The “Cruise Pier Celebration Highlights” video is now available. 

In February 2012, I was invited to be a guest at a meeting of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association FCCA, where I was told, that the state of affairs at the cruise pier in the British Virgin Islands needed urgent attention, if we were to remain competitive in the global cruise tourism industry.

Good afternoon:

This morning around 6:30 a.m. visibility was not particularly good, but as I made out the Norwegian Getaway making her way to Road Harbour, in front of Salt Island and Cooper, my heart skipped a beat. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the expansion of our cruise pier and the soon to be completed land-side development, is most certainly one of the greatest accomplishments for this Government, the Ministry of Communications and Works and our National Democratic Party Government, to date

A new beginning for the tourism industry in the Virgin Islands was declared today, as the newly expanded Cruise Pier was officially opened.

I acknowledge the protocol already established.

Ladies and gentleman, honoured guests.

It gives me great pleasure to extend congratulations to the BVI Government and the people of the British Virgin Islands on the occasion of the opening of the New Cruise Ship Pier.

Ladies and gentlemen, this journey began less than one year ago, on May 8, 2014 when we broke ground for the expansion of this cruise pier project. At that time, I promised you a new day for our tourism product.

Wednesday, April 29 is a historic day for the Territory when the Government of the Virgin Islands officially opens and celebrates the expansion of the Cruise Pier.  

Government is continuing with its efforts at strengthening standards in the tourism and hospitality sectors following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort to implement the Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort Tourism Scholarship in Virgin Gorda.

In 2012, my Government started a conversation with Rosewood Little Dix Bay Hotel and Resort to partner in developing the human resources of this Territory in the areas of hospitality and tourism.

This initial conversation which has blossomed into a memorandum of understanding to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands, specifically BVIslanders living and working on Virgin Gorda. I see as important for several reasons: