.
“I would say plainly and simply, Government should not return to the Government Administration Building,” the former Communications and Works Minister declared.
Vanterpool said the ground floor could be transformed into a small mall with approximately 600-square-foot incubator spaces, giving first-time entrepreneurs an affordable opportunity to establish businesses in the heart of Road Town.
He proposed converting the upper levels into conference facilities and hotel accommodation, possibly connected to Maria’s by the Sea or another existing hotel operation.
“What you’re doing is creating economic activity in the city. Any city needs economic activity. That’s what the Administration Building should do,” Vanterpool argued.
The complex has remained out of full operation since sustaining extensive damage during Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Rehabilitation commenced in 2019, with successive completion dates being announced and later revised.
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government recently stated that it intends to return the seat of government to the building in 2027, with major interior works moving towards implementation.
However, Vanterpool, who is also the former Fourth District Representative, warned that removing government offices from privately owned buildings would leave substantial commercial space vacant and could place landlords and their financial obligations under pressure.
“Explain to me what is to happen to those spaces and those landlords. Who is going to take the space up? Are the banks going to foreclose upon them?” he questioned.
He noted that leasing the Administration Complex for commercial development will generate revenue to help finance the Government’s existing rental arrangements.
Vanterpool also challenged the long-standing practice of concentrating government services in one location, arguing that it creates traffic congestion, centralises economic activity and places numerous ministers and public officers within the same security environment.
Instead, he called for government services to be strategically distributed across the Territory, including Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.
“Why not have tourism in Virgin Gorda? Why not have fisheries in Anegada? Why not have the Ministry of Environment in Jost Van Dyke?” he asked.
Vanterpool said decentralisation would bring jobs, commercial activity and government services directly to the sister islands, which he stressed must be treated as equal partners in the Territory’s economic development.
Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme Monday night, September 28, Vanterpool argued that placing hundreds of public officers inside the complex would create congestion, concentrate security risks and do little to stimulate economic activity in the capital after normal working hours.
“I would say plainly and simply, Government should not return to the Government Administration Building,” the former Communications and Works Minister declared.
Vanterpool said the ground floor could be transformed into a small mall with approximately 600-square-foot incubator spaces, giving first-time entrepreneurs an affordable opportunity to establish businesses in the heart of Road Town.
He proposed converting the upper levels into conference facilities and hotel accommodation, possibly connected to Maria’s by the Sea or another existing hotel operation.
“What you’re doing is creating economic activity in the city. Any city needs economic activity. That’s what the Administration Building should do,” Vanterpool argued.
The complex has remained out of full operation since sustaining extensive damage during Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Rehabilitation commenced in 2019, with successive completion dates being announced and later revised.
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government recently stated that it intends to return the seat of government to the building in 2027, with major interior works moving towards implementation.
However, Vanterpool, who is also the former Fourth District Representative, warned that removing government offices from privately owned buildings would leave substantial commercial space vacant and could place landlords and their financial obligations under pressure.
“Explain to me what is to happen to those spaces and those landlords. Who is going to take the space up? Are the banks going to foreclose upon them?” he questioned.
He noted that leasing the Administration Complex for commercial development will generate revenue to help finance the Government’s existing rental arrangements.
Vanterpool also challenged the long-standing practice of concentrating government services in one location, arguing that it creates traffic congestion, centralises economic activity and places numerous ministers and public officers within the same security environment.
Instead, he called for government services to be strategically distributed across the Territory, including Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.
“Why not have tourism in Virgin Gorda? Why not have fisheries in Anegada? Why not have the Ministry of Environment in Jost Van Dyke?” he asked.
Vanterpool said decentralisation would bring jobs, commercial activity and government services directly to the sister islands, which he stressed must be treated as equal partners in the Territory’s economic development.
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What kinda of craziness this is you like gov spending all kinds of crazy rent man.